North Queensland Community Anzac grants announced

Two North Queensland organisations have received grants totalling $52,244 in the first round of Queensland Government community grants for projects to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the First World War.

Minister Assisting the Premier on the centenary of Anzac Glen Elmes said the Anzac Centenary community grants program recognised the role many communities throughout the state played in supporting Australia’s involvement in the First World War.

Mr Elmes said:

• $31,875 would go to Charters Towers Regional Council for its ‘Ghosts of our Military Past’ project at Charters Towers; and
• $20,369 had been provided to the Tablelands Regional Council for its ‘Tablelands Anzac Trail’ project at Herberton.

The ‘Ghosts of our Military Past’ project will use an interactive web app and mobile technology linked to bar codes on bollards that are UR- linked to a web page and interactive mapping which can be used to access Charters Towers’ WW1 historical content and contribution.

Visitors to the locations will use their mobile phones and tablets to access unique and innovative user-friendly technology that is content specific to a bollard, and be able to explore other connected places and spaces throughout Charters Towers to discover the city's significant contribution to the First World War.

The ‘Tablelands Anzac Trail’ project will bring together the Herberton area’s wealth of sites, stories and memorabilia relating to WW1.

The Trail, to be launched at a commemorative 2015 Anzac Day dawn service, will highlight the region’s many links to the beginning and end of the First World War.

Mr Elmes said the First World War was Australia’s first significant international military campaign, and men and women from all over the state willingly answered the call to serve.

“Many of them didn’t return to the families, friends, jobs and communities they’d left behind to fight for their country and for the security of generations to come after them,” he said.

“These projects and others like it around the state will ensure that the memory of their sacrifice and that of those left behind continues to be recognised and preserved for future generations.”

The Queensland Government has provided funding of up to $80,000 each for this first funding round for local events, projects and re-enactments to commemorate 100 years since Australia’s involvement in the First World War.

Mr Elmes said a second round of community grants under the program will be opening soon, and he encouraged local organisations to apply.

He said further information about the program could be obtained from the Queensland Anzac Centenary website at:www.qld.gov.au/anzac100.

[ENDS] 13 June 2014

Media Contact:          Peter McCarthy (0408) 835 548