MEDIA RELEASE 21.4.08
SLIM DUSTY FOUNDATION CELEBRATES GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT

Despite a report in a Sydney newspaper that suggested that the Slim Dusty Centre project progress may be slowed due to delayed State Government Funding, nothing could be further from the truth.

Speaking from the Slim Dusty Foundation office in Kempsey today, the General Manager of the Foundation, Kathryn Yarnold, said that she was in receipt of a most welcome letter from The Hon Gary Gray AO MP, the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia, stating that the $6 million pledge made on the 3rd of November, 2007, by the former Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Mark Vaile MP, will indeed be honoured by the new Federal Government.

The letter, received on Friday, states “The Australian Government will deliver on its 2007 Election Commitments to regional Australia made under the Better Regions initiative. The Government’s $6 million commitment to the Slim Dusty Centre project is to be managed by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.”

“Whilst we always remained confident that the new Federal Government would continue the support of this mighty Australian initiative, it is comforting to see their commitment to the Slim Dusty Centre, in writing. The Centre will certainly be about Slim and his life, but it will also depict the heritage of Australia and its people, and we believe that the Government’s support echoes the voice of the people in getting behind the Slim Dusty Foundation” said Ms Yarnold.

The $6 million commitment made by the Federal Government is in addition to their initial pledge of $1.5 million made in 2004. Whilst the Slim Dusty Foundation is still awaiting an announcement from the State Government to match this initial Federal pledge, there is absolutely no reason to doubt that the State Government, too, will continue their strong support of the project, with an announcement expected in the very near future.

Ms Yarnold added “The State Government were the very first to recognise the tremendous community benefits that the Slim Dusty Centre will generate into the future, economically and socially. Previously the State has funded our Business Plan and Website, and opened up a 12 hectare site under lease for the Slim Dusty Centre to be built on the Pacific Highway at Kempsey. The entire Slim Dusty Foundation team remain fully optimistic that the State Government will follow the Federal Government’s indication of support with a strong financial commitment that will be an investment into the future of regional New South Wales. “

Chair of the Foundation, Joy McKean OAM added her elation at the Federal Government Commitment and her faith in the State to continue their wonderful support. “While confirmation of the level of funding at times seemed slow, we have been quietly confident of forthcoming support.  Given the State Government’s past assistance and encouragement, we have been sure that this critical funding would eventually be made available, in order to advance a project of such importance nationally, and to the Macleay River district and its people”, she said from Sydney today.