A Memorial for all gunners, past, present and future
Our Vision
A Memorial that tells the story of all Australian Gunners past, present and future
To deliver an extension to the Memorial by the end of 2026 so that the service of all Australian gunners is recognised, honoured and commemorated
Our Mission
Our Values
Focus - we will keep to the task we have been set
Excellence - we will deliver an extension that makes gunners proud
Economy - we will deliver good value for money
Flexibility - we will be adaptable, innovative and agile
Collaboration - we will work collegiately and with all our stakeholders
About the Project
The service of Australian gunners is commemorated by the Royal Australian Artillery National Memorial, which stands atop Mt Pleasant in Canberra. The Memorial was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 9 March 1977. It features panels that recognise service in campaigns from the Sudan to South Vietnam, but it is silent on the contribution of gunners over the past 50 years, and there is no space for additional panels. This shortcoming leaves many younger members of the gunner community feeling they have been forgotten.
The Royal Regiment has initiated a project to address this issue. The project will extend the Memorial to provide panels for six contemporary campaigns and operations and allow for the easy addition of further panels in the future. The extension will bridge the gap between historical and contemporary service, telling the story of all Australian gunners, past, present and future, and ensuring that they are honoured and recognised. The project aligns with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide by contributing to the mental well-being and social inclusion of serving soldiers and veterans. The Regiment intends that the updated Memorial will be re-dedicated in 2027 to coincide with the 50th anniversary year of its original unveiling.
Funding the extension will be heavily reliant on the generosity of donors and supporters.
The project will achieve meaningful and measurable impacts, particularly in:
Fostering a sense of belonging by enhancing the Memorial as a space where all Defence members and veterans, but especially, gunners, feel represented, acknowledged, and connected.
Promoting mental well-being by providing a dedicated space for healing and reflection, contributing to improved mental health outcomes for Defence members and veterans.
Enhancing community engagement by strengthening public awareness and understanding of military service, encouraging greater community support and helping to link Defence members and veterans to the community from which they are drawn.
The story of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery National Memorial
The Memorial’s stone outer wall is symbolic of the early forts that defended many of the ports of the Australian colonies. The central Memorial plinth incorporates the Regimental badge and commemorative and descriptive plaques. The plinth in flanked by two rifled muzzle-loading 64 pounder guns, which were originally a part of the Sydney Harbour defences.
Inside the wall there are eight panels listing the wars and campaigns in which Australian gunners had served at the time of the Memorial’’s construction. These are flanked at each end with the panels bearing one of the Regiment’s mottos, and its Battle Honour: Ubique (Everywhere). The site of the Memorial was selected because it is a designated saluting location and gun salutes are still fired from the Memorial site.
The current Memorial was conceived by Major General John Whitelaw, AO CBE. The RAA National Committee, comprising Whitelaw as chair and Colonels Commandant from each state, raised funds through tax-deductible donations and an Art Union. A formal proposal was submitted to the National Memorials Committee in September 1975, and construction was completed 18 months later
Gold Business Benefactors $25,000 +
RSL Australia
Silver Business Benefactors $10,000 -> $25,000
The Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company has been a strong supporter of the RAA National Memorial extension project, providing advice and other essential services from the outset. They continue to advocate on behalf of the project and have demonstrated tremendous generosity by donating $20,000 to this important Gunner initiative. On behalf of the project team and the RAA, thank you.
The Royal Australian Artillery's Representative Colonel Commandant, MAJGEN Craig Furini, recently presented the RAA National Memorial Extension Project certificate of appreciation to Mr John Fry, Managing Director of Kongsberg Defence Australia, in recognition of Kongsberg's generous donation of $15,000 to the project. This is the first in what the Memorial extension project team hopes is a series of major donations from the business sector. Support such as this will add significantly to the project's fundraising total as the team focusses on the drive to reach its goal of $500,000. As former Gunner officers, both John and Doug Mallett, the Head of Business Development at Kongsberg Defence Australia, appreciate the importance of the Memorial in recognising the service and sacrifice of Australian Gunners in campaigns and operations up to 1977. Through this generous donation they have now led the way in demonstrating their support for plans to extend the Memorial to ensure it includes the campaigns and operations on which Gunners have served over the last 50 years, with capacity to also include those that may follow. On behalf of the Regimental Committee, the officers and soldiers of the RAA, both serving and retired, the Gunners extends its sincere gratitude to Kongsberg Defence Australia
Bronze Business Benefactors $0 -> $10,000
The Royal Australian Artillery Gunners Fund has made a generous donation of $5,000 to the RAA National Memorial extension project. The support being shown from across the Gunner community is very much appreciated. On behalf of the project team, thank you.
Individual and Family Benefactors
Samuel McAneney
Bob McEvoy
Shaun Montgomery
Des Mueller
Ken Murphy
Samuel O’Neal
Michael Paramor
Douglas Perry
John Platt
G Potter
Glyn Potter
Ash Power
Bill Reid
Robert Richardson
Peter Robinson
Jacqueline Rohrs
Gavin Ross
Charles Slinger
Peter Smith
Bruce Stark
Paul Stevens
Paul Symon
Warren Tapp
Ian Taylor
RAA Officers’ Association Tasmania
Joanna Topfer
Balaka Trust
Paul Tys
Nick Ullin
Arlen Wendt
Matt White
Vince Williams
Phil Winter
N L Whitelaw
Aaron Foster
Craig Furini
Benny Gray
James Groves
Jack Hatton
Geoffrey Hay
Wade Higgins
Damian Hill
Chris Hunter
Edward Jackson
Darryl Kelly
David Kelly
Michael Kennedy
James Kerr
Mary Kingsford
Peter Lawrence
Bob Lowry
Iain MacInnes
Peter Manucci
Steve Mathers
Saiful Bashar
Greg Bilton
James Box
Terry Brennan
James Casey
Steven Cathcart
David Coghlan
Frank Colley
David Connery
John Cox
Mike Crane
Janice Crawford
Lachlan Crawford
Robert Crawford
Thomas Dunne
Martin Dutton
David Edwards
John Fairless
David Ferguson
Nick Floyd
News and Social Media
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National Memorial Project
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Deputy Regiment Master Gunner Address
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Army Newspaper
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Representative Colonel Commandant Address
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19 Chief Engineer Works
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![The Duntroon Society]()
The Duntroon Society
FAQs
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The RAA Memorial was opened in 1977 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to honour the service and sacrifice of Australian Gunners in conflicts since 1885. However, it does not acknowledge campaigns and operations of the past 50 years. As a result, many recent veterans and currently serving members feel that their contributions are not valued in the same context. The extension aims to address this by recognising major operations since 1977, ensuring that contemporary service is acknowledged and honoured. This initiative also aligns with key recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which called for greater recognition of modern veterans.
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Preliminary estimates place the cost of the Memorial extension at approximately $460,000. The team is actively seeking ways to reduce this figure, and a more refined estimate will be available once structural engineering designs are finalised.
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The project team is pursuing a mix of in-kind support, public and philanthropic grants, and corporate donations. However, it is expected that a significant portion of the funding will need to be raised through donations from the broader community.
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The project timeline anticipates that 2025 and early 2026 will focus on fundraising, planning approvals, and tender documentation. The construction and certification phases are scheduled for late 2026, with handover targeted by the end of that year. However, several significant anniversaries in 2027 may serve as alternative and meaningful dates for the re-dedication of the extended Memorial.
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The project is being supported by several key organisations:
The Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company (RAAHC)
The Australian Artillery Association (AAA)
The Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) – providing architectural and structural design support
UNSW Engineering Faculty – contributing technical expertise
We are deeply grateful for the generous and ongoing assistance and support of these partners.
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The success of this project relies on strong community backing. You can help by:
Spreading awareness across your networks
Promoting the significance of the Memorial extension
Making a donation or encouraging others to contribute
Most importantly, help ensure that the service and sacrifice of Gunners from the past 50 years is properly recognised and honoured.
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To stay up to date on the project:
Follow the Facebook pages of the Royal Australian Artillery, RAAHC, AAA, and RSL Australia
Visit their official websites
Look for updates in Defence newspapers, e-newsletters, and via direct emails to RAA Associations across Australia
More resources, flyers, and donation links will be shared regularly through these channels.
About Us
The Project Team
-Regimental Committee’s Representative: Major General Michael Crane DSC & Bar AM
-Project Manager: Lieutenant Colonel Matt White
-Chief of Staff: Colonel Charles Weller
-Finance and Fundraising: Captain Andi Dimmock
-Project advisor: Major (Retd) Darryl Kelly
Contact Us
Email: RAANM2027@gmail.com
Postal Address: PO Box 7225, Duffy, 2611, ACT