Media Release
Dated: 6th February 2025
‘Save Our Shrine Campaign Launched’
Military veterans and concerned citizens have launched a ‘Save Our Shrine’ organisation and website in Melbourne to protect the Shrine of Remembrance from being transformed into a tourism and entertainment venue.
The Group’s spokesperson Peter Whitelaw said, today the Shine had been 'deliberately turned' from its
memorial of respect to all Veterans' into a ' commercialised venue to 'pay for bloated staff and crass
advertising campaigns' in an 'apparent desperate move by the 'State government to save money'.
“Save Our Shrine has been launched by a group of concerned veterans and citizens of Victoria with the sole purpose of precipitating change in the strategies and operations of the Shrine of Remembrance," he
said.
"We hold accountable all those who are responsible for the change - the administration of the Shrine
and the Minister Natalie Suleyman.
“Sadly, the Shrine of Remembrance has undergone a deliberate transformation from its intended role as a memorial to respect all veterans who have served in our defence forces to a commercialised event venue.”
The Group’s initiative follows the New Year’s Eve Bollywood dance party on the sacred Shrine Forecourt that was arranged by the City of Melbourne and the recent announcement by the Shrine management that they have signed a contract with caterer Peter Rowland to operate the Shrine as a dining and drinking event venue.
“For $185 per punter you can chew on a gourmet bone and guzzle some wine while gawking at the war memorabilia of those sailors, soldiers and aviators who served our country, many of whom died for us. The first disrespectful event of this type will occur on March 27 as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival,” said Mr Whitelaw.
“The issue seems to be that the State Government is desperate to save money. They are now tipping over $6m a year into the Shrine to pay for a bloated staff and crass advertising campaigns designed to attract more and more tourists and conduct entertainment events. The problem is that the Shrine can never make a profit. They could save money by simply reverting the Shrine to be a memorial that should be preserved for its original purpose – respect, gratitude and remembrance,” he added.
“We have launched a website www.saveourshrine.info to communicate the emerging situation at the Shrine to the people of Victoria and we are asking them to express their views so that we can hopefully achieve a change in policies. We are also willing to meet with the Minister to discuss a suitable resolution. Respect for those who served the nation and those who died for what we have today cannot be commercialised.”
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For further information: Peter Whitelaw: Phone 0411 107 039
Peter Whitelaw was appointed (for life) as a Shrine of Remembrance Trustee in 1995. In 2000 his role was changed to Life Governor responsible for hosting remembrance ceremonies. He has served as an army officer and has also been awarded life membership of the RSL. Both his grandfathers fought in WW1, his father served in WW2, his eldest son served recently in the Middle East and his eldest grandson is now an army reservist. He has suspended his role as Shrine Life Governor to protest about the current Shrine situation.