War hero in ‘ Bears to School’ campaign
DECORATED Ingham- born soldier Keith Payne is leading the charge for a national commemoration of World War I.
Mr Payne, AM, a Victoria Cross recipient for his heroics in the Vietnam War, is the national ambassador for the Bears to School initiative.
The program aims to have historically accurate, uniformed teddy bears placed in every primary school throughout the country.
Each of the 12 bears stands 40cm tall and wears an authentic uniform which reflects a particular service or campaign of World War I which ran from 1914 to 1918.
Mr Payne was backed by both sides of the political spectrum, with Prime Minister Malc o l m T u r n b u l l and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten both endorsing the Bears to School project.
Support has also flowed from the private sector for the campaign.
The bears cost $ 99 and proceeds from the bears will support local military and veterans’ charities in a partnership with the Returned and Services League of Australia and the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia.
The bears can be donated to schools and donors will be honoured with a specially printed ‘ story card’ that will accompany each bear.
More than 500 bears had already been donated to about 350 schools around Australia, which pleased Mr Payne.
“I am proud to be part of an initiative that supports Australians in so many ways – supporting teachers and children in our primary schools, supporting ex- service men and women, and supporting the preservation of our Anzac heritage,” he said.