Draw to Remember returns with more than 21,000 students participting across Queensland

Now in its fourth year, the initiative sees children harness their artistic imagination to create drawings that express their learnings or personal stories about the importance of Remembrance Day.  

This year, local veterans and members from 53 participating RSL Sub Branches across Queensland are visiting schools in their communities, teaching students about the importance and history of Remembrance Day.  

Inspired by these learnings, students will then put chalk to concrete at their schools, illustrating the sacrifice of those who’ve served in the Australian Defence Force since World War I.  

From what started with 3,500 participating students in 2022 to six times that number today, RSL Queensland’s Draw to Remember initiative has grown significantly.  

This year, 21,660 students from 214 schools – from Coolangatta to Cairns and everywhere in between – will take part this year’s program.  

RSL Queensland State President Major General Stephen Day DSC AM said the organisation and its Sub Branches were deeply proud to witness the vibrant displays created each year, reflecting the children’s creativity, respect and understanding of the significance of commemoration. 

“Draw to Remember is all about engaging with the next generation so that they can understand the importance of a day observed by millions across Australia and around the world,” MAJGEN Day said. 

“Four years on, it’s fantastic to see how the program continues to engage more and more students each year, and their creative renderings of what remembrance means to them.”  

Draw to Remember veteran and Townsville RSL Sub Branch Secretary Pauline McGuire said her Sub Branch had never missed a year and praised how the initiative helped connect Sub Branches and their local schools. 

“It’s been fantastic to host Draw to Remember activities in Townsville since the initiative’s inception four years ago. In the first year, we were working with six schools, but this year, we're now working with 17 schools! It’s been a great way to engage with the local schools and has really strengthened our relationships with them,” Ms McGuire said. 

In Kilcoy, Kilcoy RSL Sub Branch President John Robinson shared a similar sentiment and added how delightful it was to see the younger generation so engaged in commemoration. 

"It’s wonderful to see local students become so engaged in their drawings and explain what remembrance is in their own words – it’s been deeply rewarding to see that desire to be involved increase each year.” Mr Robinson said.