Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Australia's involvement in the First World War began when Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914. At a time when Australia's population was less than five million people, 416,809 men enlisted to serve in the Great War, during which more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 were wounded, gassed and taken as prisoner. Every year on 11 November, Remembrance Day, which marks the end of the First World War, we honour the service, bravery and courage of every Australian who served in the Great War and we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our nation. On 11 November 1918, the Germans accepted the terms of armistice that ended the First World War. In 2018, 100 years later, our nation commemorates the Centenary of the Armistice through a range of community events and memorials dedicated to all those who served in the Great War.

In Wide Bay, six community organisations will share in almost $50,000 through the coalition government's Armistice Centenary Grants Program to honour the service of men and women from our region. I'm pleased to confirm the Cooroy Pomona RSL Sub Branch has received $10,330 to hold a First World War exhibition at Cooroy Memorial Hall. Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group, the Ration Shed, is using a $2,700 grant to install six locally designed timber poles and plaques, including photos from World War I, at Anzac Memorial Park. The Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum will spend $5,000 on a display case to exhibit World War I memorabilia at the museum. The Mary Valley RSL is using their $15,000 grant to install a granite commemorative memorial book at Kandanga Cemetery, acknowledging the local men and women who served during the First World War.

Each applicant has put great care and thought into how best to show their community's appreciation for the sacrifice of those who helped secure our nation's freedom in war. I congratulate the organisations for their work on these projects that will preserve our local history for future generations.

Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 193, the time for members' constituency statements has concluded.