$900,000 for Maryborough Military History Trail
7th December, 2015
Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss today announced stage two of the iconic Duncan Chapman Military History project will receive $900,000 under the Australian Government’s National Stronger Regions Fund.“This $1.8 million project is of national significance and has the potential to draw tourists from all over Australia to Maryborough and the Fraser Coast,” Mr Truss said.
“The landmark war memorial will tell the stories of courage, sacrifice and service of our diggers and preserve the Anzac legend for generations.
“The stage two project will feature an 8 metre high representation of the cliffs of Gallipoli ahead of Duncan Chapman’s statue in Maryborough’s Queens Park. Information bays between three panels of cliffs will convey the Gallipoli story and sculptures will depict the landing scene at Anzac Cove. A trench walk depicting the Western Front and a memorial commemorating the battle of Pozieres, where Major Duncan Chapman was killed, will complete this unique, interactive, memorial.
“The trail will form an interpretive tour linking existing local attractions and new works. It recognises and commemorates the Wide Bay’s significant links to military activities, and its training and support services on the home-front,” Mr Truss said.
Local commemorative military attractions linked with the precinct include the nearby Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum, which houses internationally renowned medal collections and displays; Maryborough’s cenotaph; other local commemorative installations; a life-size bronze statue of a Light Horse and rider at Hervey Bay; and the wreck of the World War I hospital ship, Maheno, on Fraser Island .
The Fraser Coast Regional Council has committed $900,000 and in-kind support worth $100,000 to complete stage 2 of the project and further community and government contributions are expected. The Council will be responsible for project management and supervision of the works.
“I congratulate Nancy Bates, the Queensland Branch, Returned and Services League of Australia, and the Wide Bay Regional Development Australia Committee for their work to develop this successful National Stronger Regions Fund application,” Mr Truss said.
“Submissions under this Round were very competitive and the standard of applications higher than the previous round,” Mr Truss said.
“This shows that applicants have thought seriously about how well their project addresses the objectives of the Fund.”
“Funding is supporting investment in a diverse range of infrastructure nationwide, from transport infrastructure to tourism, cultural, sporting and healthcare facilities.
“These projects are identified as priority infrastructure by local communities. The Fund particularly encourages communities to form partnerships between not-for-profit organisations, local, state and territory governments as well as the private sector.”
The National Stronger Regions Fund is delivering $1 billion over five years to promote economic growth and address disadvantage in Australia’s regions.
More information on the National Stronger Regions Fund, including a full list of successful Round Two projects and details on the application process, is available online at www.infrastructure.gov.au/nsrf.
