Although you see them, you mightn't know the story behind them.

Wallerawang Public School principal Jenny Lamborn shared the story behind her fathers medals at a school Anzac Day commemoration recently.

Her father Gordon William O'Brien was enlisted at the age of 24 and served in World War II.

Mrs Lamborn applied to receive her dad's medals for his service with the Australian Defence Force last year on the 75^th anniversary of the end of WWII.

"My dad had never applied for his war medals, he never spoke of his service in World War II or that of his son Peter in the Vietnam conflict."

"In 2020 I found dads service number and as the daughter of a deceased veteran was able to apply for his service medals," she said.

For the very first time, Mrs Lamborn wore her fathers medals at the school ceremony.

"Whilst there is a story behind every set of medals worn by our veterans or their families we rarely know the story, but we do know that we are all part of a family and every family has a story," she said.

"I acknowledge the sacrifice of our veterans and the importance of these medals for my own children.

"Lest We Forget."

Gordon William O'Brien was born on June 21, 1919 in Portland on the shortest day and longest night of the year.

He was named after two WWI veterans, both friends of his dad; Gordon and William, therefore he was named Gordon William O'Brien.

His mum was born in the silver mining town of Sunny Corner and his dad in Goulburn NSW, he had an older sister Daphne May named after the flowering bushes in the family home.

Gordon was married to his first wife in his early 20s and his first son Peter was born in 1942 and went on to join the Royal Australian Navy.

He was part of the third deployment to Vietnam on the HMAS Hobart on March 16, 1970.

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