State Government provides $250,000 for Albany Anzac memorial park

25/4/04
A world class memorial park in honour of the ANZACS in Albany is a step closer with a $250,000 grant from the State Government as part of the Western Australian's 175th Anniversary celebrations.
The grant follows the State Government's decision last Thursday to name the Albany Anzac dawn service as the fourth Western Australian heritage icon.
Acting Premier Eric Ripper, who made the announcement after attending the Anzac dawn service in Albany, said the project would help realise a community goal of developing a new precinct dedicated to remembering Australia's war heroes.
"Today's grant is in recognition of Albany's close ties to the Anzac legend - with the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand troops leaving from King George Sound on November 1, 1914," Mr Ripper said.
"The funding will help redevelop the existing Anzac park on the Albany foreshore into a new precinct - which can provide further insight into Albany's unique place in Anzac history."
Local MLA Peter Watson welcomed the grant, which was the first major contribution to the project.
"It is anticipated today's announcement will provide a kick-start to attract matching funds from the Federal Government, as well as potentially other sources, like the City of Albany and the Republic of Turkey," Mr Watson said.
"Obviously, any development of the new precinct will also need significant community consultation and involvement to ensure the final project has broad local support."
Mr Ripper said the latest grant followed a range of other important State Government projects that were aimed at supporting community involvement in the ANZAC tradition.
These included:

• a new adopt-a-memorial scheme, encouraging community and youth groups to care for local war memorials or honour rolls;

• a $250,000 war memorial grant scheme, helping community groups and RSL organisations to restore local war memorials;

• establishment of a war memorial register - to identify and record all known memorials and honour rolls in the State; and

• $445,000 in funding to reconstruct the State war memorial in Kings Park, which is seriously water damaged.