Library manager Sonya Lange said she thought the nurse exhibition was very important because the contributions of women were so often forgotten.

“The Kurrajong committee put a great deal of effort into researching the sacrifice that these women made and their bravery in going to war and serving their country,” she said.

“It was a wonderful thing to find what we did find and to be able to acknowledge their contributions,” re-enactment committee vice president Ann Hodgens said.

“Some of them were quite close to the firing line,” she said, adding that many hospitals were subjected to bombing. 

“Their war service was fairly risky at times”.

“There’s a number of women who made a huge commitment and who made a great sacrifice. This recognises what they have done,” Sonya said.

Stuart Devine, whose family has photographed the Inverell community for several generations, also created a display with the original camera and chair from the studio where many young soldiers had their portraits taken before leaving for war. He created a slideshow of these portraits.

“It’s a really, I think, very personal sort of a thing is to see these young men as they head off to war. And how many of them didn’t come back,” Sonya said. She added that many locals may discover they are descendants of the soldiers and nurses.

“It’s a great opportunity to come and look at that information and to just take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that were made”.