Community War Memorials Fund only has enough for $66 per memorial

The Coalition has called for more money to be allocated for protecting war memorials, alongside tougher penalties for those who vandalise them.

A state government fund dedicated to conserving the state’s war memorials will hand out just $66 per memorial each year.

As the nation paused on Anzac Day to reflect and honour serving men and women, the Minns government was urged to up the amount it will set aside to preserve the memorials commemorating veterans.

The NSW government’s new Veterans Strategy, released last week, includes an annual Community War Memorials Fund worth $250,000 per year. That amounts to just $66 for each of the 3800 war memorials across the state.

Funding has not increased, despite war memorials increasingly becoming the target of vandalism.

Just this week a war memorial in Dorrigo, on the Mid North Coast, was damaged in an apparent act of vandalism that broke the bayonet off a marble statue of a digger.

The Cenotaph at Martin Place is one of 3800 memorials across NSW. Picture: Monique Harmer

NSW RSL President Mick Bainbridge called for a more “meaningful investment”.

“While the Community War Memorials Fund is a step in the right direction, $250,000 spread across more than 3800 memorials in NSW simply isn’t enough,” he said.

“These memorials are the heart of our communities’ remembrance, symbols of sacrifice, service, and national identity.

“Without meaningful investment, we risk letting time and neglect erode the legacy they represent.”

The Community War Memorials Fund began in 2008 to help conserve, repair and protect war memorials across the state.

Last year, it funded maintenance works like repairs to the Thirroul First World War memorial ($9933), a new ceiling at the Muttama Hall memorial near Cootamundra ($3596), and conservation works at the Broken Hill War Memorial ($10,000).

NSW RSL President Mick Bainbridge says the funding ‘simply isn’t enough’. Picture: Thomas Lisson

Memorials can apply for funding under the grant, to receive up to $15,000 in a single round.

Liberal Leader Mark Speakman said the funding should have been increased from that offered under the Coalition.

“The Minns Labor government hasn’t increased veterans’ memorial funding by a single cent,” he said.

In a statement, Veterans Minister David Harris said the cost of maintaining war memorials was split across all three levels of government.

He said many “smaller memorials” require “little to no maintenance”, while others are maintained by councils or volunteers from ex-services organisations.

“Since the establishment of the program in 2008, millions of dollars of grants have been provided for a wide range of projects from repair of memorials and the buildings that house them, to cleaning and conservation works,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state Coalition will next month introduce legislation aimed at protecting NSW war memorials, by forcing vandals who deface the sacred sites to pay for repairs.

The legislation would also increase maximum fines for offenders who deface a war memorial to $22,000, two years in prison, or both.

Mr Speakman said the parliament owes it to veterans to ensure “cowards pay the price” of their vandalism.

“Our memorials aren’t just monuments, they’re a promise to remember and to respect,” he said.

“When someone vandalises these memorials, they’re desecrating the memory of every person whose name is etched in stone.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]