Warrnambool Sub-Branch RSL 1917-2017 Serving Still was launched on Wednesday, tracing the first 100 years of the club.

Mrs Quarrell, 94, herself a World War II veteran, said from the outset it was important to go beyond facts and figures.

“I wanted to have a personal touch in this so I asked a few members just to write a short resume of their service,” she said.

RSL president John Miles, veterans Doug Heazlewood, Max Hammond, Margaret Morton and Jonathan Moore and David McGinness and Helen Raw all contributed personal tales.

“All told, those half a dozen people covered three generations of service over a period of 70 years. All services have been covered – the army, the navy and the air force,” Mrs Quarrell said.

“When I first decided to do the book… I decided to do it differently from most clubs. I felt I wanted to write about the origins of all the different things we take for granted.”

Mrs Quarrell, also a published poet, included poems in the work.

In officially launching the book, Member for Wannon and Minister for Veterans Affairs Dan Tehan said the poetry added another dimension.

“What she’s done is given colour and flavour to the history of the club... there is poems that give flavour especially to the sadness that comes with war and it’s captured beautifully in the poetry,” he said.

“Also, there are lessons in this book about how we should make sure we properly remember the culture and the regulations around military life.”

Mr Tehan paid tribute to Mrs Quarrell and her work.

“You are a significant contributor to the local community. You have left us an historical record that will be with us forever and a day. You’ve also captured some of the great characters who have served in this area,” he said.

Mrs Quarrell thanked the RSL, her friends, the historical society and her family for helping make the book a reality.

“When I told them what I was going to do they didn’t think I wouldn’t be able to do it and they’ve encouraged me in every way ever since,” she said.