College Assembly 

Anzac Day Commemorations

On Anzac Day eve, the school community gathered to commemorate Anzac Day and remember the sacrifices of others. 

The special guest was Flight Lieutenant Syenne Young who shared her journey in the Australian Defence Force since joining as an Office Cadet in 2014.

Year 12 student Gabby Taylor gave the commemorative reflection before a moving performance by the Symphonic Band and a minute's silence. 

Silence. That is what the soldiers fighting on the Western Front heard on November 11th, 1918. It was a long-awaited silence. The soldiers and the world thought that World War One would be over by Christmas 1914, less than five months after the war had started. World War One ended four years later with the surrender of Germany. The tragedy and horror of war permeated throughout much of the world. It still does today. World War One ended 106 years ago, yet the ripple effects are still felt in modern society.

Throughout the four years, it is estimated that 9 million military personnel were killed during this conflict and that as a result of WW1, between 6 and 13 million civilians lost their lives. Of the ANZACS (Australia New Zealand Army Corporation) , more than 60,000 lost their lives and over 156,000 were either wounded or taken prisoner. While many soldiers and civilians did survive,  the psychological ramifications of war rippled through their lives—PTSD, survivors' guilt, and the enduring trauma of World War One. Whilst I bring these statistics and these facts to light, you cannot quantify loss. You cannot quantify the devastation. You cannot quantify war. 

This is why we have ANZAC day. It is a day of remembrance. We remember the history and we remember the past because our future and our legacy is a product of this. We cannot let the names, the actions, the endeavours of WWI be forgotten. It is not simply enough to memorise key dates, key figures and key events. World War One was a real conflict with devastating consequences and many lives were lost and deeply influenced. We remember not only what was lost but what it was fought for. We remember that our lives are shaped by the soldiers, by the nurses, by the people that fought for our nation. We remember why World War One started. And, we remember the price of war. Lest we forget.

Gabby Taylor (Year 12)

SRC member 

Symphonic Band performance