In 2005, the 10th intake discussed the
possibility of the Army Apprentices School being recognised by a
memorial plaque at the Australian War Memorial. Frank Poole
agreed to follow this up with the AWM.
The AWM supported this concept but advised that it would be
necessary for the request to come from a representative
association, so began the formation of the Australian Army
Apprentices Association Inc., which came into being in 2006.
A submission was put to the AWM, but unfortunately it was then
realised that the Apprentices School was not a unit under the
terms of the AWM charter and with a deal of apologies and offers
of assistance in other areas, the AWM had to reject the
proposal.
The Committee of the Association however believed that a
memorial of some kind should be erected and a number of sites
were considered before finally settling on the memorial garden
opposite the Army Museum at Bandiana.
