While our servicemen and women were off fighting in foreign climes during World War II, those keeping the home fires burning were also doing their bit for the war effort - making model aircraft and camouflage nets.
Both students and teachers of the Armidale Teachers' College (ATC) and New England University College (NEUC) - precursors of the University of New England - leapt into action in 1941 as fears mounted of a Japanese invasion.
Woodworking students were deployed to make three-dimensional models of aircraft, to train military personnel in aircraft recognition and civilians in enemy plane detection.
Under the instruction of ATC manual arts lecturer Herbert W. Oxford, who went on to write an instructional guide for the Army Education Service, students produced thousands of different models to scale.
He had been released from college duty in May 1942 to manufacture 1080 planes for the War Effort Co-ordination Committee.
Oxford's timber skills also came in handy in the making of camouflage nets. He created the wooden frames that students and Country Women's Association volunteers used to laboriously weave twine together.
"The fastest effort was eight nets made in 2.5 days," said UNE archivist Bill Oates.
"There was a party when the 100th net was completed, but we have no idea how many were completed in all.
“I can only assume they were given to the A.I.F to conceal vehicles and equipment.
"Sadly, no model aircraft have survived in Armidale from this effort, but we do have a copy of Oxford's book in the UNE archives.
"These are important examples that help document ATC and NEUC's role in war-time efforts and the contributions of staff and students, especially the women who, through necessity, undertook many roles previously reserved for men."
