May 4th, 2020Funding for reserve

MOUNT Macedon’s iconic Memorial Cross Reserve is being enhanced with $50,000 funding from the Victorian Government.

The reserve is a major attraction in the Macedon Ranges region and has a long history of community use, although an increase in visitor numbers has put pressure on the reserve environment and infrastructure.

The funding will go towards a detailed heritage analysis to preserve and enhance the site’s commemorative features.

It will also ensure more stories of local WWII veterans can be depicted at the site, in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII this year.

The detailed planning and works follow the master plan for Mount Macedon completed by La Trobe University’s Community Planning and Development Unit last year, which showed a more than 66 per cent increase in visits to the cross in recent years.

The grant is one of 63 to be delivered across the state to build and repair memorials, preserve stories and maintain the wellbeing of veterans as part of four grants streams: Victoria Remembers, Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour, the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund and the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War Two.

Minister for Veterans, Robin Scott said the Mount Macedon War Memorial Reserve was one of the most significant war memorials in regional Victoria.

“This is about preserving the history of our state and ensuring that we never forget the great sacrifice our veterans made.”

Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said the grant was “terrific news for our community and for everyone that has worked so hard to ensure the reserve continues to welcome visitors well into the future”.

“The Reserve has been attracting record visitors in recent years – this funding means we can cater for those bigger crowds and preserve the site for generations to come.”