ANZAC Excursion

92nd Legacy ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony for Students at the Shrine

Ararat Legacy hosted a full contingent of students, teachers and legatees to the Shrine in Melbourne for the 92nd Annual Legacy ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony for Students last Friday, 19th April.

Leading up to Anzac Day each year, Melbourne Legacy hosts a commemoration service for the students of Victoria with this year seeing the return of the large attendances not seen since before covid with approximately 5000 attending. The ceremony honours the service and sacrifice of all those who have served.

Fifty one students from Year 7 to 12, together with supervising teachers from Ararat College, Marian College, Stawell Secondary College, Beaufort Secondary College, Lake Bolac Secondary College and Avoca Primary School, attended to pay their respects, including five Ararat Legatees.

Organised by Melbourne Legacy, this day is an opportunity for the younger generation to remember and give thanks to the men and women whose love of their country and sacrifice in wartime enable Australians to live in peace and freedom today.

The Commemoration ceremony was attended by Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honorable Margaret Gardner AC, along with other dignitaries.

As part of the ceremony, wreaths were laid by student representatives from all the colleges/schools in attendance, including from the Ararat Legacy Club region. Following the service students, teachers and Legatees spent time checking the many exhibits within the Shrine of Remembrance.

Ararat Legacy Shrine Trip Coordinator, Legatee Kevin Bowles who attended the ceremony said: “It is so pleasing that we can continue to offer this annual trip to our students from Ararat, Marian Stawell, Lake Bolac, Beaufort and Avoca colleges/schools with the support of funding through the Victoria Government Remembrance Program. It was also pleasing that three of our five Legatees had not been before to experience the occasion and now have a greater understanding not only of keeping the ANZAC spirit alive for our younger generations but also how the Shrine is so symbolic as Victoria’s national memorial to Australians who have served in war and peacekeeping operations.”

-Ararat Legacy Club Press Release