THE centenary of Anzac is to be commemorated in Flinders with a diverse range of community projects.
Flinders federal MP Greg Hunt used Remembrance Day on Monday to announce that the Flinders Anzac Centenary Community Grants Committee has approved 22 local projects from across the Mornington Peninsula, Western Port and Phillip Island.
The projects will be put to the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Senator Michael Ronaldson, for final approval.
The new government has boosted funding to Flinders to $125,000, a small increase on the $100,000 already allocated by the previous government.
Projects approved include a re-enactment of the firing of the Fort Nepean gun, which unleashed the British Empire’s first shot of the First World War, the creation of a new war memorial at Red Hill and the completion of the Cowes cenotaph.
Other projects include the relocation of the Somerville war memorial and the creation of audio clips telling the stories behind five local war memorials, accessed by scanning a QR code attached to each memorial.
Mr Hunt said: “The centenary of Anzac will be the most significant national period of commemoration in our nation’s history. The Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program will give the local community the opportunity to honour the service and sacrifice that epitomises the Anzac spirit.”
Projects confirmed for Western Port: Crib Point Primary School, memorial walk commemorating the six soldiers from Crib Point Primary School who served; RPP-FM Radio Port Phillip, audio clips telling the individual stories of five local war memorials, accessed by QR code; Pearcedale Hall Committee, creation of cenotaph and surrounding garden at the community hall; French Island Community Association, Anzac Day 2014 ceremony to honour French Island diggers and the erection of a flag pole; Tyabb Primary School, clay poppies to be fired and painted by children as centre piece of remembrance garden; Flinders RSL sub-branch, memorial at the Flinders cemetery listing all local diggers interred at the cemetery and overseas; Village Glen Residents’ Club Committee, Gallipoli centenary memorial; Moorooduc Primary School, creation of memorial garden and mosaic designed by students; People and Parks Foundation, commemorative firing of the Fort Nepean Gun on 5 August 2014; Mornington Peninsula Shire, relocation of Somerville war memorial to the Fruit Growers Reserve.
