Federal Member for Blair and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Shayne Neumann has congratulated the Ripley Valley State Secondary College P&C Association on receiving a $10,000 Federal Government grant for a new war memorial.
The funding is being provided through the latest round of the Saluting Their Service commemorative grants program and will be used to build a new memorial in Ripley Valley to commemorate defence personnel in all wars, conflicts and peace operations.
Mr Neumann attended Ripley Valley State Secondary College’s inaugural student leader investiture ceremony this week and passed on his congratulations to Principal Brendan Krueger and the P&C Association.
“The Ipswich region has a large service and ex-service community, and the growing Ripley Valley Corridor is home to many defence and veteran families who send their children to the new high school, which opened this year,” Mr Neumann said.
“This project will ensure that the proud service history of the area is captured and preserved for the community.
“I want to thank the P&C Association, and all ex-service and community organisations, who work tirelessly to ensure our service personnel get the recognition they deserve, and I thank all veterans for their service and sacrifice.”
Ripley Valley State Secondary College Principal Brendan Krueger said the ANZAC Place memorial would salute all local service men and women, both past and present.
“ANZAC Place is designed to allow the school and members of the community to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of our defence forces through a range of memorials and plaques.
“The P&C plans to use these funds to help with the construction of the memorial, which will be a shared community space at the front of our school incorporating a cenotaph, statues and silhouettes, a sign or mural, and a lone pine tree.
“At this stage, we plan to unveil the memorial on Remembrance Day on 11 November this year,” said Mr Kreuger.
More information on the ANZAC Place memorial and the masterplan proposal can be found on the Ripley Valley State Secondary College website at https://ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au/
If anyone would like to assist with or donate to the project, they can contact the school by phone on (07) 3819 5333 or email at principal@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au
Mr Neumann said projects and activities funded through the Saluting Their Service program play an important role in educating future generations about the service and sacrifice of Australian service men and women, especially as the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on 15 August approaches.
“Australian service men and women in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations for over a century have played a role in shaping the nation.
“These commemorations, projects and activities ensure their story is captured for generations to come.
“These grants help community groups and organisations continue their important work in commemorating our service personnel and support those projects and activities which promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service,” he said.
Information on the Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program can be found at the Community Grants Hub at www.communitygrants.gov.au. Applications for the next round of grants are now open.
