Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley has pledged funding for Moama RSL. Pictured is Moama RSL sub-branch vice-president Leigh Bennett, Sussan Ley and Moama RSL sub-branch president Ken Jones.
Photo by
Supplied
Moama RSL sub-branch president Ken Jones has called in the heavy artillery in his campaign to have the cenotaph in Moama updated.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
On Tuesday, April 8, he met with Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley to pitch for the project he described as “long overdue”, and she has pledged to back the upgrade.
Ms Ley said the Saluting their Service Commemorative Grants Program was the perfect fit for the cenotaph and Moama RSL.
After touring the club’s commemorative gardens and inspecting some of its exhibits, Ms Ley said she was impressed at what the club had achieved without any federal funding.
She said it was time for the sub-branch to get a helping hand from the coffers in Canberra.
Ms Ley, Mr Jones and Mr Bennett in the Moama RSL sub-branch memorial garden.
Photo by
Supplied
“I will be supporting the proposal and the application for money to increase the presence and capacity of the cenotaph,” Ms Ley said.
“Ken has told me today the Dawn Service there in 2024 drew more than 2000 locals, and that is reflecting what we are seeing across the country, with numbers going up every year.
“Anzac Day in particular is our chance to say thank you to all those who have served — regional NSW has given up so many young lives across too many wars.”
Mr Jones said the sub-branch would stage its Dawn Service at the cenotaph at 5.55am, and asked for those attending to assemble by 5.45am on Friday, April 25.
The service will be immediately followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Moama RSL club.
The Moama Anzac Day march will assemble at 8.15am at Echuca St behind the Moama Post Office.
It will step off at 8.40am to the Moama cenotaph, where a commemorative service will start at 9am.
“Our speaker this year is retired British Army Major Rabia Siddique, who has an astonishing story of her bravery under fire alongside special forces units in Iraq in 2005,” Mr Jones said.
“I think it will be a story everyone will want to hear.”
Mr Jones said the annual Anzac Day badges appeal would begin the week of Monday, April 14, with purchases able to made at Woolworths Moama.
“Every purchase, no matter how small, will directly benefit the work we do with all our veterans and their families,” he said.
16°C