Tom Parry
ROSEDALE RSL Sub-Branch has received a state government grant to upgrade its Hall on Hood St.
The non-profit organisation was allocated $7900 through the Veterans Capital Work Program, which will go towards renovating the Rosedale RSL Hall’s kitchen facilities.
Sub-Branch president Phillip George said the organisation was “very pleased” to receive the funds.
“Our vice-president, Brett Wilson, he put a lot of time into putting in the application for the grant,” Mr George said.
“We ‘ummed’ and ‘ahhed’ whether we were going to get it or not, but when found out that we got it, he was more than over the moon.”
The planned renovations have been 18 months in the making, with several donations having already been made by the community toward an upgrade.
“The Lions Club donated the money towards the flooring, rangehood and sink; we’ve had another person that donated a stove; (and) a good couple of years ago we had Leeson’s (Logging and Cartage) donate a fridge,” Mr George said.
Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh recently visited the Rosedale RSL Hall to spruik the upgrades.
“This funding will help ensure we continue to honour the service and sacrifice of the veteran community in Rosedale,” Mr McIntosh said.
“I commend Phillip George and the committee of the RSL for their important work.”
Work on the kitchen – which was last refurbished over six decades ago – is expected to begin next month.
It is hoped the renovated kitchen facilities will be fully utilised by both the RSL and the wider Rosedale community.
According to Mr McIntosh, the project is one of 55 across the state offering practical support for the veteran community, as well as commemorating their incredible contributions.
Funding for the projects, which totals “more than $1.4 million”, is being distributed through three grant programs focused on veterans and their families.
A total of 31 projects across Victoria will receive funding through the Veterans Capital Works Grant Program, which funds facility upgrades of up to $50,000 for not-for-profit and ex-service organisations.
Another 13 organisations are sharing in more than $324,000 of funding through the Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour Grant Program, which funds projects that restore or improve war memorials, honour rolls and Avenues of Honour across our state.
There are also 11 organisations across the state receiving funding through the Victoria Remembers Grant Program, which provides grants of up to $30,000 for projects commemorating veterans’ service or educating Victorians about the contributions that veterans and their families have made.
All applications are assessed by the Victorian Veterans Council, an independent body that provides advice to the Government on issues affecting the Victorian veteran community.
