By Mikayla van Loon
Two local RSL clubs were grateful to receive funding to put towards honouring war veterans and keeping the history ingrained in the education of young people just days before Anzac Day.
Victoria’s veteran affairs minister Shaun Leane and Eastern Victoria MP Harriet Shing travelled to Lilydale RSL to congratulate both them and Mount Evelyn RSL for their success in being recipients of multiple grant programs on Friday 22 April.
As part of the funding Lilydale RSL received $17,826 from the Victoria Remembers Grant Program to establish a ‘classroom’ at the club, as well as $3500 from the Veterans Capital Works program to replace the carpet.
Mount Evelyn RSL, on behalf of the Montrose War Memorial, received $10,000 from the Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour fund.
Having only applied for $1200 to repair and add a plaque to the Montrose cenotaph, Mount Evelyn RSL president Matthew Crymble said it came as quite a shock to hear the announcement.
“It was a very pleasant and welcome surprise,” he said.
Mr Leane said although the veterans affairs department could have just given the amount applied for, it could have been inadequate to do the works within the parameters of Heritage Victoria.
With the extra funding, Mr Crymble said the sub-branch can work with Heritage Victoria to perhaps go beyond what was initially intended at the war memorial, being the recognition of 10 Montrose Primary School students who weren’t named in the honour roll after their service in various wars.
“We’re very happy and fortunate to receive well in excess of what we were asking for and once I have that meeting with Heritage, I’ll find out exactly what they would like from us,” he said.
For Lilydale RSL president Bill Dobson the funds given mean the club’s primary school history sessions will be made possible sooner.
“It’s for a multimedia room where we can have school students come and listen to a military historian,” Mr Dobson said.
“School principals have sent letters to say they fully endorse it and they’ll include it in their curriculum. So that’s something to really look forward to. We’re just thankful and it’s quite exciting to be successful and get over $20,000 for developing the project.”
Ms Shing said the feedback she had received from the school community praised Lilydale RSL for its commitment and willingness to engage with students, something Mr Dobson said was such a compliment and comfort to hear.
Although self-funding the project through fundraisers as well, Mr Dobson said the relief of knowing a solid amount of money for getting it underway was there sent a positive wave of emotion over the sub-branches’ members.
Mr Dobson said the intention for the schools program is to hold different sessions with different experts on wars like the Second World War, Afghanistan and Vietnam to teach children about the people involved in those conflicts.
“It’s not so much about remembering war. It’s about remembering the human stories.”
Wanting to make it interactive and engaging for young people, Mr Dobson said technology will be a big part of the refurbishment and construction of the multimedia room.
Planning for the relaying of carpet and construction of the multimedia room will begin as soon as Anzac Day has finished to ensure it can be completed sooner rather than later.
“We’re looking forward to the future now and setting it all up and being able to offer something for the schools.”
Mr Leane said he was pleased to be able to support both RSL clubs in their engagement efforts and the work they do to remember the service of local veterans.
“It’s actually a privilege for us to be able to support you in the work that you do. It’s more of a privilege for us rather than the other way around,” he said.
“It’s an absolute privilege for us to come and learn from you.”
