2026-27 Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants Program

Edward “Teddy” Sheean VC was an ordinary seaman serving on HMAS Armidale whose death during a Japanese aerial attack on his ship has become a well-known episode in Australian Second World War lore. Many consider that Sheean’s actions deserved the Victoria Cross, an award for which he was not recommended at the time, although he was Mentioned in Dispatches.

Teddy was subsequently honoured for his heroism and was invested with the Victoria Cross for Australia on 1 December 2020. He is the first member of the Royal Australian Navy to be awarded a VC, the 101st ADF member overall and the 15th Tasmanian.

This continues Tasmania’s proud history of VC winners and maintains the State’s status of having the most VC recipients per-capita of any Australian State or Territory.

Teddy is also honored in a well-known painting at the Australian War Memorial and has a Collins Class submarine named after him – the only vessel in the Royal Australian Navy to be named after an ordinary seaman.

Under the Tasmanian Government’s 2030 Strong Plan, the Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants Program 2026-27 (the Program) aims to:

• • assist Tasmanian ex-service organisations and clubs undertaking minor capital works or purchasing equipment
  • contribute to veterans' welfare by delivering initiatives that support wellbeing and strengthen community connection
  • contribute to community organisations constructing, maintaining, or repairing war memorials, helping Tasmanians to continue honouring veterans through attendance at Anzac Day and other commemorative services.

The total funding pool for this Program is up to $100,000. All amounts listed are GST exclusive

• Category 1: grants of up to $20,000 are available for minor capital works and/or refurbishment.
• Category 2: grants of up to $10,000 are available for equipment purchases.
• Category 3: grants of up to $10,000 are available for welfare initiatives.
• Category 4: grants of up to $20,000 are available for the construction, maintenance and repair of war memorials.

Applicants must indicate on their application whether they will accept partial funding.

Eligible organisations may apply once*, under multiple categories to a combined maximum of $30,000.
*If an eligible applicant applies and also auspices[1] another organisation(s) for this Program, then the auspicee applies under their legal name and the application must include formal written confirmation from the auspicing organisation that it will accept the relevant administration, legal and financial responsibilities for the grant.

The project must be completed, and the grant money expended within 12 months.

[1] Auspicing is when an eligible organisation (the auspicor) helps unincorporated organisations (the auspicee) fund their activities. An auspice agreement is a legally binding contract, where the auspicor enters into the Grant Agreement/Deed and receives the project funding.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact veterans@dpac.tas.gov.au or call us on 1300 13 55 13.