[BITList] Fwd: Media release: VA007 GALLIPOLI'S VICTORIA CROSS MEDALS TO TOUR AUSTRALIA [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[John Feltham]

Begin forwarded message:

From: DVA Mailing List <info at dvalists.aaa.net.au>
Date: 23 February 2010 9:17:50 AM
To: <minister-media at dva.aaa.net.au>
Subject: Media release: VA007 GALLIPOLI'S VICTORIA CROSS MEDALS TO  
TOUR AUSTRALIA [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Reply-To: dvamedia at dva.gov.au

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List


VA007 
                                                                                                               Tuesday 
, 23 February 2010

GALLIPOLI’S VICTORIA CROSS MEDALS TO TOUR AUSTRALIA

The Australian War Memorial’s collection of Victoria Cross medals from  
Gallipoli will tour the nation for the first time to commemorate the  
95th anniversary of the landing.

Announcing the tour today, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin  
said it was a valuable opportunity for more Australians to see Anzacs’  
Victoria Cross medals.

“Gallipoli was where the Anzac legend was born. These nine Anzacs  
epitomise the courage and sacrifice of those who fought there,” Mr  
Griffin said.

Australian War Memorial Director Steve Gower said the special touring  
exhibition This company of brave men; the Gallipoli VCs, is presented  
by the Australian War Memorial and made possible through the generous  
support of Mr Kerry Stokes AC and Seven Network Limited.

“The Victoria Cross is the highest form of recognition that can be  
bestowed on a soldier for remarkable and unselfish courage in the  
service of others. The entire nation draws pride and inspiration from  
these brave men,” Mr Gower said.

The nine Victoria Crosses will travel to Western Australia, Northern  
Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland, from 20 March 2010.

Mr Stokes said was always conscious of the special place the VCs have  
in the hearts of all Australians.

“When the Australian War Memorial presented an opportunity to tour the  
Gallipoli VCs for the first time, I personally sought to ensure that  
all Australians would be able to visit the exhibition free of charge  
and learn about the lives of these brave men.  The VCs are such an  
important vital part of our lives, in many respects they are a part of  
our core essence as Australians.

“I am also pleased that Seven is playing such an important role in  
ensuring all Australians are aware of this extraordinary and touching  
exhibition.”

The touring exhibition will feature the medals of Corporal Alexander  
Burton, Corporal William Dunstan, Private John Hamilton, Lance  
Corporal Albert Jacka, Lance Corporal Leonard Keysor, Captain Alfred  
Shout, Lieutenant William Symons, Second Lieutenant Hugo Throssell,  
and Lieutenant Frederick Tubb.

Seven of the nine Victoria Crosses awarded at Gallipoli were for  
bravery during the battle of Lone Pine, on 6-7 August 1915. A total of  
97 Australians have received the Victoria Cross.

Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109

The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be  
contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.
To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email  
subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
IMPORTANT
1. Before opening any attachments, please check for viruses.
2. This e-mail (including any attachments) may contain confidential  
information
for the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient,
please contact the sender and delete all copies of this email.
3. Any views expressed in this e-mail are those of the sender and are  
not
a statement of Australian Government Policy unless otherwise stated.
4. Electronic addresses published in this email are not conspicuous  
publications and DVA does not consent to the receipt of commercial  
electronic messages.
5. To unsubscribe from emails from the Department of Veterans' Affairs  
(DVA) please go to
http://www.dva.gov.au/contact_us/Pages/feedback.aspx
, and advise which mailing list you would like to unsubscribe from.

6. Finally, please do not remove this notice.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com/pipermail/bitlist/attachments/20100223/44170b79/attachment-0001.shtml