Every veteran has a story worth telling. Through the Stories of Service initiative, Geebung RSL and Aspley State School have helped bring those stories to life for the next generation.
The partnership connects Year 6 students with local veterans, giving young people the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of military service and explore the experiences of Australians who have served.
Learning History Through Personal Stories
As part of the program, students are paired with veterans and interview them about their lives, service and memories. They then prepare written biographies to share with the veterans, their families and the school community.
For the students, the experience takes history beyond the classroom. It creates an opportunity to ask questions, listen carefully and understand the people behind Australia’s military history.
For veterans, the conversations provide an opportunity to reflect on their experiences and share memories that may not otherwise have been recorded.
A Community Partnership Worth Celebrating
The initiative has received recognition beyond the school community. In a speech to Federal Parliament, the Member for Lilley highlighted the partnership and the biographies written by Aspley State School students about local veterans.
The speech shared examples of students learning from veterans whose careers and life experiences spanned different generations and branches of service.
RSL Queensland has also recognised Stories of Service as part of Geebung’s wider commitment to youth engagement and the passing on of remembrance traditions.
Keeping the Stories Alive
The program reflects an important part of the Sub-Branch’s role: ensuring that service, sacrifice and the meaning of remembrance are understood by future generations.
By creating genuine conversations between students and veterans, Stories of Service helps preserve personal histories while building mutual respect and community connection.
Geebung RSL is proud of its longstanding relationships with local schools and the opportunity these partnerships create for young people to learn from those who have served.
Explore more of our Sub-Branch activities and the ways we support remembrance, veterans and the wider community.
