War memorials in 25 council catchments across NSW are to benefit from almost $250,000 in grants to fund conservation work.
On a visit to Orange today, Veterans Minister David Harris announced the list of successful recipients of the latest round of Community War Memorials Funding.
The list of 27 memorials are spread across 25 council areas and recipients include councils, RSL sub-branches and community groups.
“Local communities across the state are proud of their military history and the vital threads their war memorials weave into our cultural fabric, enabling us to reflect on over 100 years of our veterans’ service and sacrifice,” he says.
“I want to encourage local communities to consider applying for the 2026 round of the community war memorial fund for any restoration work their memorials may need.”
EARLIER STORY: Applications for grant funding now open
MEMORIALS KEEP LOCAL HISTORY ALIVE
Orange City Council has been given $12,265 to conserve the Newman Park Great War Memorial Avenue by replacing paving, minor landscape work to improve accessibility and preserve the memorial.
Orange City Council Mayor Tony Mileto says the funding will “help preserve an important part of Orange’s history”.
“Newman Park’s Memorial Avenue honours the sacrifice of 17 young men from East Orange Public School who served in the Great War (WWI).
“We’re proud to support improvements that will make this site safer, more accessible, and continue to serve our community,” he says.
Further south, Woodstock War Memorial Hall, near Cowra, built in 1924, will get $11,590 to fund conservation work on its World War I Honour Roll.
Hall committee vice-president Alison Rutledge says conservation work is “much needed”.
“The Honour Roll was made to commemorate the men from the area that served during World War I and consists of a metal board with a decorative border and 66 names listed in six columns in the centre printed onto an individual brass plate,” she says.
“The conservation works will facilitate treatment of the World War 1 copper alloy honour roll and individual brass plates in the hall.”
She says preserving the roll will allow the small village to keep its local history alive for generations to come.
In the state’s north, the Anglican Parish of Lismore received $1980 for repairs to its stained-glass memorial windows in the Warrior Chapel of the Garrison Church of St Andrew. The windows, completed in 2015, will be sealed to protect it from the weather.
Anglican Parish of Lismore co-ordinator Dr Ross Lehman says they “greatly appreciate” their $1980 grant.
“The repairs will ensure that the surroundings of all memorial windows in the Warrior Chapel remain leak-proof from the many storms that occur in the Northern Rivers.”
Applications for the 2026-27 grant funding will run next year (April-June, 2026).
For details about the program and a full list of successful recipients, click here: https://www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/heritage/community-war-memorials-fund.
