Funding has been found for works at the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross.
The Mount Macedon Memorial Cross Committee of Management said the group has been awarded $150,000 under the federal government’s Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program to support critical accessibility and safety works at the cross.
The works will prioritise public safety and disability-inclusive access, while also protecting the memorial’s heritage fabric, the committee said.
Committee chair David Mann thanked Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh, McEwen MP Rob Mitchell and state Veterans Minister Natalie Suleyman for their support in securing the grant and its amendment to support the cross works to be included.
“This funding places us in a strong position to reopen the cross, but we will continue working with the community to complete the remaining restoration works and secure the memorial for future generations,” he said.
The committee said this will bring the cross project significantly closer to reopening the site ahead of Anzac Day.
However, the committee said it is still short of the needed $200,000 for the total project funding, with additional funding still required to complete the full scope of restoration works and ensure the long-term conservation of the memorial.
The committee said it continues to seek community and philanthropic support to close the remaining funding gap.
