This created a connection that has been felt over a century later in the Bega Valley in the midst of bushfire recovery.

A Bega Valley Shire Council spokesperson said Villers-Bretonneux in northern France is home to a school that the people of Victoria paid to have rebuilt following the conclusion of the war and the area is the final resting place for over 2000 Australian and Commonwealth servicemen.

The spokesperson said a sign over the L'Ecole Victoria' (Victoria School) playground reads "Do Not Forget Australia", and the people of Villers-Bretonneux certainly haven't.

When the Bega Valley was enduring the bushfire crisis earlier this year the people of Villers-Bretonneux, led by their Mayor Patrick Simon, were watching and planning what they could do to lend a hand.

While firies continued to battle blazing infernos, the people of this village over 17,000kms away were mobilising and fundraising - doing what they could to reaffirm their solidarity with Australia and make its recovery just a little easier.

An online fundraising page received donations from more than 800 people and over 1000 people braved the winter chill for a solidarity march from the town centre to the Australian National Memorial and Sir John Monash Centre, where a school choir sang a song especially written for the appeal titled "Australia, Stop Burning".

By late February over $37,000 had been raised, with the proceeds to be shared between the fire fighters of Robinvale in Victoria, as Robinvale and Villers-Bretonneux have a long-standing relationship, and the Bega Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund.

Bega Valley Mayor Kristy McBain will write to her French counterpart to thank him and his community for their generosity.

A council spokesperson said at the request of the Villers-Bretonneux community, the Bega Valley funds will be used within the Cobargo area.