Selected students took the opportunity to attend the all-expenses paid trip to the memorial which was the winning prize of a Remembrance Day competition organised by the Merimbula RSL sub-branch.

More than 30 students from combined schools, Eden High School, Merimbula, Pambula and Wolumla Public Schools visited Canberra with three Merimbula RSL sub-branch members and teachers who guided the day tour.

Principal of Wolumla Public School Peter Claxton said the trip was very memorable for students. 

Mr Claxton said a highlight of the trip was when local Vietnam Veteran Phil Hall paused at the gun turret from the HMAS Brisbane which he had worked in. 

“He was able to give the kids an incredibly personal recollection of what it was like to serve on one of these vessels, it was just amazing,” Mr Claxton said.

Mr Claxton appreciated the RSL sub-branch members’ efforts in sharing their personal stories of war with students.

“Tony Toussiant’s stories of his time at war diffusing mines and how he was injured added a personal element that was very special,” he said.

“When you go to a war memorial there are a lot of things to look at around you, but to actually have the RSL personnel with us to guide us and provide their personal side was just exceptional and made it such a fantastic day,” Mr Claxton said.

President of the Merimbula RSL sub-branch Allan Browning said the trip was enjoyed by all.

“It was a great day, when we arrived we broke off into groups and explored the war memorial,” Mr Browning said. 

“They were a terrific bunch of kids and were all so very well behaved.”