School students show support for young veterans via Postcards of Honour

Young veterans are front and centre of the Postcards of Honour program, coordinated by RSL sub-Branches, which aims to educate school students via a creative learning activity.

By Lachlan Haycock

At a glance

The Postcards of Honour program is designed to educate younger Australians about the meaning behind the Middle East Area of Operations Commemoration.
Veterans from RSL sub-Branches visited schools to share their experiences in and out of Defence, and receive handmade postcards in return.
“It’s important … for younger veterans to actually have a day for themselves,” says Redfern RSL sub-Branch member Victor Guevara.

The inaugural Middle East Area of Operations Commemoration took place on 11 July, commemorating veterans of recent conflicts.

Initiated by members and hosted by RSL NSW, the commemoration was marked by RSL sub-Branches across the state alongside a service in the Sydney CBD.

A core component of the occasion was Postcards of Honour, a creative learning activity for NSW school students coordinated by RSL sub-Branches and designed to educate younger Australians about the meaning behind the day.

Students from dozens of NSW schools were encouraged to write and decorate a postcard in recognition of veterans’ service, which were then presented to local veterans.

“Postcards of Honour is a way to connect the younger generation to this particular commemoration, but also to commemorations of service personnel more broadly,” says Ross Edwards (above), Senior Vice-President of the Cronulla RSL sub-Branch, who placed a postcard at the commemoration in Sydney.

“It’s incredibly important to bring the younger generation along with us to ensure that these traditions continue.”

Victor Guevara (above), who is an Army Reservist and a member of the Redfern RSL sub-Branch, placed a postcard at the same service.

“I’m one of only a few veterans at the sub-Branch who participated in the Middle East Area of Operations,” says Guevara. “So I was invited to join the service and assigned to place one of the postcards.

“My postcard was very touching; on the front was the silhouette of a soldier, with desert colours in the background, and a thank you message from the student was on the back.”

Guevara stresses the value of the occasion for young veterans, who often face unique challenges post-service.

“Look at how it took years and years for Vietnam Veterans’ Day to come about,” he says. “It’s important, I think, for younger veterans to actually have a day for themselves.”

Heartwarming gesture

Joining Postcards of Honour with gusto, the Medowie RSL sub-Branch ended up with nearly 260 postcards from 10 different schools.

As a garrison town, Medowie has a robust veteran population; many of the cards have been delivered to current Defence personnel at the nearby RAAF Base Williamtown, says sub-Branch Secretary Lyn Edmonds.

“So many of the students have a family member who was involved in the Middle East area of operations,” she says. “The sub-Branch worked closely with the Defence liaison officer at local schools, including Medowie Public School, to organise their involvement in Postcards of Honour.

“We kept the affair very low-key and played it by ear, letting the liaison officer guide us. Some of the children have parents still suffering from injuries or illness, so we had to respect that.”

Medowie RSL sub-Branch President Bernie Edmonds, who spent time in both Afghanistan and Iraq, was warmed by the emotional display of acknowledgement and respect.

“It was very touching,” he explains. “The experiences of their parents are etched in the kids’ memories; it’s tough when their mums and dads go away for six months, for example. So it was touching to read the messages of support on the cards – it came from the heart.

“We involve Medowie Public School and other schools as much as possible in commemorative services such as ANZAC Day. Everyone comments on how pleasing it is to see them involved.”

Veterans from a host of other sub-Branches have organised school visits in their local area to engage the younger generation, with some planning to organise activities in the coming weeks.