MORE than 540 students from Wimmera schools will tour Spirits of the Past, The Wimmera at War exhibition.
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The week-long exhibition officially opened at the Horsham RSL on Sunday.
It commemorates the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli during the First World War.
Horsham RSL vice-president Jim Amos said members spent about 12 months collecting information and memorabilia to create the display.
He said Military History and Heritage Victoria representative Janet Billett officially opened the exhibition on Sunday afternoon.
‘‘She was very impressed,’’ Mr Amos said.
He said the exhibition featured a range of items including First World War radios, a replica bicycle and periscope rifle.
‘‘The bulk of the exhibition is part of our own collection,’’ he said.
Mr Amos said Horsham’s Holmes family lent a 100-year-old sergeant’s tunic, which belonged to Sergeant Walter Holmes, for the display.
He said service records of hundreds of Wimmera servicemen, women and indigenous soldiers were available for people to browse through.
He said the information was popular with people who wanted to look up family members.
More than 200 students from Horsham West and Ss Michael and John’s primary schools visited the display on Monday.
Mr Amos said 540 students from Wimmera schools would visit the exhibition throughout the week.
‘‘The interest of the children is unbelievable,’’ he said.
The exhibition is open every day this week from 10am to 4pm and will open after Anzac Day services on Saturday.
As part of the exhibition, Horsham RSL will host evening presentations on the Australian Light Horse on Wednesday night.
It will also host a presentation of Gallipoli and the battlefields of the western front on Thursday.
Presentations start at 7.30pm in the members lounge.
Mr Amos said the exhibition was a one-off for the centenary and everyone was welcome.
‘‘We encourage people to come and see it,’’ he said.
He said people could access the service records upon request after the exhibition concluded.