The 34th Australian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery Association will be able to publish a history of its gunners thanks to a Commonwealth Government grant.
“It is my pleasure to congratulate the 34th Australian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery Association at Balnarring on receiving $1000 from the Government’s Saluting their Service grants,” Flinders MP Greg Hunt said.
The group will use the grant to publish a history of its gunners entitled The Best of the Echo.
“These grants will contribute to telling the story of those Australians who served our nation in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations as we commemorate the Centenary of ANZAC,” Mr Hunt said.
The 34th Australian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery Association president Gordon Cameron said the grant would allow the gunners to share their collective story.
“We are delighted to receive this Commonwealth Government grant to enable us to publish this book,” Mr Cameron said.
“This has been a work in progress for many years and it will be lovely to finally see it in print.”
Mr Cameron was one of hundreds of young Australian anti-aircraft gunners who were sent to defend Horn Island in the Torres Strait between 1942 and 1944.
Mr Hunt said the grants presented an opportunity for community groups to honour war heroes in a way that was fitting to the local area.
“The Australian Government has recently awarded more than $274,000 in grant funding to support projects of national significance that will honour the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women,” Mr Hunt said.
“Many of the projects awarded through the Saluting their Service grants program will become permanent tributes to those who served our country.”
Local community and ex-service organisations interested in applying for future grant funding rounds should visit www.dva.gov.au/grants or phone 133 254.
Media contact: Samantha Robin on 03 5979 3188 or 0427 787 166