MEMBERS of the Myrtleford RSL have been working hard over the last year to gather information to prepare an honorary display, set to open to the public next week.

Affiliate members of the Myrtleford RSL, Christine McCracken and Deb Blackburn, who make up the memorabilia team, have almost completed a display of 25 life members; passed servicemen and women from the region, with the help from their local relatives and descendants.

The RSL had a record of 11 ladies auxiliary members and 14 men's life members, but over time, information about them was lost or not passed on, prompting this recent search for answers.

In September this year, the Myrtleford RSL asked for any relatives of the listed life members to come forward with information, photographs, memorabilia and any other details to pass on, in order to honour their passed family members.

"The town and RSL had lost contact with some of the life members' families," Ms McCracken said.

"This project has brought them back to talking about things in Myrtleford and also telling us about what happened to the next generation, too.

"We asked them for a brief profile and a good-sized photo."

"Also any memorabilia they could lay their hands on, just on loan, for us to display," said Ms Blackburn.

"It's been interesting chasing down information, actually.

"Yesterday, I was at the museum, trying to find an obituary for one of the life members.

"Because he died in 1983, that's not digitised yet, but fortunately they had the newspaper.

"It's quite a project."

"For some people, they knew nothing of, in most cases, their fathers' war service," Ms McCracken said.

"So they've really started right at the beginning and haven't just relied on us for research; they've gone and looked at their own.

"They've said it's helped them understand their fathers and grandfathers better."

The memorabilia exhibition will be part of a three-day open house event at Myrtleford RSL.

It will run from Monday, November 18 through Wednesday, November 20, between 10am and 4pm daily.

"We are encouraging and welcoming those working in Myrtleford to take a break during the day, those many retirees in the surrounding area and those many visitors to Myrtleford, to take a look as well," Myrtleford RSL secretary, John Twyford said.

"Any gold coin donations received at the door will be put towards additional display cabinets and the general upkeep of the growing collection.

"School groups are admitted free of charge and no bookings are required."