Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to update the House on the Anzac Centenary grants program in my electorate of Richmond. I had the great pleasure recently in announcing that the Tweed Heads & Coolangatta RSL Sub Branch will receive $53,000 in federal funding to host a re-enactment of the Gallipoli landing on Anzac Day this year in 2015. I was pleased to announce that with the secretary of the RSL, Dr John Griffin.

The Gallipoli re-enactment will occur in the Jack Evans Boat Harbour at Tweed Heads prior to the Dawn Service on Anzac Day 2015. It is expected that thousands will attend this very important Anzac Day commemorative event.

I would like to congratulate the Tweed Heads & Coolangatta RSL Sub Branch on this important project. This will be a major event and an important opportunity to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War and to recognise and honour all those who served our nation.

I was also very pleased recently to be in Byron Bay announcing that the Byron Bay RSL Sub Branch will receive $39,400 in federal funding to refurbish the existing Byron Bay War Memorial gates and build a cenotaph wall. This grant will go towards improving and refurbishing those existing memorial gates, the construction of a new cenotaph and a research project by local schoolchildren on the First World War veterans whose names appear on the pillars of the memorial gates.

I congratulate the Byron Bay RSL Sub Branch on this important project, the Tweed Heads & Coolangatta RSL and the groups within my electorate who will be receiving the Anzac Centenary grants. I look forward to commemorating the centenary of the First World War with all of those wonderful organisations.

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