In March this year, Sergeant Claude David Brown passed away.

But, a firm believer in the right to a good education, he made sure he left an amount of $2000 to the school with a vision of this money being used to assist students who show “higher educational potential exemplified through their strong work ethic, engagement with their learning, leadership and being role models to their peers”.

On Wednesday, Earl Wilson, Nicholas Stone, Angela Brown and Declan Rigby received their $500 scholarship in front of family and peers at the school’s award ceremony.

In selecting these students, the staff and school principal Todd Potter considered students of whom Claude would have been proud through their endeavours, determination in the face of adversity, and never-give-up attitude.

Members of Claude’s family were there to present the awards.

“This just makes me feel so proud,” daughter Robyn Driver said.

Claude Brown had a connection to Frank Partridge Primary School from the day it was opened in 1989.

He served with Frank Partridge in the 8th Battalion on the island of Bougainville towards the end of the Second World War.

It was on Bougainville that Frank Partridge won the Victoria Cross for Bravery.

Just as Frank Partridge is a role model for all students at our school due to his love of learning and service to others, so too was Claude Brown an outstanding role model.

From his early years and throughout his life, Claude Brown was a hard worker.

He enlisted in the army in 1942 and was transferred to the Intelligence section 8th Battalion in 1944.

After the war, Claude was promoted to the rank of Acting Sergeant.

He returned home to Australia in 1946 and was discharged from the army.

Claude married Ethel that same year and embarked on a life devoted to family, working, studying and founding a manufacturing company which expanded over the following years.

READ MORE ABOUT CLAUDE: War veteran’s generosity remembered

As well as his work life, Claude involved himself in Legacy supporting the widows and their children whose husbands & fathers had lost their lives serving in the military.

He served in Legacy for 40 years and for a time was chairman- retiring from the organisation in 2006.