NBRC commemorates WWI with virtual reality

North Burnett Regional Council developed three virtual reality experiences of local WWI stories, which launched ahead of Remembrance Day this year.

STORY TELLING: An image from the First World War that is being used in the virtual reality storytelling experiences at NBRC Libraries.

NORTH Burnett Regional Council has partnered with local Returned and Services League of Australia Sub Branches, schools, historical societies, and youth groups to develop three virtual reality experiences of local First World War history and stories, which launched ahead of Remembrance Day this year.

Funded through a $72, 000 Queensland Anzac Centenary grant, the project Bringing Remembrance into Reality is available at all six North Burnett Libraries from today..

Deputy Mayor Councillor Faye Whelan said the project aims to raise community awareness of the personal accounts of local soldiers and their families during the First World War through new technologies that connect young people with the Anzac story.

"This project will not only commemorate our local servicemen and women and honour their legacy for years to come but will foster relationships and deeper understanding between generations in our community," she said.

The three virtual reality experiences being delivered through the project, 'Camp life', 'Family life back home', and 'Coming home', each tell a different local story and will explore different aspects of life during wartime.

Cr Whelan said the use of new virtual reality technologies enables a highly immersive learning experience and provides an impactful way to share local Anzac stories.

"We hope this project will create a lasting legacy for the North Burnett community. It is important for us to explore, experience, and commemorate the true spirit of the Anzac in an accurate and respectful way," Cr Whelan said.

Working with local historians, the council has conducted extensive research of letters, interviews, diary entries, and local government records to bring to life the men and women of the First World War.

Cr Whelan says those involved in the project are very pleased to be able to present these local stories to the community from which they originally came.

"We take great pride in our local history and we are very honoured to be delivering what we expect will be a highly significant project," Cr Whelan said.

Funding prvided through the Queensland Anzac Centenary grants program supports the delivery of research, content creation, graphic development and creation of educational materials.

The State Government is proud to support this Anzac Centenary project which commemorates the role played by Queenslanders in Australia's military history.