Remembrance Day
At 11:00 am on the 11th of November 1918, a peace agreement was signed between Germany and the Allies ending World War One. This date is known as Armistice Day (now Remembrance Day).
We were honoured to share this important day of reflection and remembrance last Friday at our Remembrance Day assembly. Due to the extreme heat on the day, the ceremony was moved to the Our Lady of Hope Parish Centre. Traditionally, both GPS and OLOH students join for the ceremony however due to space restrictions, this was not possible. A big thank you to Principal Paul Bennett for inviting our school to attend the ceremony in the Parish Centre, and for all of his hard work in setting up and organising a live stream for the OLOH students to watch the ceremony from their classrooms.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. We honour those who served and the families that support them. We honour those who are serving now, those at home, and those in peacekeeping operations serving overseas, serving our nation. Our Remembrance Day assembly is for all of them.
For many of us, Remembrance Day is about remembering great-grandfathers and grandfathers who fought in World War 1 and 2.
Families provided photos of cherished Anzacs who had served or are currently serving, for us to display and honour them on Remembrance Day.
Wearing a poppy on this day has become a popular tribute tradition that was originally inspired by the field of poppies that grew where many of the battles were fought. It was great to see so many classes take on the task of making poppies. They did an amazing job of filling our garden beds near the Admin block and in front of the canteen with colour.
Poppy Poppy what do you say?
Wear me on Remembrance Day
Poppy poppy what do you tell?
Many soldiers in battle fell.
Poppy, poppy what should we know?
That peace on earth should
Grow grow grow.
Little poppy given to me
Help me keep Australia safe and free.
I’ll wear a little poppy
As red as red can be
To show that I remember
Those who fought for me.
Our Campus was very fortunate to have the presence of a Catafalque Party from the Army’s 9th Combat Service Support Battalion based at Edinburgh RAAF base led by Corporal Benjamin Vickers. As a school community, we give special thanks to Captain Nathan George from the Army’s 2nd Brigade’s, 3rd Health Battalion who read the Ode and whose presence added significantly to our assembly.
Special thanks to our MCs, Mia from Greenwith Primary School and Zahli from Our Lady of Hope. Congratulations to our defence students for being brave and speaking at the service: Ayla, Lillie, Eliza, Joslyn, Alexis, Ellie, and students from 404, Sophia and Georgia and Kira from room 17. The enthusiasm they all showed in learning their speeches and the pride they felt representing their parents certainly showed.
Thank you so much to Brayden, Brianna, Lea, and their students in 404, 405 and room 17 for tirelessly practising and performing so beautifully the songs Last Anzac and Lest We Forget.
I would also like to thank Mrs Natalie Maglio & her dancers who gracefully danced to Can You Hear Australian Heroes Marching, to our defence students laying the wreaths, to Mr Grech, a Vietnam War Veteran and Grandfather to 3 students attending Our Lady of Hope, for making the cross to display, and to all our students and staff for your respectful participation, thank you so much!
To our defence parents who attended the morning tea held after the ceremony, the students practised so hard learning their poems for the assembly it really was a special treat for your children to have you there. Thank you.
Deb Thompson
Defence School Mentor