Young students with big hearts have been boxing up love and support for overseas Australian troops.

Year 1 students have spent weeks carefully crafting 59 care packages filled with treats, drawings and hand-written messages of goodwill, aiming to provide comfort and connection with personnel deployed away from home.

Twice a year, the Australia Post delivers care packages sent by the public to Defence personnel deployed overseas, including Christmas Day and ANZAC Day.

Thirlmere Public School principal Renee Heyburgh says the annual initiative has been running for 12 years.

“We have a long-standing relationship with the Wollondilly RSL Sub-branch which backs onto the school and families in our school community who have personal connections to Gallipoli veterans or those who have served in war,” said Mrs. Heyburgh.

“Our students learn that ANZAC Day isn’t just about honouring those who served in the past, but also those who continue to serve our country today.”

“The care packages are a tangible way for the school community to show our gratitude and create a positive impact.”

The project had helped student forge connections with deployed ADF personnel, including Lieutenant Colonel Brendan Cox, who received the school’s first care package while serving in Afghanistan.

Year one teacher, Jennifer Lansdown still keeps in contact with the veteran.

“Lieutenant Colonel Brendan Cox received our first box in 2012 while he was in Afghanistan and is now the CEO of Legacy Brisbane and still has the original photo of the class that was his box,” Mrs Lansdown said.

“In a letter back to us he said the package was a gift packed by children I do not know, arranged by a teacher I have not met and sent with the best thoughts of a nation worth fighting for.”

This ANZAC Day, RSL Australia will send 400 care packages to Australian Defence Force personnel currently serving overseas, including In the Middle East, South Sudan, Egypt, and other overseas theatres.