Media release – Minister Keogh – Marking their final resting place

OFFICIAL

THE HON MATT KEOGH MP

Minister for VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

MEDIA RELEASE

10 March, 2026

MARKING theIR FINAL RESTING PLACE

The service and sacrifice of our First World War veterans should never be forgotten.

Yet many lie in unmarked graves because they lacked the family or funds for a funeral.

Today the Albanese Government is announcing the previously unmarked graves of almost 200 First World War veterans across Australia will be forever honoured with an appropriate marker.

Funding totalling $113,000 will go to 26 organisations and individuals nationwide through the latest round of the Marking Private Graves Program, with individual grants up to $620 per grave marker.

An estimated 331,800 Australian personnel were deployed during the First World War.

Approximately 60,000 were killed or are listed as missing in action, leaving some 270,000 service men and women who returned to Australia.

Official commemoration in the form of a graveside memorial was provided to more than 30,000 of these service men and women, whose death was accepted as directly related to their war service.

The remaining 240,000 First World War veterans were buried privately, some of whom are at rest in unmarked graves.

The Making Private Graves grant program enables communities to posthumously honour the memories of First World War veterans buried in that way by permanently marking their final resting place, helping preserve our military history.

This year’s recipients include RSL sub-branches, cemetery trusts, historical societies, and individuals committed to honouring veterans. The full list of recipients is available below.

More information about the MPG grant program is available on the DVA website.

Audio of Minister Keogh speaking to this announcement can be accessed here.

MEDIA CONTACT:

DVA Media: [email protected] 

Authorised by The Hon Matt Keogh MP.