Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour Grant Program
- Who can apply:
- Government, not-for-profit groups
- Status:
- Closed
- Funding:
- $1 - $30,000
Up to $30,000 (excluding GST) is available for community groups to restore war memorials, honour rolls and avenues of honour to their original condition or changed to better reflect veteran service in the community. Only one application can be made per project.
This program supports local war memorials in Victoria that commemorate Victorians who served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
You cannot apply for this grant if the project has started.
Applications
Applications open
20 November 2023 to 12 February 2024
Guidelines
The program guidelines include further information about the objectives of the Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour Grant Program, eligibility and assessment criteria and activities that can and cannot be funded.
Download the program guidelines before you apply:
Who can apply?
- ex-service organisations
- local government authorities
- not-for-profit organisations
- educational institutions.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must:
- be an incorporated body - or you can arrange for an incorporated organisation to act as an auspice on your behalf
- if you require an auspice, refer to Auspice arrangements
- failure to be incorporated or provide details of an Auspice arrangement could result in your application being withdrawn
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or provide written advice from the Australian Taxation Office that no withholding tax is required from the grant payment
- be financially solvent
- be based in Australia, provided the project is located in Victoria
- have submitted a final report or progress report for any previously provided or current Victorian Government grant.
Eligibility for unincorporated organisations
Unincorporated organisations are eligible if they are a:
- government entity – for example, a local council
- registered educational institution
- social enterprise with a clearly stated purpose or mission that specifically relates to supporting the welfare and wellbeing of veterans. Social enterprises must attach their constitution to their application.
Social enterprises:- are led by an economic, social, cultural or environmental mission consistent with a public or community benefit
- derive a large part of their income from trade
- reinvest the majority of their profit/surplus in the fulfilment of their mission (at least 50%).
Your organisation must also be financially solvent, based in Australia and the funded project must be delivered in Victoria.
If the war memorial or avenue of honour is situated on local council land it may be appropriate that your local council make the application on your behalf.
Will my organisation need to enter into an auspice arrangement when applying for a grant?
An auspice arrangement is when an incorporated organisation assists an unincorporated organisation to fund a grant activity or event.
The incorporated organisation is known as the auspice organisation. Unincorporated community groups or organisations are known as the grant recipient.
The auspice organisation must formally agree to support your application before you submit it.
Details of the auspice agreement must be included in a letter of support from the auspice organisation. This is a mandatory document for all applications with auspice arrangements.
The Office for Veterans may decide to deal with the auspice organisation (instead of, or in addition to, the grant recipient). It may do this for any aspect of the funding agreement.
The auspice organisation may also be responsible for any GST requirements around grant expenditure if they are not registered for GST. This is because grants paid by the department are exclusive of GST.
You can find out more by downloading the Auspice arrangement template:
Funding is now available under 2 categories.
Stage 1 – Planning
Grants of up to $10,000 (excluding GST) are available for eligible organisations to plan and acquire all the required documents and approvals prior to applying under Stage 2 in a future round. Receiving a Stage 1 grant does not guarantee you will receive a Stage 2 grant.
Funding is available to contract a heritage professional to:
- assess your project to obtain accurate costs
- develop clear timelines to complete a project.
Planning grants are to be completed within 12 months of receiving funding.
Stage 2 - Implementation
Grants of up to $30,000 are available for eligible organisation to carry out their project.
Implementation grants are to be completed within 18 months of receiving funding.
You do not need to have received a Stage 1 grant to be eligible for a Stage 2 grant. However, your application is more likely to be successful if you have considered all requirements and have permits and approvals in place prior to submitting your Stage 2 application.
In the event your Stage 2 application is deemed to be incomplete, we may recategorise your application to a Stage 1 grant. You may be required to resubmit additional information before receiving funding.
Your application will be assessed against other applications, the amount of funding available, and how the project will:
- conserve and maintain the historic fabric and significance of the community war memorial, honour roll or avenue of honour
- improve the experience for people attending commemorative services and visitors to the memorial
- increase community knowledge and appreciation of the local history and purpose of the memorial or avenue of honour
- partner and consult with ex-service organisations, local councils, local business, schools and other bodies.
Merit assessment
We will ask ‘what, why, how and who’ to determine the benefits the project provides to veterans and the wider Victorian community.
How the project:
- conserves the significance of the memorial
- improves visitor experience
- increases community knowledge of a memorial.
What is the project?
- Describe the project and what it achieves.
Why is there a need for the activity?
- Tell us who benefits from your project.
- Explain how your project achieves its goals.
- Explain why your project is necessary.
How is the project planned and what steps are you taking?
- When do you expect the project to start?
- How will the project be delivered?
- What is the budget for your project?
- Have you acquired all required permits and endorsements
Who manages the project?
- Do staff or volunteers manage the project?
- Where relevant, list any other organisations or agencies that will work with you on the project and attach support letters.
- Do you have the capacity to complete the project in 12 months if it is a Stage 1 project, or 18 months if a Stage 2 project?
- Do you need to consult with others for this project?
You should not have any expectation of receiving ongoing annual funding.
Our decisions
All decisions are final.
This includes decisions about:
- any aspect of the funding application
- eligibility and assessment process
- withdrawing or cancelling the offer or award of a grant agreement under Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour.
Assessment period
Applications are assessed during the 2 months after the closing date. We may contact you if we need more information.
Application outcomes
We notify successful and unsuccessful grant applicants in writing.
Stage 1 funds may be used for:
- Site analysis
- Preliminary research
- Appointing a heritage contractor, consultant or arborist to undertake a heritage assessment or develop a management plan (see find a heritage consultant)
- Concept designs
- Required permits from local councils or Heritage Victoria
- Trade assessments and quotations
- Preparation and full scoping of proposed works and their impact on the significance of the memorial to be undertaken by a qualified heritage advisor/ consultant/ conservator/ arborist.
Stage 2 funds may be used for:
- Re-pointing the brickwork or stone of a memorial.
- Repairs to broken statues or plinths that form part of a memorial.
- Repairs to barriers and fences that surround and protect a memorial.
- Rectification of sinking foundations or lifting paving around a memorial
- Re-lettering and re-gilding Honour Boards and Memorials
- Treatment of rusted original memorial gates or fences.
- Installation of additional plaques at the site of the existing memorial or additional names on the memorial or honour board (see below “missing names” and “new plaques”).
- Installation of explanatory walls or interpretation panels.
- Restoration of commemorative plaques that form an integral part of an avenue of honour.
- Replanting of an approved species or maintenance of trees that form part of an original avenue of honour.
- Provision of seating, paving or lighting to allow better access to a commemorative site.
- Relocation of a memorial to its original position or to a new position if the current location poses safety or heritage risks.
What cannot be funded
- Applications from individuals.
- Memorials for individuals other than Victoria Cross recipients.
- Works that detract from or harm the historical significance of the original memorial, for example, inappropriate signage.
- Projects that are covered by another government grant program e.g. flag poles (see Saluting Their Service, Restoration of war graves (see War Graves).
- The creation of new memorials, honour rolls or avenues of honour (this is funded via the Victoria Remembers Grant Program).
- Restoration, preservation and/or display of wartime heritage that is not an integral part of the war memorial or avenue of honour, such as driveways, paving or walkways.
- Projects that have already commenced or have been completed.
- Projects that are the clear responsibility of another State or Commonwealth Government program.
- Internal operational, management or wage costs (fees for the hire of skilled or professional labour for specialist restoration work are acceptable as a project cost).
- Equipment, like vehicles or computers (including software).
Conservation principles
Plaques
New or additional plaques should not be attached to historical memorials. They should be installed near (not on) the memorials. They can be attached to:
- new commemorative walls
- low-level plinths
- seats
- set in pavers at the site.
Replacement plaques, emblems or replacement badges should be consistent with the original design and materials of the memorial.
Do not place missing names on existing memorials over the top or replace original plaques or lettering. Missing names and re-lettering may be re-cut on World War One or World War Two memorials if the remaining stone is strong enough. This should be done by a qualified heritage stonemason using traditional hand cutting techniques that match the original font and size.
Do not correct misspelled names on historical stone memorials or marble or wooden honour boards. Make corrections on a separate plaque installed near the memorial.
Use traditional methods and materials for re-gilding and re-lettering.
Cleaning
On historic memorials, do not use:
- sandblasting
- high-pressure water blasting
- silicone sealants
- permanent graffiti barriers
- harsh chemicals like acids or bleach.
Off-the-shelf cleaning products may also harm original materials. A qualified contractor with experience with historic memorials should do the cleaning, including removal of lichen or algae.
Repairs and repointing
Use traditional materials and follow the principle of replacing like with like. Traditional materials such as lime mortar should be used when repointing stone or brickwork on memorials. Works should be in accordance with Heritage Victoria's Heritage Technical Codes.
Avenues of Honour
You will need to submit an arborist assessment report if you’re replacing missing trees or maintaining or pruning existing trees. The report needs to include the species, age and condition of the trees and the reason for replacement.
The arborist should focus on retaining original trees or replacement with the same species wherever possible. A comparable species may be appropriate:
- where climate change or other issues are present
- where use of a different species would not harm the significance of the avenue of honour.
You are encouraged to consider installing sympathetic interpretive signage telling the:
- history of the avenue of honour
- those who served from the local community.
New signage should not hinder appreciation of the avenue of honour or original signage. Original signage should be retained where possible and treated by a conservator if necessary.
Honour boards
A qualified conservator should undertake the restoration of historic timber honour boards.
Original lettering or varnish should not be stripped from historic honour boards.
Do not use modern vinyl cut letters be used.
You can include costs for transporting an honour board to a conservator in your application.
A paper or photographic conservator should undertake works to paper, cardboard or photographic honour boards.
Step 1: Prepare supporting documents
Your application is more likely to be successful if you provide a high level of detail to support your request. Before beginning your online application for Stage 1 (Planning) or Stage 2 (Implementation) grants, you should consider obtaining the following information, where relevant:
- Show that you understand the history and significance of your memorial. Research background information by searching the Victorian Heritage Database or other sites like Monument Australia.
- Applicants for Stage 1 (Planning) grants - get advice from a relevant heritage professional. They can help you understand which type of report is best suited to your memorial.
- High resolution photos showing the damage, deterioration and work needed including close-up and long-distance images and any draft designs.
- A letter from the owner of the land approving the project if the memorial or avenue of honour is on private land (not applicable for applications from local councils).
- If adding plaques, signage or seating, provide measured drawings and annotated aerial maps (where possible) showing where these will be located in respect to the war memorial or avenue of honour.
- If relocating a memorial, include measured drawings and annotated aerial maps showing the original and new location.
- A letter of support from the local RSL Sub-Branch or other local ex-service organisation indicating the community significance of the memorial.
Note: general letters of support such as those from Members of Parliament or state-based organisations are not required and will not be considered in our assessment.
Specific to Stage 2 (Implementation) applications, consider obtaining the following, where relevant:
- For applications relating to memorials, provide an itemised quote(s) and detailed scope of works from a stonemason or builder experienced with heritage memorials.
- For applications relating to avenues of honour, provide documents from a qualified conservator or arborist. Include condition and treatment reports.
- An assessment report. The report can be by:
- your local council's heritage advisor
- a qualified heritage advisor, arborist or consultant.
- If the memorial, honour board or avenue of honour is on the Victorian Heritage Database, include an approved Heritage Victoria permit. Note: applications not related Victorian Heritage Register-listed memorials should not contact Heritage Victoria.
- If the memorial or avenue of honour has a Heritage Overlay, include an approved council permit.
For additional information on what is required for Stage 1 (Planning) and for Stage 2 (Implementation) grants refer to the How to Apply Guide. The guide will also help you to consider the heritage values and material aspects of your memorial, and the appropriate approaches to its conservation and maintenance when developing your application.
Step 2: Apply online
Applications are currently open.
Submit an application via the Grants Gateway
Applicants will be notified by email around Anzac Day 2024.
To find other Victorian Government funding opportunities, you can log in to the grants gateway and search for grants under the Available Grants tile or visit the Grants and program webpage.
For users returning to view a submitted Office for Veterans application, log in via the grants gateway and you will find applications under the My Submitted Applications tile.
If you are successful, you will be required to enter into a Common Funding Agreement with the Department that sets out the terms and conditions along with reporting requirements of the grant.
It may not be possible to fund all projects for which applications are submitted. You may however be offered a smaller funding amount than applied for in your application. In this instance, a revised project plan and budget may be requested.
The project must be completed within the timeframe specified in the funding agreement. Any variation or extension to an approved activity must be requested in writing and submitted to the Department for approval prior to implementation.
Funds must be spent on the project as described in the application and Common Funding Agreement and any unspent funds must be returned to the Department.
A final report is required to acquit the grant (see Reporting section below).
Successful applicants are required to fill out reports in line with their funding agreement.
A final report is required to acquit the grant and issue final payment (if applicable).
If you have any outstanding final (acquittal) or progress reports for any Fairer Victoria funded program, you will need to submit your report in order to receive new funding.
For any enquiries or to submit a report, veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au
Successful applicants are required to fill out reports in line with their funding agreement.
Reporting templates
Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour Grant Program Final Report template:
Victorian Heritage Register
Recipients are requested to upload images and descriptions of their final project outcomes on the Victorian Heritage Register.
A condition of funding requires that the Victorian Government is acknowledged in:
- speeches and presentations about the project at openings or launches
- press releases
- documents, publications, websites, reports, brochures, posters, fliers and signage for example
- the government should also be given the opportunity to contribute a message for any relevant publication
- Failure to meet these requirements may result in future grant applications not being considered.
Download a copy of the Acknowledgement and Publicity Guidelines:
You can also refer to the funding agreement for details of these requirements.
Government representative opportunities
Where possible you should give the government’s representative an opportunity to open or launch the funded project, and invite them to events.
If you launch or open the funded project at a public event or similar, you must give the relevant Minister the opportunity to officially open or launch the project. You must also invite key Department representatives and the Minister to all significant events associated with the project.
You will need to give adequate notice (DFFH recommends at least two months’ lead time) and work with DFFH to coordinate the Minister’s or their representative’s role in the opening or launch, or their attendance at events.
For general enquiries, call the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356.
If your question is urgent, or relates directly to this program, contact us directly by emailing veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au.
When you contact us, please provide us with the following information:
- your organisation
- your name and position
- your phone number
- your email address (if different to the address you're emailing from)
- application or opportunity (OPP) reference number (if applicable)
- the grant program you are enquiring about
- your enquiry.
We will endeavour to address your question either by return email or phone call as soon as possible.
Organisation Project name Amount Bass Valley Friends of the RSL
Auspice: Bass Valley Lions Club InternationalRestoring Bass Memorial Avenue of Honour $15,000 City of Ballarat Boer War Memorial Restoration Project $50,000 Digby Hall and Recreation Reserve Inc Avenue of Honour Restoration $4,416 Emerald RSL Sub-Branch Repair of Statue of the Unknown Soldier $4,378 Greater Shepparton City Council Calder Woodburn Memorial Avenue Nameplates $10,443 Inglewood / Bridgewater RSL Sub-Branch Restoration of Rheola war memorial archway and flagpoles $1,760 Kingston, Friends of the Avenue Inc Kingston Avenue of Honour Tree Replanting and Replacement of Plaques $46,509 Mount Alexander Shire Council Guildford Avenue of Honour Stage 2 $50,000 Moyne Shire Council Replanting of the Mortlake Avenue of Honour - stage 2 $50,000 Nathalia/Picola RSL Sub-Branch Nathalia War Memorial Restoration Stage 2 $11,364 Riddells Creek Primary School
Auspice: Riddells Creek Lions ClubRiddells Creek War Memorial $50,000 St Jude's Anglican Parish, Carlton Restoration of St Jude's Anglican Church 'World War 1 Honour Board' $20,289 Tooborac Mechanics Hall and Reserve Committee of Management Incorporated Tooborac Cenotaph and War Memorial Precinct Renovation $10,000 Organisation Project Amount 3rd Cavalry Regiment (Vietnam) Association Inc Renovation of the Avenue of Honour, Tongala, Victoria $26,318.10 Ballan RSL Sub-Branch Stage 2: Barry's Reef WW1 Avenue of Honour Restoration Project $29,675.00 Bass Valley Friends of the RSL
Auspice – Bass Valley Lions Club International
Bass Avenue of Honour $30,000.00 Boroondara City Council St. James Park Cenotaph Restoration $7,400.00 City of Greater Dandenong Pillars of Freedom and Dandenong Memorial Cenotaph Restoration $9,860.00 Gembrook RSL Sub-Branch Gembrook RSL War Memorial and surrounds restoration $5,000.00 Healesville RSL Sub-Branch Healesville Primary School Memorial Gates restoration $5,000.00 Hume City Council Westmeadows War Memorial Upgrade – Planning Phase $10,000.00 Moorabool Shire Council Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour Preservation Plan $10,000.00 Portland RSL Sub-Branch Portland War Memorial Conservation $12,820.00 Seville Township Group Repair work to the Seville War Memorial $28,890.20 St Arnaud RSL Sub-Branch Inc St Arnaud Cemetery Memorial Restoration $7,650.00 Warrenbayne Recreation Reserve Warrenbayne Memorial Storm Repair $15,000.00 Yarra City Council Fitzroy Town Hall World War 1 and 2 Honour Roll Boards $1,935.00
Updated