Up to 160 of Tasmania’s World War I veterans had unmarked graves at Carr Villa Memorial Park, but work has begun to place headstones on those graves so their relatives have somewhere to pay their respects.
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The work has been driven by The Headstone Project’s director Andrea Gerrard, with support from volunteers and the federal government.
Mrs Gerrard applied for a grant through the federal Stronger Communities Programme and the project received $12,500, which was used to help buy a new vehicle for the project’s use.
“This is a big deal for the Headstone Project as this ute now makes this project easier to deliver,” Mrs Gerrard said.
“Our little old ute didn’t have quite the same grunt as this one. Now with our trailer in tow we can now jump in the ute and go anywhere in Tasmania and be ready to work,” she said.
Bass Labor MHR Ross Hart joined Mrs Gerrard at the cemetery on Monday as work began to lay the headstones.
“It is important that we make time to recognise our veterans, and I am glad that the $12,500 from the Stronger Communities Programme was able to assist Andrea and The Headstone Project to purchase this ute,” Mr Hart said.
“There are many returned First World War veterans who, for a variety of reasons, have ended up in unmarked graves in Tasmania.
“The Headstone Project has identified 160 graves here at Launceston’s Carr Villa Cemetery, that will now be marked by a headstone,” he said.
Tasmania’s government has also committed $40,000 to the project.
The Headstone Project was established in 2012 to address the significant number of Tasmanian World War I veterans who rest in unmarked graves.
It is run by a volunteer committee who aim to put headstones on up to 800 veteran graves in the state.
For more information about The Headstone Project visit theheadstoneproject.org and on Stronger Communities visit business.gov.au/assistance/stronger-communities-programme
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