FUNDING CUTS DISAPPOINT TASMANIA'S EX-SERVICE AND VETERAN COMMUNITY
THE ex-service and veteran community in Tasmania is showing its disappointment at the Australian War Memorial funding cuts that led to the corporate sponsorship of a solemn ceremony.
A petition against the Rudd Government’s move has attracted hundreds of signatures of veterans from right across the state.
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra commemorates all Australians who have fought for their country and particularly those who gave their lives for us.
The daily sounding of The Last Post gives visitors to the memorial a chance to pause and reflect on their sacrifice in one of our most solemn and important traditions.
For memorial directors to have to go out and get corporate sponsorship for the sounding of the Last Post dishonours our ex-service and veteran community.
Speaking after a Remembrance Day service at Wynyard, local RSL sub-branch president Trevor Duniam also criticised the funding cuts to the Australian War Memorial.
Mr Duniam told The Advocate the cuts were ``absolutely insulting to the blokes who have served’’.
The petition calls for the war memorial to receive sufficient funding to enable the daily sounding of the Last Post.
It can be signed at participating RSL sub-branches in Tasmania or by contacting Senator Parry’s office on 1300 760 788.
When the petition is tabled in the Senate in the New Year it is hoped the Government will get the message that the community expects better – that cutting funding to our national war memorial is just not appropriate.
