TWO years in the making, Proserpine News was officially launched at the Prince of Wales Hotel last week.

The definitive history of those who served from Yalboroo to Myowera Camp and out to the Whitsunday islands, the book lists the service history of 970 men and women of the Australian Imperial Force.

From local enlistees flying Lancaster bombers to Royal Australian Navy personnel and merchant navy recruits, if they were local and they served, they will be documented by the Proserpine News.

With the help of grant money, work for the dole participants, the Proserpine Family History Group and countless volunteers in the community, Lyn Burke and Lloyd Fox celebrated the launch with the community of Proserpine and Member for Whitsunday Jason Costigan.

At the launch, Lyn said it was great to see the book finished after so many people had worked so hard to get it published.

"A lot of them are here tonight and we are going to make reference to them and thank them,” she said.

"Because without them it wouldn't have happened.”

Lyn said the book and records at the Proserpine Family History Group would serve as an archive for Proserpine families researching their family history.

"They get a short story in the book but if they go to the Whitsunday Family History Group we have a database now that is chockers with anything anyone could find on that person,” she said.

"The book is telling you the little story and archive has got the big stuff.”

Lyn said it felt "a bit weird” to be signing inside sleeves of the book for readers at the Prince of Wales Hotel last week but it also felt "good” and was "exciting”.

After the launch of the book, Mr Costigan praised the efforts of all involved.

"If people don't tell their stories they are lost forever and the art of storytelling is one of the great arts of all time,” he said.

"Capturing that information for posterity and for future generations is absolutely priceless.

"Lyn and Lloyd and the team of volunteers have painstakingly gotten that stuff together and have finally climbed the mountain.

"As a keen student of history, local history and wartime history, I can't thank them enough.”

Mr Costigan said it was a major achievement and Proserpine was lucky to have a such a passionate team of local historians dedicated to telling local stories.

"This is a big tick for Proserpine and then some. This is something the town can be mightily proud of,” Mr Costigan said.