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From “The Maitland Mercury” (online)

http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/business-snubs-anzac-plan/2259259.aspx

Business ‘snubs’ Anzac plan
ALAN HARDIE
16 Aug, 2011 04:00 AM
A Maitland RSL chief has voiced his “shock and disappointment” at several major Hunter firms that have refused to donate money to send school children to Gallipoli in 2015 because they won’t be able to claim it back in tax refunds.
“Some of these companies are out there on the rooftops, crowing about how good they are to the community,” Maitland RSL sub branch vice-president Fred Goode told the Maitland Mercury yesterday.
“But it seems they are only prepared to donate what they can get back – it is very disappointing.”
The Hunter RSL branches have to raise about $110,000 by March 1 to pay for shipboard accommodation for 20 children and four teachers from local schools who will be chosen to visit Gallipoli battle sites for the 100th commemoration of the Anzac landings in 1915.
Hunter communities have so far raised about $27,000 for the students’ stay aboard a 5-star liner, which will sail from Venice to Istanbul for the ceremonies, returning the same way. The students will be accompanied by Turkish and Australian military historians who will explain the significant landing sites.
“The problem for us is that the RSL does not have gift recipient status for this particular project of sending students to Gallipoli,” Mr Goode said. “This status enables companies to get back in tax what they donate to us.
“Because we don’t have this gift recipient status, some companies don’t want to know us and we look on this as a snub to our Anzac tradition. It is very disappointing because this trip is not for us; it is for Hunter children to learn first hand about the Anzac tradition and to bring back that knowledge for their classmates.”
Mr Goode said the attitude of other companies could only be praised.
He singled out Bloomfield Colliery “at the back of East Maitland” that had already donated $500 each to Maitland High School and Kurri Kurri High for the project.
Mr Goode also highlighted the more than $2500 raised by the Merriwa community.
Hunter Valley District Council of RSL sub branches president Brian Boughton said students would be staying on the ship during their Gallipoli trip because accommodation ashore would be very hard to find at that time.
“Many people think 2015 is a long way off, giving plenty of time to raise the money,” Mr Boughton said. “But the reality is that by March 1, we have to have raised the outstanding $110,000.”