Hi Steve,
We were in Toowong Cemetery this morning(17th Feb) to meet with DVA Minister Matt Keogh MP and his delegation regarding today’s press release (below), and discuss a variety of aspects of the Unmarked WWI Graves Program:
Katrina and I were very pleased to hear that we are again the recipient of the largest number of grants for unmarked WWI graves nationwide, 84 in Lutwyche Cemetery. We were also pleased that Melissa Wren from FoTC has received 42 grant approvals for Toowong Cemetery. We have been assisting Melissa over a number of months with visits to National Archives at Cannon Hill to inspect these war veteran’s medical files in the search for a cause of death which is a necessary part of the grant application process. As there are at least 700 unmarked WWI graves in Toowong Cemetery, we have a very long road ahead of us.
Further to that, the press release said “an additional 143 veterans were deemed eligible for official War Grave status and commemoration by the Repatriation Commission. Their service will be recognised with a Commonwealth War Grave commemoration installed at the site of interment, paid for and maintained in perpetuity by the Australian Government.” Katrina and I were responsible for finding 108 of these. We have a huge problem here along with major budget cuts to the program. Katrina and I were interviewed on 4BC radio in November, and have had two productive meetings with federal opposition MP’s in December:
One MP, Henry Pike has been advocating for us and he made a speech in parliament last week:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16AyxATDPx/
We have agreed to be interviewed about this on ABC Radio Brisbane next Tuesday morning.
In further good news, we have just been advised that our Grant Application to install the balance of the 709 plaques from the 2021 grant has been approved:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15ybEhy2wU/
Kind regards,
Cate
Graduate Certificate of Cemetery Practice (Deakin)
Voluntary Cemetery Conservator and Researcher of Graves and Memorials
Australian Remembrance Army:
http://australianremembrancearmy.com/
https://www.facebook.com/australianremembrancearmy
Friends of Lutwyche Cemetery Committee Member
‘Conservation Care and Research of Graves and Memorials’
www.facebook.com/friendsoflutwychecemetery/
Cook Islands WWI Research Project & Online Cenotaph:
https://www.cookislandsonlinecenotaph.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cookislandsww1
https://www.youtube.com/@CookIslandsOnlineCenotaph
Nikao Cemetery Restoration Project Rarotonga:
https://www.facebook.com/nikaocemeteryrestorationproject
