Albany veteran lets fly on funds

Michael Tugwell has broken ranks with the Albany RSL sub-branch to take aim at the City of Albany council over funding for Albany’s Anzac Day commemorations. Addressing all 13 councillors during Tuesday night’s council meeting, Mr Tugwell said he spoke as an Albany “ratepayer, resident and returned serviceman” — not on behalf of the Albany RSL sub-branch. Mr Tugwell, the sub-branch’s services director, criticised the level of funding the City had allocated for Anzac Day commemorations and compared it with its financial support for the commercial enterprise Racewars. In a letter sent to the Advertiser, the Australian Army veteran claimed that in September the City had advised it would be able to provide $10,000 cash towards Anzac Day services. “Less than 10 hours later at a specially convened council meeting, on September 3, the City of Albany agreed to support Racewars for $35,000 per year over three years,” Mr Tugwell said in the letter. “I am happy for the City to fund or support any activity that is a benefit to the region ... however when on one hand there is “no money” but then there is $35,000 to fund a commercial enterprise as opposed to a public commemorative event that brings worldwide attention and visitors to Australia’s home of Anzacs, then this is wrong.” In the letter, Mr Tugwell claimed the City had since increased its cash contribution to about $13,800 with another $15,000 in in-kind support. He described the in-kind support as “helpful and critical”. But he said a funding shortfall could once again result in diminished services in 2020. “This follows on from 2019, when we were unable to have the complete service as for previous years, with the removal of the big-screen, VIP 2 tent, and relocation of the gunfire breakfast away from the Albany Entertainment Centre,” he said. RSL sub-branches receive annual grant funding from Lotterywest, which is allocated through the State branch. That Statewide annual grant has decreased by more than $50,000 in the past three years. Last week, Nationals WA South West MLC Colin Holt called on Premier Mark McGowan to “rescue” Albany’s Anzac Day commemorations by providing $25,000 in extra funding. A City of Albany spokesman said the City’s funding for Anzac Day services had not decreased. The spokesman said that, in fact, the City had agreed to provide extra money from its municipal funds this year to help ease funding pressure for the RSL sub-branch. The City’s total contribution would be $29,000. “This includes cash sponsorship and direct costs to support the infrastructure and staffing needed for the Anzac Day events,” he said. “Additionally, we provide the RSL valuable administrative support throughout the year to organise Anzac Day and other services they hold.” Mr Tugwell said Albany businesses had chipped in about $15,000 to help keep the Anzac Day services at the level locals and visitors had become accustomed to. “After my approaches to Federal, State and local organizations I believe that this will eventually end up as it should — a three-dimension Government funded public commemorative event. This will not be in place for Anzac 2020,” he said. The City spokesman said its recognition of the importance of Anzac Day was clear through investments such as the National Anzac Centre, Princess Royal Fortress and the Field of Light: Avenue of honour.