Anzac stalwart quits

One of the driving forces behind the planned $9 million Anzac Interpretive Centre in Albany will step away from the project after two years work.

Peter Aspinall was the chairman of the Albany Centenary of Anzac Alliance until its dissolution last month in favour of a new State Government-led committee called the Anzac Interpretive Centre Implementation Group.

Mr Aspinall was invited to be part of the new group, but has declined.

The Vietnam veteran and current RSL Albany sub-branch president was diplomatic after his decision.

“There are two main reasons – one is if you live very close to a project you become rather precious about it and I don’t wish to be that,” he said.

“The second one is basically for the last two years I’ve been totally unpaid in what is virtually a full-time job, and I’ll be happy to have some free time.

“But I have no doubt that the commitment (in the new group) is there and I’ve got no doubt the project is going to go ahead.”

Mr Aspinall said he would not completely walk away from the project and would be available in an advisory capacity.

Albany MP Peter Watson said he could understand if Mr Aspinall was disillusioned after indications the project may be scaled down.

“I don’t blame him, he has put his heart and soul into this project, and has run into brick walls,” he said.

Speaking in Albany this week, Opposition leader Mark McGowan guaranteed the centre would be completed to full specification by the November 2014 deadline if the Australian Labor Party was elected to State government in March.

WA Labor has pledged a $15.6 million package of Anzac funding for Albany.

The State Government has committed nearly $6 million for Anzac works on Mt Clarence and $2.2 million for the centre.