LAIDLEY DISTRICT STATE School captains Will Buhse and Mickayla O'Malley get up close and personal with a Bushmaster personnel mobility vehicle.

LAIDLEY District State School children received a surprise on Tuesday when they were thanked for the letters and drawings they had earlier sent to our troops serving in Afghanistan.

6RAR welfare officer Captain Graham Palmer arrived at the school with a Bushmaster personnel mobility vehicle to thank the students and to tell them how much members of the regiment's task force had appreciated the reminders of home.

“It's been a tough time for our troops over the past nine months,” Captain Palmer said.

“During that time we have lost six fine soldiers.

“However, some of the things helping our men and women cope are the letters and parcels from Laidley, and I'm here today to say a big thank you to all of you.”

Captain Palmer also presented a framed 6RAR certificate to the school before allowing the students to inspect the Bushmaster vehicle.

Laidley RSL Sub-branch president Mike Nowlan said his members, in conjunction with the local post office and IGA store, had been involved since June in preparing care packages to send to Afghanistan.

“Our diggers will always welcome a little input from home,” he said.