MORE than 250 school children converged on Noble Park RSL last week to pay tribute to the Anzacs.
Sub-branch president John Meehan said the service on Wednesday 22 April focused on World War I and the 100th anniversary of Australia’s landing at Gallipoli.
“It was all about the kids. I was just so proud of them that they showed so much interest in the different things they were saying,” he said.
“We got the message across to the kids about the 100 year anniversary.
“Some of the men who went away to the war were not much older than the kids.”
Mr Meehan said the children represented 11 schools from the area.
“Their mouths were open at some of the things we were saying. You could see that they were really listening,” he said.
“The information that we gave to these kids I’m sure they’ll remember from now on.
“They were asking such beautiful questions and seemed so interested.
“They presented us with a beautiful plaque that is now on the wall in our foyer.”
He wants them to remember the 60,000 Australian soldiers, sailors and airman who didn’t come home from the WWI battlefields.
“Soldiers have gone off to more wars since then,” he said.
“We want to remember the kids that are still over in Afghanistan now.”
Students also viewed a Vietnam War education team display.
Men dressed in original WWI uniforms led horses during the service to represent the mounted troops of the Australian Light Horse.
“A lot of them had been with their horses for four years,” Mr Meehan said.
“The horses that had saved their lives, they had to leave them in the desert.”
Mr Meehan and his RSL comrades also visited nursing homes last week to conduct commemorative services. He urged them to watch the Melbourne march on television on Anzac Day.
“The World War I and II blokes, we saw them marching when we were young,” he said.
“We will be limping our way up St Kilda Road as well, following in the footsteps of those beautiful men.”
