logo
Maitland, Gloucester and MidCoast earmarked for war memorial funding in wake of floods

Maitland, Gloucester and MidCoast earmarked for war memorial funding in wake of floods

The Advertiser31-05-2025

The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage.
The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW.
Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast.
The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund.
Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens.
Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture".
"This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage.
The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW.
Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast.
The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund.
Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens.
Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture".
"This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage.
The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW.
Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast.
The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund.
Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens.
Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture".
"This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage.
The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW.
Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast.
The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund.
Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens.
Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture".
"This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Weekly green bin collections to begin in Maitland, Singleton and Cessnock
Weekly green bin collections to begin in Maitland, Singleton and Cessnock

The Advertiser

time6 days ago

  • The Advertiser

Weekly green bin collections to begin in Maitland, Singleton and Cessnock

Maitland City Council, Cessnock City Council and Singleton Council have partnered to deliver a coordinated Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection service across the region, with weekly green bin collections starting from Monday, June 30. The new service means households in all three local government areas can now place food scraps, such as vegetable peels, meat and dairy, in their green bins with garden waste for weekly collection and processing into high-quality compost rather than going to landfill. This initiative meets the NSW Government requirement that all councils implement a weekly FOGO service by 2030 and aligns with each council's broader environmental and sustainability strategies and programs. Maitland mayor Philip Penfold said the coordinated rollout demonstrates what strong regional collaboration can achieve. "This is one of the biggest steps we can take to reduce waste going to landfill. By combining our efforts, we've streamlined delivery and education for residents across the region," he said. "This is more than just a bin service. It's a meaningful shift in how our cities handle waste. We know that our residents care about the environment, and FOGO provides them with a simple and effective way to make a difference every week." Cessnock mayor Dan Watton said the service marks a significant milestone in local waste reform. "FOGO is a game changer. We're proud to be delivering it across Cessnock, Maitland and Singleton and giving our communities a real opportunity to lead the way in reducing landfill and turning waste into something worthwhile," he said. "FOGO will have significant long-term benefits for our environment, economy and community." Singleton mayor Sue Moore highlighted the simplicity of the new system for households. "Households have received a kitchen caddy and compostable liners make it easier for people to collect food scraps as they go. Empty your caddy, liner and all, into your green bin every few days then put it out for collection weekly from 30 June," she said. "We're here to support our communities through this transition, and there'll be ongoing education and information to help everyone make the most of FOGO." A comprehensive education campaign is already underway to support residents with practical tips on what to put in the green bin, how to use caddies and the environmental benefits of composting for the region. The campaign also ensures residents in each local government area are kept informed about operational details specific to their council. A local effort all around, the councils are working with Solo Resource Recovery to manage weekly green bin collections and with Australian Native Landscapes (ANL) to process the materials into nutrient-rich compost. Maitland City Council, Cessnock City Council and Singleton Council have partnered to deliver a coordinated Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection service across the region, with weekly green bin collections starting from Monday, June 30. The new service means households in all three local government areas can now place food scraps, such as vegetable peels, meat and dairy, in their green bins with garden waste for weekly collection and processing into high-quality compost rather than going to landfill. This initiative meets the NSW Government requirement that all councils implement a weekly FOGO service by 2030 and aligns with each council's broader environmental and sustainability strategies and programs. Maitland mayor Philip Penfold said the coordinated rollout demonstrates what strong regional collaboration can achieve. "This is one of the biggest steps we can take to reduce waste going to landfill. By combining our efforts, we've streamlined delivery and education for residents across the region," he said. "This is more than just a bin service. It's a meaningful shift in how our cities handle waste. We know that our residents care about the environment, and FOGO provides them with a simple and effective way to make a difference every week." Cessnock mayor Dan Watton said the service marks a significant milestone in local waste reform. "FOGO is a game changer. We're proud to be delivering it across Cessnock, Maitland and Singleton and giving our communities a real opportunity to lead the way in reducing landfill and turning waste into something worthwhile," he said. "FOGO will have significant long-term benefits for our environment, economy and community." Singleton mayor Sue Moore highlighted the simplicity of the new system for households. "Households have received a kitchen caddy and compostable liners make it easier for people to collect food scraps as they go. Empty your caddy, liner and all, into your green bin every few days then put it out for collection weekly from 30 June," she said. "We're here to support our communities through this transition, and there'll be ongoing education and information to help everyone make the most of FOGO." A comprehensive education campaign is already underway to support residents with practical tips on what to put in the green bin, how to use caddies and the environmental benefits of composting for the region. The campaign also ensures residents in each local government area are kept informed about operational details specific to their council. A local effort all around, the councils are working with Solo Resource Recovery to manage weekly green bin collections and with Australian Native Landscapes (ANL) to process the materials into nutrient-rich compost. Maitland City Council, Cessnock City Council and Singleton Council have partnered to deliver a coordinated Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection service across the region, with weekly green bin collections starting from Monday, June 30. The new service means households in all three local government areas can now place food scraps, such as vegetable peels, meat and dairy, in their green bins with garden waste for weekly collection and processing into high-quality compost rather than going to landfill. This initiative meets the NSW Government requirement that all councils implement a weekly FOGO service by 2030 and aligns with each council's broader environmental and sustainability strategies and programs. Maitland mayor Philip Penfold said the coordinated rollout demonstrates what strong regional collaboration can achieve. "This is one of the biggest steps we can take to reduce waste going to landfill. By combining our efforts, we've streamlined delivery and education for residents across the region," he said. "This is more than just a bin service. It's a meaningful shift in how our cities handle waste. We know that our residents care about the environment, and FOGO provides them with a simple and effective way to make a difference every week." Cessnock mayor Dan Watton said the service marks a significant milestone in local waste reform. "FOGO is a game changer. We're proud to be delivering it across Cessnock, Maitland and Singleton and giving our communities a real opportunity to lead the way in reducing landfill and turning waste into something worthwhile," he said. "FOGO will have significant long-term benefits for our environment, economy and community." Singleton mayor Sue Moore highlighted the simplicity of the new system for households. "Households have received a kitchen caddy and compostable liners make it easier for people to collect food scraps as they go. Empty your caddy, liner and all, into your green bin every few days then put it out for collection weekly from 30 June," she said. "We're here to support our communities through this transition, and there'll be ongoing education and information to help everyone make the most of FOGO." A comprehensive education campaign is already underway to support residents with practical tips on what to put in the green bin, how to use caddies and the environmental benefits of composting for the region. The campaign also ensures residents in each local government area are kept informed about operational details specific to their council. A local effort all around, the councils are working with Solo Resource Recovery to manage weekly green bin collections and with Australian Native Landscapes (ANL) to process the materials into nutrient-rich compost. Maitland City Council, Cessnock City Council and Singleton Council have partnered to deliver a coordinated Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection service across the region, with weekly green bin collections starting from Monday, June 30. The new service means households in all three local government areas can now place food scraps, such as vegetable peels, meat and dairy, in their green bins with garden waste for weekly collection and processing into high-quality compost rather than going to landfill. This initiative meets the NSW Government requirement that all councils implement a weekly FOGO service by 2030 and aligns with each council's broader environmental and sustainability strategies and programs. Maitland mayor Philip Penfold said the coordinated rollout demonstrates what strong regional collaboration can achieve. "This is one of the biggest steps we can take to reduce waste going to landfill. By combining our efforts, we've streamlined delivery and education for residents across the region," he said. "This is more than just a bin service. It's a meaningful shift in how our cities handle waste. We know that our residents care about the environment, and FOGO provides them with a simple and effective way to make a difference every week." Cessnock mayor Dan Watton said the service marks a significant milestone in local waste reform. "FOGO is a game changer. We're proud to be delivering it across Cessnock, Maitland and Singleton and giving our communities a real opportunity to lead the way in reducing landfill and turning waste into something worthwhile," he said. "FOGO will have significant long-term benefits for our environment, economy and community." Singleton mayor Sue Moore highlighted the simplicity of the new system for households. "Households have received a kitchen caddy and compostable liners make it easier for people to collect food scraps as they go. Empty your caddy, liner and all, into your green bin every few days then put it out for collection weekly from 30 June," she said. "We're here to support our communities through this transition, and there'll be ongoing education and information to help everyone make the most of FOGO." A comprehensive education campaign is already underway to support residents with practical tips on what to put in the green bin, how to use caddies and the environmental benefits of composting for the region. The campaign also ensures residents in each local government area are kept informed about operational details specific to their council. A local effort all around, the councils are working with Solo Resource Recovery to manage weekly green bin collections and with Australian Native Landscapes (ANL) to process the materials into nutrient-rich compost.

Nostalgic photos show early days of life in Perth
Nostalgic photos show early days of life in Perth

Perth Now

time07-06-2025

  • Perth Now

Nostalgic photos show early days of life in Perth

The view of Perth from Kings Park in 1962. Picture: Supplied A stark image capturing the view from Kings Park in 1962 shows how much Perth changed in the ensuing decades. This picture and many others snapped by government photographers from the 1940s to the 1980s capture the unique local character and rapid social changes experienced throughout. The collection, curated by the National Archives of Australia, will be on display in Northbridge until November. Named from Sea to Suburbia, the images were taken by dozens of photographers employed by government agencies, who visited towns as far north as Broome, down to Pemberton in the south. Some images were taken by the Australian News and Information Bureau (now the Department of the Interior) to portray life in Western Australia as appealing — something it does successfully. From idyllic pictures of kids climbing a tree at Kings Park Adventure Playground in 1973, to men playing bowls on a perfect green at Perth Esplanade in 1962, life in Perth certainly looked serene. A picture taken from above the old Swan Brewery in 1966 shows Perth's changing skyline, while another offers a snapshot of bathers enjoying a swim at Port Beach, Fremantle in 1975. Exhibition co-curator Kellie Abbott said the photographic collection held by the National Archives is a valuable resource for Western Australian history and heritage. 'This unique exhibition depicts our way of life in an era spanning 40 years from the end of the Second World War,' she said. 'Australian Government photographers covered the west from the Kimberley to Esperance, Perth to Kalgoorlie, outback to forest, and sea to suburbia, documenting the extraordinary and the everyday. 'Some images in the exhibition showcase our beautiful, iconic landmarks, while others illustrate our changing attitudes to the environment and urban development.' Other images show WA's unique country character, one shows two rugged men repairing a station fence in 1973, while in another a forestry worker climbs a set of rickety steps up a fire lookout tree. Sea to suburbia is open at the National Archives' Western Australia Office in Northbridge until 28 November 2025.

Memorial research centre unlocks precious war records
Memorial research centre unlocks precious war records

West Australian

time05-06-2025

  • West Australian

Memorial research centre unlocks precious war records

People who want to learn more about their family's service in the Australia military will have easier access to priceless records at a new research centre at the Australian War Memorial. The Charles Bean Research Centre, named after the nation's first official war correspondent and founder of the memorial, was opened in Canberra on Thursday. It is the only building at the memorial that carries the name of an individual. His granddaughter Anne Carroll helped open the centre, and described the moment as "rewarding and humbling". "To have his name on this building is a thrill and an endorsement of his work and his role in preserving their records," she said. Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson said visitors will be able to sit down with the centre's volunteers who can help them access diaries and service records of loved ones. "They will explain to them (visitors) in amazing detail, the nature of that service," he said. "Hopefully, at the end of the day, they'll stay, they'll attend the last post ceremony that night, and they'll lay a wreath in honour of their forebears or their sons or their daughters, or mums or dads." Examining Charles Bean's notebooks with Ms Carroll, Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh was surprised by the memorial with his own family history. Records showed two of Mr Keogh's great-uncles were killed during the Second World War. George Geoffrey Keogh was killed at El Alamein in Egypt, while Lawrence Colin Keogh was killed in Crete, Greece. "Being able to be shown the records ... was particularly moving for me," Mr Keogh said. "I'll certainly take that back to my family, to my dad, and to be able to give that greater explanation of what happened." Mr Keogh said for millions of Australians who will never have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of relatives who served or died in overseas conflicts, the centre will provide a more "fulsome expression" of them. "This centre will provide that opportunity, with names on a wall, to become real for individuals," he said. Asked if the opening of the research centre fulfilled the vision of Charles Bean, Ms Carroll said: "As long as it fulfils its function of encouraging people to learn." The memorial's half-a-billion dollar expansion has courted controversy, with criticism directed towards the scale of the development.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store