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16 TPI VICTORIA INC. • CHINup WINTER 2018 • WWW.TPIVIC.COM

Affairs and Trade on suicide by veterans and ex- (around A$120,000) to complete new visitor facilities. This is
service personnel. in addition to the A$440,000 already contributed to
Vignacourt as part of the Australian Remembrance Trail.
The Commission will also review the governance
arrangements, administrative processes and service delivery “The importance of this discovery and the work here to
of the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio. preserve the story of the Thuillier’s and their extraordinary
collection cannot be overstated.”
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the inquiry
will build on the Government’s agenda of placing the needs of The other site to receive funding is the Naours Caves, a three-
veterans and their families at the centre of the services kilometre long complex of tunnels which became a tourist
provided by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. attraction for soldiers in the area during the First World War.
“In 2015, more than 2000 individual inscriptions by Allied
“As we mark 100 years of repatriation and continue caring for soldiers were found in the caves, of which more than 730
the next generation of veterans, this inquiry will help inform Australian names have been so far identified,” Mr Chester
how we deliver services for our ex-service men and women said.
and their families into the future,” Mr Chester said.
“These inscriptions are a wonderful historical record and the
The Commission is due to report to Government within 15 Australian Government is proud to contribute €20,000
months. (A$30,000) to help secure, protect and preserve this
important part of our history.
Public consultation will be undertaken as part of the inquiry
and the Government encourages all interested parties to “This is a very special place, and we will work closely with the
participate. Further information and the terms of reference local authorities over the coming years to ensure a positive
are available on the Commission's website. visitor experience at this key stop on the Australian
Remembrance Trail along the Western Front.”
Treasurer:
Andrew Carswell 0418 505 376, Kate Williams 0429 584 675 Further information on the Australian Remembrance Trail
along the Western Front, including a Traveller’s Guide, can be
Minister Chester:
Whil Prendergast: 0427 672 815 accessed on the Sir John Monash Centre website.
Media Contacts:
Whil Prendergast: 0427 672 815
DVA Media: 02 6289 6466

The Hon Darren Chester MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC

MEDIA RELEASE – Sunday 22 April 2018 The Hon Darren Chester MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
Australian Government supports outstanding French Sites Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC
TWO of the sites on the Australian Remembrance Trail along
the Western Front will be enhanced and preserved, ensuring MEDIA RELEASE – Sunday 22 April 2018
the contribution of Australians in the First World War is never
forgotten. Sir John Monash Centre opens on ANZAC Day 2018, the
Centenary of the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux
Ahead of the official opening of the Sir John Monash Centre, THE centrepiece of Australia’s Anzac Centenary 2014–18, the
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester announced Sir John Monash Centre, opens in France today, honouring
funding of €95,000 (around A$150,000) for projects in more than 295,000 soldiers who served on the Western Front
Vignacourt and Naours. and the 46,000 who died there.

“The small French village of Vignacourt has become famously The Sir John Monash Centre, named after the commander
associated with the Thuillier Collection, a large collection of who led Allied troops to victory at the famous Battle of Hamel
well-preserved glass plate negative photographs of Allied in 1918, is located alongside the historic Australian National
soldiers from the First World War which was discovered in Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, north of Paris.
2011 after almost a century,” Mr Chester said.
The Centre was officially opened by Prime Minister of
“Following the discovery of the fantastic Thuillier Collection, Australia, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, and the Prime
which includes some 800 images of Australian soldiers, Minister of France Édouard Philippe.
interest in Vignacourt’s part in the war is very high and that is
why the Australian Government is providing €75,000