Funding For Memorial Gardens Upgrade at Port Germein

Veterans, ex-service people and residents in the Port Germein area will benefit from Saluting Their Service grant funding Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said today.

“These grants aim to highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women in wars, conflicts and peace operations and have been available for a number of years now to assist in the preservation of wartime heritage”.

“Our future will be partially shaped by our understanding of our past and it is important we all take the time to remember and leave a local history record for generations to come to recognise the contribution the services have made to this country”, he said.

“The grant to the Port Germein Progress Association of $4000 will help restore and upgrade the Memorial Gardens in Port Germein and is typical of the types of projects supported by this program.”

Erected following WWI, the Memorial Gardens are situated in the middle of Port Germein enclosed at the front by a heavy cast iron and concrete fence with concrete pillars. 

With a WWI marble statue of a six foot high soldier on a marble pedestal and monuments dedicated to WWII, Malaya, Korea, Borneo and Vietnam, these gardens are an integral part of the community and of historical significance as an ongoing memorial to the residents of the district who enlisted in the Australian Defence Force during the times of war.

The Memorial Gardens were maintained by the members of the Port Germein RSL and their families, and when the Port Germein RSL amalgamated with the Port Pirie sub-branch the Gardens were handed to the local council.

“Small communities are quite prepared to roll-up their sleeves to preserve and extend recognition of service to the nation but in many cases they are stretched to the limit which is why these grants are so important,” Mr Ramsey said.

Media Contact Leonie Lloyd-Smith (08) 8633 1744

January 24, 2011