Honoring ANZAC Day

Remembering the Sacrifices of Our Brave Servicemen and Women

On ANZAC Day this year, the Girton community came together to honour the brave servicemen and women who sacrificed so much for our country, as well as their families. The annual commemoration is an important reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served, fought, and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions around the world.

One day earlier, on the first day of Term 2, the School held an all-school ANZAC Day Assembly. Students and staff came together to pay tribute to the fallen heroes and to acknowledge their service and sacrifice. 

The Assembly was addressed by Girton’s School Chaplain, Reverend Karen Reid, Senior School Captains and Prefects, Junior School Captains, and Principal Dr Emma O’Rielly, who shared a moving story about her grandfather, who served in World War II. Jane Worme, a Girton parent, also shared her reflections on her time serving our country, providing a personal insight into the impact of war on those who served and their families.

The School’s Senior School Captains, Aksharan Shobanan and Ava Griffin, were invited by the Bendigo District RSL Sub-Branch to read the Requiem at the 2023 ANZAC Day Commemorative Service, and were joined by Dr O’Rielly. We have included a speech that was also delivered by Aksharan during this service below.

It was wonderful to see so many students and staff from Girton also participating in ANZAC Day services in Bendigo, Castlemaine, and other locations throughout the region. 

As the nation remembered the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country, we should never forget the sacrifices they made for the freedoms we enjoy today. 

Side by Side: Vietnam 1973

Read by Aksharan Shobanan, Girton Senior School Captain, at the Bendigo District RSL Sub-Branch 2023 ANZAC Day Commemorative Service

Good morning,

It is an honour to be here with you to commemorate ANZAC Day, a day that holds great significance for us all. 

We gather here to pay tribute to the remarkable courage, resilience, and sacrifice of our service members who have served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations around the world. 

Among them, we remember those who served in the Vietnam War and all Australian and New Zealand citizens who have served their country.

When I was invited to speak today, I was asked to speak about the theme, “Side by Side: Vietnam 1973”.

This theme speaks to the heart of what it means to be an Australian. 

It embodies the idea of standing together in times of adversity and working towards a common goal. It represents the values of duty, loyalty, and mateship that are deeply ingrained in our psyche. These values are not just important in times of war but also in our everyday lives, as we work together to build a better future for ourselves and our communities.

As we commemorate ANZAC Day this year, let us remember the sacrifices of our service members and strive to live each and every day of our lives with the same courage, resilience, and sacrifice that they demonstrated.

We can reflect on the values of our service people by standing up for what we believe in, persevering through challenges and setbacks, and putting the needs of others before our own.

Let us also remember the importance of loyalty and comradeship. 

Just as the soldiers in Vietnam relied on each other, we must also be there for our friends and family, support those in need, and always work towards the greater good.

So, on this ANZAC Day, let this year’s theme “Side by side: Vietnam 1973” inspire us to be the best version of ourselves.

We will take inspiration from the bravery and selflessness of our service members, and honour their legacy by embodying the values of courage, resilience, sacrifice, loyalty, and comradeship in our own lives. 

Lest we forget.

Thank you.