As the country prepares to commemorate the Anzac centenary this weekend, the Young and District Family History Group wanted to contribute in their own way.
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Since January a dedicated committee of volunteers have been compiling profiles of all the men and women from around the Young Shire who served in World War I, inviting the community for their input.
The result was more than 450 names - along with photos, and information on their backgrounds, service and life after war - now on display at the Young Town Hall until Anzac Day.
“It is very moving,” committee president Nellie Cram said.
The display includes public submissions of family members, collages of students’ interpretations of servicemen and women from St Mary’s Primary School and online records from the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Project compiled by the University of NSW in Canberra.
Committee secretary Bec Oehm said they were granted permission from UNSW to reproduce the records that are linked to Young in some way.
“They either came from Young or surrounding areas, or their next of kin came from Young, or something like that,” Bec said.
“It was a committee decision to do this… with the 100th anniversary, we know World War I just doesn’t go for this year but we wanted to do something for Anzac Day.”
So they reached out to the community to help, exhausting all forms of communication.
“Eventually it will all be compiled in a book - that’s the whole aim,” Bec said.
Among the submissions, was Craig Watson’s grandfather and great aunt.
Craig is currently enroute to Gallipoli with his two children and offered to take the list of 491 WWI servicemen and women from Young to place at memorial sites.
“That’s how the connection came about with Craig,” Bec said.
“He brought me to tears when he told me what he wanted to do… it’s (the collection) not finished yet, no where near it but it’s a start and they gave so much.”
The display at the Town Hall is free and open to anyone 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday until April 24.
Bec and committee member Margaret Hall will be at the hall tomorrow between 10am and 12pm for anyone with questions.
The committee has hopes to open the display following the Anzac Day ceremony outside Town Hall on Saturday between 12pm and 2pm.
“If anyone still has anything we’re still more than willing to accept it,” Bec said.
“Thank you to the public for their whole involvement, from making submissions to setting up the display… the mayor John Walker also gave us a lot of help.”
