This week the pair were recognised for their efforts when NSW Minister for Veterans Affairs David Elliott dropped by Leeton for a special ceremony. 

Mr Elliott presented the pair with certificates to honour their many years of service to the RSL Women’s Auxiliary and RSL Sub-branch. 

The other component of the ceremony was to formally present Mr Elliott with soil from different locations across the shire, which will be part of a new Great War memorial in Sydney. 

He said he was pleased in Leeton to be honouring Mrs Whittaker and Mr Power, as well as including the shire in the soil initiative. 

“Both Heather and John have made huge contributions over the years and we are very grateful to them,” Mr Elliott said. 

“I’m honoured to be presenting them with these certificates today as a token of our appreciation for their many years of service.”

The soil project is part of a statewide initiative that will recognise soldiers who answered the call to fight in World War I. 

Soil samples from more than 1600 sites in NSW where young soldiers enlisted to fight are being collected as part of the Anzac Memorial Centenary Soil Collection project. All soil samples will be placed in the renovated Hall of Service with the name of the town next to them.

Mr Elliott said soldiers in the Great War gave so much, with many sacrificing their own lives, so it was only fitting they continue to be honoured. 

“A century on, we honour these men by taking a sample of soil and placing it in the Hall of Service so it can be appreciated and commemorated by generations to come,” he said.

School students, Member for Murray Adrian Piccoli, Leeton mayor Paul Maytom and members of the community were all on hand to witness the handover of soil, which came from different locations in the shire, including Whitton. Mr Elliott was also in town for Wednesday’s community cabinet dinner, which gave residents the chance to speak on issues in the town.