The Andrews Labor Government has announced a new round of funding for the War Heritage Collections Training Program and Member for Werribee Tim Pallas is encouraging ex-service organisations in Wyndham to lodge an Expression of Interest.

The program is a great opportunity for ex-services organisations to receive expert training and support to help them protect, preserve and increase access to their military history.

Training helps recipients produce a report identifying conservation, significance and exhibition priorities, repair and stabilise memorabilia and exhibit and digitise collections.

Recipients also receive up to $5,000 bursary for the conservation, digitisation or archival needs of their collection.

The War Collections Training Program has been a highly successful part of the Victorian Government’s Veterans Heritage Project, run in conjunction with Museums Australia (Victoria).

Previous recipients include:

• Wangaratta RSL Sub-Branch;
• Melbourne Legacy;
• Lara RSL Sub-Branch;
• Dandenong Cranbourne RSL Sub-Branch;
• Ringwood RSL Sub-Branch.

The ex-service organisations that have already participated in the War Collections Training Program have preserved items such as clothing, weapons, medals, and souvenirs from a range of conflicts such as WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

All the collections can be seen at victoriancollections.net.au.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“We have a proud war time legacy in Wyndham, and it’s our duty to preserve these memories for younger generations.”

“I encourage all our local ex-service organisations to take advantage of this important initiative.”