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Dateline - June 23, 2010
 $695,000 to support local initiatives for Australian veterans

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin, today announced $695,413 in funding to support initiatives that promote good health and wellbeing for veterans and widows across Australia.
Mr Griffin said the funding, made available through the Australian Government’s Veteran & Community Grants program, would benefit some 11,600 members of the veteran community.

“Men’s Sheds, Day Clubs and the social activities organised by RSL sub-branches make a big difference to veterans’ lives and I’m pleased to announce the Government’s support for these supportive and inclusive community activities,” Mr Griffin said. “Today’s funding supports initiatives encouraging healthy, social and active lifestyles for the veteran community, some with a particular focus on nutrition such as cooking classes.
Mr Griffin said this year’s Veterans’ Health Week, to be held from 19 to 25 July, will focus on the importance of good nutrition. Local organisations play a vital role in encouraging healthy eating in the veteran community, particularly through initiatives funded through Veteran & Community Grants,” he said.

Veteran & Community Grants also help to fund a wide range of initiatives including programs to improve social interaction and access to community care services. “It is important that veterans, war widows and widowers have access to activities that give them the skills to remain healthy, independent and active, particularly for those living by themselves,” Mr Griffin said.
Veteran and Community Grants - Tasmania recipients
  * The Burnie Legacy Widows Club will receive $2853 to help fund a series of bus trips for veterans to help reduce social isolation.
Veteran and Community Grants - West Australian recipients
 

* The Stirling Community Men’s Shed will receive $22,000 to help purchase woodworking tools and machinery for use by local veterans.

* The West Australian RSL Branch (on behalf of the Dongara RSL sub-branch) will receive $4490 to help purchase new electronic and audio visual equipment for the RSL club rooms.

* Greenbushes RSL sub-branch will receive $5475 to help upgrade its kitchen with new whitegoods.

* The Beverley Men’s Shed will receive $2500 to help purchase new equipment including a mitre and band saw for use by its Men’s Shed participants.
Veteran and Community Grants - Victoria recipients
  * The trustee for Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL sub-branch will receive $23,344 to help repair the roof of its RSL house as a result of water damage.

* The Moe RSL sub-branch will receive $15,290 to help fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among its members.

* The Oakleigh Carnegie RSL sub-branch will receive $4488 to help purchase a shade sail to enhance and expand social and healthy lifestyle activities for its members.

* The Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Geelong and District Sub-branch will receive $16,671 to help fund equipment to establish a drop-in centre for its members.

* The Heathland Day Club will receive $8898 to help fund computer and entertainment equipment to establish a Day Club.

* The Warragul RSL will receive $8885 to help fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

* The Echuca Regional Veterans Support Centre will receive $6930 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

* The Port Fairy Men’s Shed will receive $5133 to help purchase whitegoods and entertainment equipment to establish a Men’s Shed.

* The Broadmeadows Remembrance Memorial Association Inc will receive $6450 to help fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Merri Day Club will receive $2174 to help fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Cheviot Day Club will receive two grants; $3698 to help purchase a first aid kit and entertainment equipment to assist with establishing a Day Club; and $3395 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The National Servicemen’s Association of Australia Mallee Sub­branch will receive $3183 to help purchase computer equipment to produce a newsletter.

* The Royal Australian Regiment Association Victoria Branch will receive $2332 to help purchase computer equipment to produce a newsletter.

* The Coleraine RSL Sub-branch will receive $2633 to purchase kitchen items and entertainment equipment for the recreational area within the RSL.

* The Morwell RSL Sub-branch will receive $4730 to help purchase a data projector to assist with healthy lifestyle presentations.

* The Mitcham RSL (Veterans’ Wives Group) will receive $6200 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Heidelberg West RSL (Heidelberg Legacy Widows’ Club) will receive $3838 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Heart to Heart Activities Group of the Red Cross Centre Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital will receive $8686 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Terang Men’s Shed will receive $3232 to help purchase kitchen and entertainment equipment for the Men’s Shed.

* The Essendon Legacy Widows’ Club will receive $6222 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Forster RSL Sub-branch will receive $3333 to help replace unsafe floor coverings at the club.

* The Islanders Day Club will receive $3650 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Hamilton and District Legacy Club will receive $3600 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Bentleigh RSL sub-branch will receive $3540 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Mirboo North Bowling Club Inc will receive $5700 to help purchase chairs for the clubrooms.

* The Mortlake RSL Sub-branch will receive $4256 to help purchase furniture and electrical items for its clubrooms.

* The East Malvern RSL Sub-branch will receive $10,000 to fund the construction of two concrete disabled ramps and a disabled toilet.

* The Royal Australian Electrical Mechanical Engineers Association in Victoria will receive $3741 to help purchase computer equipment to produce a newsletter.

* The Meeniyan Bowling Club will receive $7500 to help purchase an inline water chiller and benches for the outside bowling area of the club.

* The Koo Wee Rup Community Men’s Shed will receive $3751 to help fund two Cooking for One or Two courses to encourage healthy living practices among the local veteran community.

* The Hampton RSL Sub-branch will receive $50,200 to upgrade its kitchen, toilets and dining room, and to contribute towards lighting on the lawn bowls rink and the construction of a deck.
Veteran and Community Grants - South Australia recipients
  * The Strathalbyn RSL Sub-branch will receive $44,683 to help refurbish the clubroom kitchen, complete associated electrical work and install vinyl floor coverings.

* The Blackwood and District RSL Club will receive $5500 to help purchase a mounted ceiling projector and screen to enhance activities at the club.

* The Barmera RSL Sub-branch will receive $22,500 to help upgrade the toilet facilities, insulate a wall and refurbish flooring at the club.

* The Largs Bay RSL sub-branch will receive $65,500 to help upgrade and improve the disabled toilet facilities at the club.
Veteran and Community Grants - Queensland recipients
  * The Dalby RSLA Sub-branch will receive $72,200 to purchase a 22­seat community bus to enhance and expand lifestyle activities for local veterans.

* The Redcliffe TPI Centre will receive $3600 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Yeronga Dutton Park RSL Sub-branch will receive $3500 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation.

* The Royal Australian Air Force Association Fraser Coast Branch will receive $2287 to help purchase a photocopier and publisher software for the production of a monthly newsletter.
Veteran and Community Grants - New South Wales recipients
  * The Castle Hill and District RSL Sub-branch will receive $3945 to help purchase equipment to enhance its day club activities.

* The Kingscliff RSL Sub-branch will receive $3250 to provide funding for a 12-month program of day tour bus trips to help reduce social isolation for members.

* The Australian National Servicemen’s Association Inc will receive $12,318 to help purchase a trailer and equip it with a barbecue and associated equipment for use by members at social activities.

* The Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Jervis Bay Sub­branch will receive $4500 to help deliver a nutrition education and cooking program for veterans and general community members.

* The Armidale RSL sub-branch will receive $7666 to help purchase equipment and conduct training to aid the establishment of the All Seasons RSL Day Club.

* Boolaroo Speers Point RSL Sub-branch will receive $3040 to help purchase computer and entertainment equipment to improve and develop the existing Cockle Bay RSL Day Club.

* The Bellinger River District RSL Sub-branch will receive $2929 to purchase computer and entertainment equipment for the Bellinger River RSL Day Club.

* The Naval Association of Australia Port Macquarie Sub-section will receive $4477 to help fund four separate day trips to various locations around NSW.

* The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association (NSW) will receive $4187 to help purchase a covered trailer with barbecue and other equipment to provide monthly mobile outdoor activities.

* The Dungog Men’s Shed will receive $8395 to help purchase metalworking and woodworking equipment to enhance the activities at the Men’s Shed.

* The Woodburn and Evans Head RSL Sub-branch will receive $7878 to help purchase tools and equipment for use by the Evans Head Community RSL Men’s Shed.

* The Blackheath Mount Victoria RSL Sub-branch will receive $8801 to help purchase a security and public address system for the club.

* The Naval Association of Australia Illawarra Sub-section will receive $1700 to help purchase a colour laser printer, computer and software to produce a monthly newsletter.

* The Cowra RSL Sub-branch will receive $1469 to purchase cooking equipment to run Cooking for One or Two workshops at the Sub-branch.

* The RSL Bowls Zone ‘7’ will receive $5250 to help fund a series of four bus trips to attend bowls tournaments throughout the region.

* The Lithgow Legacy will receive $1910 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

* The Hawkesbury Division of Sydney Legacy will receive $7110 to help support the continuation and expansion of a Tai Chi program.

* The Blaxland/Glenbrook RSL Sub-branch will receive $3074 to help purchase a public address system to support the activities of the Sub-branch.

* The Woodburn and Evans Head RSL Sub-branch will receive $6707 to help purchase equipment to establish the Evans River RSL Day Club.

* The National Service and Combined Forces Association of Australia Maitland District Branch will receive $608 to help purchase a mobile public address system for use at club activities.

* The Port Macquarie RSL Sub-branch will receive $15,300 to fund four separate day tours to various locations around NSW.

* The South West Rocks RSL Sub-branch will receive $2000 to help purchase a gym floor covering at the South West Rocks Surf Life Saving Club which is a shared facility and used by many veterans from the Sub-branch.

* The Central Tablelands TPI and Social Welfare Club will receive $6202 to help purchase computing and general office equipment to produce a monthly newsletter.

* The Wangi Wangi RSL Sub-branch will receive $46,541 to upgrade the kitchen, and purchase furniture and entertainment equipment.

* The Vietnam Veterans’ Association of Australia NSW Central West Sub-branch will receive $23,385 to purchase a fully equipped catering trailer.