Stage two of the Coalminers Memorial at Limestone Park is $20,000 closer thanks to a grant secured by Shayne Neumann.

The Federal Member for Blair today announced the $20,000 for the Ipswich Rosewood Coalminers Memorial.

The funding has been provided under the Blair Stronger Communities Program Round Two.

The Stronger Communities Programme (SCP) provides grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 to community organisations for small capital projects which improve community participation and contribute to the vibrancy and viability of local communities. Grants must be matched by cash and/or in-kind funding from the organisation on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Mr Neumann said that the second stage of the Ipswich Rosewood Coalminers Memorial would include two vertical columns representing the coal seams of the Ipswich and Rosewood coal mines.

“Coalmining was the backbone of this community for generations,” Mr Neumann said.

“The memorial honours the contribution of those workers, in particular the men and boys who gave their lives while working the mines.

“The first stage has been a huge success and I am proud to lend my support to the independent community assessment panel’s positive recommendation to support the Ipswich Rosewood Coalminers Memorial Trust so they can develop Stage Two.