Volunteers gathered for a special cake cutting ceremony at Lone Pine Barrack's Infantry Museum to mark the Australian Army History Unit’s (AAHU) 21st Birthday.
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They were joined by Major James Bell, Officer Commanding/Museum Manager, Australian Army Infantry Museum and Steve Black, Warrant Officer Class Two, Assistant Manager, Australian Army Infantry Museum (AAIM).
Maj. Bell said the AAHU was formed in March 1998 to enable the concentration of people and resources to protect and preserve Army’s history and heritage in a professional and co-ordinated way.
"The unit was designed to ensure that the loyal service of more than two million Army members was preserved – one of Australia’s most substantial national endeavours," he said.
"Today, AAHU’s establishment reflects Army’s ongoing investment in, and commitment to, preserving its heritage and promoting its history.
"The Australian Army Infantry Museum is one of the 18 Corps and Regional museums geographically dispersed across Australia, it’s role is to preserve and protect the history and heritage of the Australian Infantry."
At the local museum, which is visited annually by nearly 20,000 people including an ever growing number of school students, Maj. Bell said a wonderful group of 23 volunteers many of whom were former members of the army, played an important role in the running of the facility.
"Our volunteers range in age from 15-80 years of age and they are a tremendous help including assisting curator John Land with new exhibits," said Maj. Bell.
Singleton's museum, which was officially opened September 2011, includes a huge main exhibition auditorium to display everything from a helicopter to uniforms and even human hair and other personal belongings from a World War I digger. It will have displays from 13 conflicts for which campaign medals were awarded by the Australian and British governments, such as world wars I and II, "Soudan", Somalia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Iraq and Afghanistan.