Funding to help preserve military histories

THE state government has announced a new round of funding for the War Heritage Collections Training Program and Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney is encouraging ex-service organisations across the region to lodge an expression of interest.

The program is an opportunity for ex-services organisations to receive expert training and support to help them protect, preserve and increase access to their military history.

The training helps recipients produce a report identifying conservation, significance and exhibition priorities, repair and stabilise memorabilia and exhibit and digitise collections.

Recipients also receive up to $5,000 bursary for the conservation, digitisation or archival needs of their collection.

The War Collections Training Program has been a highly successful part of the state government’s Veterans Heritage Project, run in conjunction with Museums Australia (Victoria).

The ex-service organisations that have already participated in the War Collections Training Program have preserved items such as clothing, weapons, medals, and souvenirs from a range of conflicts such as World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

“We have a proud war time legacy in Western Victoria, and it’s our duty to preserve these memories for younger generations,” Ms Tierney said.

“I encourage all our local ex-service organisations to take advantage of this important initiative.”

All the collections can be seen online at victoriancollections.net.au.