Funding for veterans and their families

IN the spirit of Remembrance Day, the Victorian Government proved its commitment to supporting veterans and their families with the announcement of a new grant program.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle joined the president of the Ballarat RSL Sub Branch Alan Douglass to celebrate grants of over $42,000 that’ll be split across four Ballarat Veterans’ Associations.

Ms Addison said this funding is among the $1.6 million the Government was handing out to over 60 RSLs and veteran support groups around the state.

“We have at least 1600 veterans in our community and Ballarat has a proud tradition of honouring returning service men and women,” she said.

“To have a veteran’s community that is so represented by RSLs and other groups is something we should be proud of.

“It is so important that we continue to recognise and thank our veterans for the work they do.”

Ms Settle added, “There are so many ways we can support our wonderful veteran community including this RSL and grants for the plaques along the Avenue of Honour, … the Ballarat Veterans Association who are putting together a website … and an $18,000 grant for Legacy.”

Ballarat RSL Sub Branch president Alan Douglass and welfare officer Lynne Redman accepted the $10,000 in funding for the local organisation to provide assistance to the veteran community with bills, food, rent, bonds and transport.

Mr Douglass said the grant would help to fill a hole for welfare officers to support veterans and war widows.

“Most of our poppy sellers are limited and our income will be down around two thirds,” he said.

Ms Redman added, “This will give us the opportunity to keep on supporting those who need it.”