The Australian state of Queensland has launched its five year commemorative programme to mark the Centenary of the First World War.
Grants
The first round of applications for Anzac Centenary community grants have opened this month, with $1 million available for local and community projects to commemorate the First World War, as well as other conflicts.
The funding programme is designed to “assist and encourage Queenslanders to commemorate the service and sacrifice of men and women during the First World War”, providing a particular opportunity for not-for-profit organisations to take part in the commemorations.
Projects which are eligible include events, exhibitions, research, community education activities and the restoration or enhancement of memorials and honour boards.
Grants of up to $80,000 can be awarded.
Applications for the first round of funding must be completed by the 14th March 2014, with successful applicants being announced in June 2014.
Legacy projects
The Queensland Government has highlighted that the commemorative period is an opportunity to remember all Australians who served during the First World War, but also those who have fought and served in all wars, conflicts and peace operations in the past 100 years.
Anzac Centenary commemorations aim to “provide a legacy to Queenslanders beyond 2018 into the next century”.
Anzac Square in Brisbane is one such legacy project. It will be fully refurbished and already serves as a focal point for remembrance.
The Shrine of Remembrance, Anzac Square, Brisbane
The Queensland Government proposes to create an additional memorial to reflect Australia’s military involvement in conflicts after the First World War, and to reconfigure half of the existing space into a “flexible and accessible public facility”.
In a separate project, the State Library of Queensland is producing its own “digital memorial” to mark the Centenary. You can read more about it in a Centenary News report here.
To find out more about the grants programme, visit the Queensland Government Anzac Centenary website here.
Images courtesy of the Queensland Government
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News