The Coimadai Community will again be able to honour local men and women who served our nation during the First World War thanks to a $3,300 grant to relocate and restore the Coimadai Avenue of Honour Memorial Cairn.
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King said funding from the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program would enable the monument to be relocated to the Merrimu Reservoir Recreation Area.
“The Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program supports projects that commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women in the First World War,” Ms King said.
“The Coimadai Avenue of Honour Memorial Cairn honours the memories and the bravery of 112 local volunteers who served their country in the Great War.
“The current location of the monument on the busy Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road has prevented local services from taking place at the site due to concerns for public safety.
“The relocation of the monument to Merrimu Reservoir will enable the community to honour our local wartime history. The project also re-establishes the connection with Coimadai Primary School, whose students participated in the planting of the original Avenue of Honour in 1918.
“I’d like to acknowledge the work of some 50 community volunteers who are members of the Coimadai Avenue of Honour Restoration Association and their commitment to this important monument.
“Thanks also to the members of local Anzac Centenary Grants committee for their important input and assessment of applications for funding from the program.”
Funding of up to $125,000 is available from the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program to support projects in the Federal Electorate of Ballarat that commemorate the First World War.
For further information and to see the guidelines and application forms go to http://www.anzaccentenary.gov.au/grants/index.htm or contact Ms King’s office at 5 Lydiard St North, Ballarat, ph: 5338 8123.