Queensland Students Write Thousands of Postcards to Veterans

When Van Reuben picks up a red crayon to draw poppies on his postcard, he's thinking about his dad's service in Afghanistan and the thousands of other Australians who fought for their country.

The year 5 student is one of thousands of Queensland children participating in the Returned and Services League's Postcards of Honour program. Students from 190 schools across the state are writing thank-you notes to veterans ahead of Anzac Day, Australia's national day of remembrance.

The program works beautifully in its simplicity. Veterans visit local schools to talk about their service and explain the history behind Anzac Day. Then students create handwritten postcards expressing their gratitude, which get delivered to former and current Australian Defence Force members.

Grant Hartigan, president of Darra RSL and an Iraq War veteran, has seen firsthand how much these simple cards mean. "Seeing some of the veterans' faces when they receive these postcards is just indescribable," he said. "Especially when they realise kids from the local school were thankful for their service."

The postcards carry special historical significance too. During World War I, soldiers on the frontlines sent postcards home to loved ones. Now students are reversing that tradition, sending messages of support and thanks to those who served.

The Ripple Effect

The program has created unexpected connections between generations. Students learn empathy by hearing real stories from veterans like Hartigan, who joined the army as an infantryman in 2014.

Darra State School Principal Tracy Freeman says the combination of listening and creating helps students process what service means. "The students are able to learn, they're able to connect and they're able to show gratitude to the servicemen before us," she said.

For Van, the project feels deeply personal. "It makes me feel glad that he fought for all the people and for our country," he said about his father. "Anzac Day is special to me because I get to commemorate all those people who fought for me and I get to commemorate my dad."

Four years in, the program continues bringing together young Australians and the veterans who served them, one handwritten postcard at a time.