Last week a contingent of past and present students, school staff and RSL representatives attended the Australian War Memorial (AWM) to officially hand over a copy of the book ‘The Bombala Battlers’ to AWM director Dr Brendan Nelson.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The book came to fruition after four years of planning and research that chronicles the history of 131 men whose names are inscribed on the Bombala Cenotaph.
Three of the student authors, Nikki Hepburn, Hannah Ingram and Teri Roberson along with their English teacher Philip Steele presented the publication to Dr Nelson at a short, informal meeting in the Orientation Gallery of the First World War exhibits at the Australian War Memorial.
Teri Roberson gave an address that detailed the many hours of work that went into the book, as well as acknowledging teacher and co-author Caitlin Morrison, ceremony organiser Philip Steel and Glen Warren for their unending support.
Teri went on to thank the staff of the AWM and the National Archives for the use of their impressive resources and to Delegate’s Sandra O’Hagan who gave so much of her time to proof read, fact check and help with sourcing information.
Dr Nelson said that Australian War Memorial was grateful to the students of Bombala High School for the copy of the Bombala Battlers publication.
”It gives me a feeling of immense pride to see young people making the effort to research and understand what their townsfolk went through and what they sacrificed for our freedoms.”
“There are no longer any remaining First World War veterans alive, and with those from the Second World War steadily fading, it is more important now than ever that the next generations of Australians have an understanding of the Australian experience of war.”
“The students have done a wonderful job in this comprehensive and detailed piece of work and we are honoured to accept the publication into the archives of the AWM National Collection,” Dr Nelson said.
“They have brought to life the stories of young men who gave their all for us and our young nation so that they will be forever remembered.”