- Published:
- Saturday 8 February 2020
The Andrews Labor Government is doing more to honour the service of veterans with the unveiling of a new memorial in Sale.
Minister for Veterans Robin Scott was at the Sale Cenotaph today to attend the dedication of 10 new signs marking the service of Australians in various conflicts from World War One to modern day.
The $19,103 project was funded through the Labor Government’s Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour Grant program.
It pays tribute to all those who have served in the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australia Air Force and, previously, the Australian Flying Corps.
The signs feature heroic images of servicemen and servicewomen, as well as historical information and figures on the numbers of veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in campaigns and peacekeeping missions, including Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The signs also provide details on largely forgotten chapter in Australia’s wartime history, such as the service of Indigenous Australians and the 4,000 Australians who were captured during World War One.
The event included the dedication of the name of Sister May Hennessy, who served in World War One as part of the Australian Army Nursing Service.
Her name will be added to the list of the fallen on the cenotaph.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Veterans Robin Scott
“We owe a debt to our veterans that we can never repay – memorials like this are an important way of remembering and paying tribute to that debt.”
“Even the recent bushfires have demonstrated the invaluable contribution made by veterans, ADF personnel, Reservists and volunteers – they’ve been instrumental to frontline and recovery efforts.”
“Our thanks go out to them and RSL-Sub Branches across the region for banding together in such an impressive way to support the recovery of bushfire-affected communities.”