The society hosted an inaugural Remembrance Day event on Monday, November 11 which involved Year 5 and 6 students from the three local primary schools - Stroud, Stroud Road and Booral.

Just prior to the event, a smoke haze from the fires in the Taree area rolled in and refused to move on, so the principals of the three schools had no option but to advise they could not let the children come down to the WWI Memorial Grandstand at the Stroud Showground.

"Naturally it was incredibly disappointing for us after all the preparations, especially the significance of the event being specifically held at the WWI Grandstand," said Pauline Ibbetson, the society's assistant secretary.

"But with only 30 minutes until the service was to commence, Stroud principal Carolyn Bowden's suggestion of a shortened edition of the event being moved up to the Stroud School hall, just had to be accepted and hurriedly implemented - with a deadline of the one minute's silence at 11 am being the crux."

All stops were pulled out to divert the students, move equipment, wreaths, redirect esteemed guests and even the lunch for 100 people which was prepared by the Stroud Mens Shed.

With eyes on the clock, cociety member and emcee for the event Brian Eastoe welcomed everyone giving the children an explanation of the significance of the Memorial Grandstand and Father Martin Davies from Stroud's St John's Anglican Church officiated a service before the strike of 11 o'clock.

With the deadline met, Stroud born and former Great Lakes shire president, John Chadban gave a more leisurely, interesting and educational talk about 'What Remembrance Day is About and How Stroud men and women, and Australians in general became involved in the Great War'.

"Judging by the little fidgeting from the children it was well received," said Mrs Ibbetson.

"The intended games and activities had to be cancelled other than a 'tricky' quiz about the war, prepared by our WWI guru member Mavis Godber.

"It was commendable that one pupil from each of the three schools achieved the same highest score to each win a small prize."

After lunch and the smoke temporarily lifting a small contingent from the Stroud Historical Society laid the wreaths at the Grandstand Memorial.

"It just goes to show, it doesn't matter how good your plans or intentions, you can't fight nature and we are very lucky in Stroud not to be impacted by any fires..... yet, " said Mrs Ibbetson.