FERN Bay Public School has formed a unique connection with a World War I soldier who spent formative years in their community.
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As previously reported, Hunter historians Yvonne Fletcher and John Gillam have compiled a list of 1700 soldiers whose war medals were not issued for various reasons, including around 600 who were deemed untraceable. Soldiers' relatives or eligible institutions, such as schools, are able to apply for the unissued medals.
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He served in the 34th Battalion and was in his early 20s when he was killed in action in France on October 30, 1916.
They asked Fern Bay's principal Drew Janetzki last year if he'd like their help to apply for Private Chambers' medals.
"What we've found in classes we've done this with in the past is they talk about 'my soldier'," Mr Gillam said.
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"It becomes a very personal experience rather than celebrating or commemorating the legends as they call it, they're just a faceless group of people in khaki, this is a person who lived in your suburb and sometimes lived in your street, went to your school and played in your cricket team."
Ms Fletcher and Mr Gillam said they faced difficulties applying to Defence Honours and Awards (DHA) for Private Chambers' medals.
Paterson MP Meryl Swanson intervened and received the medals, which she showed students on Monday, kickstarting the school researching and learning about him.
She will formally present them on August 5.
Mr Janetzki said Private Chambers had a "story that needs to be told" and the "whole school community" would be involved in honouring him, which may include a march along Vardon Road.
Fern Bay is one of seven schools participating in the historians' Find Them, Remember Them - Creating Citizen Historians pilot program, which involves schools working with the historians to learn about an untraceable soldier and apply for their medals.
DHA has "pre-approved" the issuing of 16 soldiers' medals.
The students work on a project such as an artwork, book or podcast to share the soldier's story with their community and will commemorate their sacrifice on dates like Anzac Day.
"This program revolutionises the teaching of history, particularly in primary school," Mr Gillam said.
"Traditionally history is taught as handing you a reference book, you read it and then you write an essay about who did what and when... this process teaches you how to be an historian and it makes it very practicable and very doable and that's why we think it will work and it will create this legacy of learning."
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