Grant Kirby ANZAC Memorial Garden Print Page

The garden commemorates those who have served in the various conflicts in which Australia has been involved. The memorial garden, designed in the shape of a Flanders poppy, is a place where students can sit and reflect on the Anzac tradition, and its values of service, sacrifice, selflessness, mateship and bravery.

The garden was named in honour Grant Kirby who was killed on his first tour duty in Afghanistan. 

Two Australian soldiers have been killed and two others wounded in Afghanistan. Defence Minister John Faulkiner announced the sad news at 10.30 this morning in Canberra.  A statement from Defence said the next of kin of those involved in the incident had been notified. The soldiers were hit by an explosive device.

The dead soldiers have been named as Private Grant Kirby, a 35-year-old father of two, and Private Thomas Dale, who was 21. It was the first tour of duty in Afghanistan for both men.

The Acting Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General David Hurley, said the soldiers died at 10.30am Afghan time on Friday. They were killed in action while standing near their Bushmaster vehicle when an explosive device was activated.
The deaths of the two soldiers brings the number of troops killed during the election campaign to three.

Twenty Australian soldiers had died in the Afghanistan war. Nine have died this year - three during the Federal Election campaign. The most recent casualty was Jason Brown, killed in a firefight with insurgents.
Grant Kirby Obituary provided by Legacy, Herald Sun (NSW) 2010.

Funding  of $20000 was provided in 2015 through the ANZAC Centenary Grants Program for the establishment of the garden. 

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