The Victoria School was built for the community of Villers-Bretonneux in the 1920s as a gift from the state of Victoria after the original school was destroyed in the fighting.
The children of the school are taught to sing “Waltzing Matilda” and a sign above the playground reads “Do Not Forget Australia”.
The refurbished museum upstairs contains displays of Australian soldiers’ wartime experiences in the region including their successful battle to repel a German offensive that threatened the town, for which the community remains grateful.
The refurbishment cost around $A3.7 million, with the Australian government contributing around $2 million.
Mr Tehan on Monday joined town mayor Patrick Simon in cutting ribbons and unveiling a plaque before presenting the mayor with an Akubra hat and inspecting exhibits in the new museum.
The minister thanked the people of Villers Bretonneux for maintaining the memory of Australian soldiers’ sacrifices during the war and stressed the need to keep up Australia’s strong connections with the town and other WWI battlefield communities.
“It’s incredibly important because a hundred years ago we lost so many lives here and we know those lives weren’t wasted because the way that the French people, and particularly the people of this town, say thank you is just unbelievable,” Mr Tehan said.
Villers-Bretonneux is decked out with Australian flags and cut-outs of kangaroos and koalas ahead of Tuesday’s dawn service at the nearby Australian Memorial where Mr Tehan will address thousands of expected Australian and local participants.
Source: Digger museum refurbished in French town | Perth Now
