Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s election, the RSL is one step closer to achieving its dream of upgrading the Soldiers Memorial Institute in Pall Mall.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Since unveiling plans for a multi-million dollar upgrade on the historic building last year, the Bendigo District RSL has sought funding from all three levels of government for the $4.2 million project.
The City of Greater Bendigo has pledged $800,000, the RSL has raised $500,000, and now both major parties have committed federal funding to the project.
On Wednesday, the Coalition announced it would match the $1.7 million promised by the Labor Party in May to help fund the redevelopment.
Now all that is needed to secure the funds for the first major works carried out on the war memorial in the past five decades is a state government contribution of $1.2 million.
Currently, the RSL is waiting on the outcome of a grant application submitted to the state government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.
If successful, it will be the second time in three years that all levels of government have contributed funding to a Bendigo project. The other being the creation of Ulumbarra Theatre, which has already become a Bendigo icon.
The well-needed upgrade to the building will help rejuvenate a slice of Bendigo’s history and bring it into the future.
A new gallery space at the rear of the existing building is included in the plans and is designed to attract the best RSL exhibits from across Australia.
The gallery will include state-of-the-art climate control features to accommodate touring exhibitions from the War Memorial in Canberra and the exhibition space will be located at ground floor level, with the storage and preparation areas within the upper level roof space.
Not only is this beneficial to our community, but also to the many visitors our city attracts each year.
Bendigo has a thriving tourism industry and the upgrades will only help further that.
But perhaps the most important benefit, what such an investment shows and means to those who have served our country and fought for us.
Now all we need is for the state government to step up and help bring this fundamental piece of our history into the future.
Ashley Fritsch – journalist