Libs election pledge to honour Diggers undercut by Labor action
The Liberals’ new leadership team under Vincent Tarzia has made an election funding pledge but the $225,000 to help honour WWI Diggers has been sideswiped by a $60,000 government grant.
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The state government has stymied an Opposition election pledge under its new leadership team led by Vincent Tarzia.
After The Advertiser approached the government for a response on the Liberals plan for a $225,000 grant over three years to help honour “forgotten” War War I Diggers, the government announced a similar plan but for $60,000 over three years.
The money will support The Headstones Project SA, volunteers who find unmarked graves of WWI veterans who did not die of wounds which would qualify for an Office of Australian War Graves headstone.
They then erect a headstone which honours the person for their service, at a cost of around $1500.
Volunteers lead by John Brownlie and Neil Rossiter have installed 108 headstones since 2018, — and identified 36 taken over by Office of Australian War Graves — and estimate there are 2500 unmarked WW1 veterans’ graves across South Australia.
The previous Liberal government funded the work for $90,000 over six years which ended in June..
Federal Liberal candidate for Boothby, Nicolle Flint lobbied the state Liberal Party to take up the cause with the result Opposition veteran affairs spokeswoman Nicola Centofanti on Friday told The Advertiser a Liberal government will fund the project for $75,000 a year for three years.
“The Headstone Project SA seeks to restore dignity to the final resting places of our Diggers,” Ms Centofanti said.
However, things took a new turn when The Advertiser sought a response from state Veterans Affairs Minister Joe Szakacs.
He subsequently announced the government will grant the Headstone Project SA $20,000 a year over three years.
“We are proud to provide ongoing support to the Headstone Project and the important work the team does in ensuring these lost veterans receive the recognition they deserve,” Mr Szakacs said. Ms Centofanti welcomed the change of heart after there was no cash for the plan in the last state budget.
The Headstone Project SA president John Brownlie said the funding will help recognise and formally consecrate a further 15 graves of WWI veterans and continue research into uncovering more veterans, including nurses who served in WWI.
“It gives us immense satisfaction to unite families from across the country, and in some cases overseas, at dedication services in South Australia, bringing these families closure and the veterans the recognition they deserve,” he said.
Ms Flint is lobbying the federal government to grant the group tax deductible gift recipient status.
Mr Szakacs also announced 15 projects have been awarded $130,000 funding through the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II Grant Fund.
These include $20,000 for a memorial and interactive visual display at the RSL Willunga & Districts Sub-Branch, and $14,000 for Clarendon Historic Hall Inc to create a documentary titled “Clarendon’s WWII Era: Trials, Triumphs and Transformation.”
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