​Doing some digging on your family history ahead of Anzac Day? Canterbury-Bankstown’s Libraries might have the answers you’re looking for.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said Council’s Libraries hold a record of everyone born or living in Canterbury-Bankstown who enrolled for service in WWI and WWII.

“Anzac Day is an important time to honour the brave men and women who served our country at war,” Mayor Asfour said.

“Hearing their stories and learning about the lives of our relatives is inspiring and vital in preserving the memory of our fallen heroes.”

One of Canterbury-Bankstown’s last surviving local World War II veteran’s is Reginald ‘Reg’ Chard.

Mr Chard joined the army as soon as he turned 18 and in 1942, after the fall of Singapore, he and his fellow soldiers were sent to Papua New Guinea to fight in the treacherous Kokoda Track campaign.

The Villawood resident, now 99, also enjoyed a long career working the blast furnace in an iron foundry and driving trucks at night. But his passion remains sharing his experiences with school students and visitors at the Kokoda Memorial Track Walkway.

“Reg is a true treasure of our City who has been, and still is, very active in the local community,” Mayor Asfour said.

“What an honour for us to have him living in our own backyard.”

To learn more about your family history, contact our Local and Family History Librarian on 9707 9728.

To learn more about Reg’s incredible life, read the latest edition of our community magazine, Keep Connected, at cb.city/CommunityMagazine