FEDERAL GRANTS HELP TO TELL STORIES IN SOUTHERN TASMANIA

TWO regions in Southern Tasmania will get the benefit of new funding announced from the Federal Government’s Community Heritage and Icons Grants Program.

Federal Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson is pleased to announce that the Port Arthur Historic Site successfully applied for two projects under the Community Heritage and Icons Grants Program.

Environment Tasmania will also get $10,000 for its $11,000 project to install interpretation panels along the Twisted Sister Walking Track on the Gordon River Road in the Florentine Valley.

The interpretation will be for the natural and cultural values of the tall eucalypt forest in the Florentine now included in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

At Port Arthur, funds will be used to produce the historic site’s woodchop and sports 150th anniversary booklet as well as interpretation and other information for the site’s History in Action project.

The booklet will explore how the community connects with the Port Arthur Historic site through this event which is one of the longest running sports carnivals in Australia.

History in Action will research archives in five historical story-lines, one of which will be selected as stimulus for a performance script

The three projects in the electorate of Lyons were among those funded for 30 community groups and organisations nationally to receive $1.4 million to celebrate places of national significance in their communities which are recognised on Australia’s National Heritage List.

“These Tasmanian projects will provide opportunities for our community to come together and to celebrate these local places of historic significance,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.

Places on Australia’s National Heritage List have been recognised for helping to define our nation’s historic, natural and indigenous culture, Mr Hutchinson said.

“I encourage people to visit these sites and learn about the places that tell their part of the story of our country’s unique and diverse heritage.’’

There will be another application round for grants from this program early next financial year.

More information will be available at http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage
FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson