HUMANITIES

Battle For Australia Ceremony

On Wednesday 7 September, 36 students from Years 7 to 11 attended the Battle for Australia Ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance. 

The Ceremony commemorates the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943 when we faced the gravest threats to our nation. 

This National Day of Observance provides recognition and greater community awareness of the contribution to Australia’s freedom and democracy of those who fought in the Battle for Australia.  

There were direct attacks on the Australian mainland, particularly in Darwin, and battles in the Coral Sea and Papua and New Guinea, including Milne Bay and the Kokoda Track. Prime Minister John Curtin announced the Battle for Australia when Singapore fell on 15 February 1942. However, the veteran community chose the first Wednesday in September, as it represents the first defeat of Japanese forces on land, in the Battle of Milne Bay.

Students Checca Muchmore and Siobhan Pullen of Year 11 laid a wreath on behalf of the school.  Max Caulfield of Year 10 and Lilly Davis of Year 7 honoured their ancestors by wearing their medals.

Year 10 Captain, Olivia Bradshaw read a short piece reflecting on the events on the Kokoda Track at the Shrine of Remembrance. Olivia represented the school wonderfully and her speech was beautifully delivered. The script of what Olivia spoke about is below.

80th Anniversary Battle of Kokoda 

“1942 … I was a soldier with the Australian 39th Battalion and destined to serve in New Guinea”. 

“When I enlisted with the 39th in Hawthorn … I hadn’t heard of Kokoda … let alone a track in New Guinea that was used to access the Kokoda goldfields in the 1890s … I also had no idea of the bloodshed I’d be walking into”. 

“July 1942 … 39th Battalion New Guinea was ordered up the Kokoda Track to stop the Japanese southerly advance”. 

“During the Japanese attack … we had only light weapons and engaged in fierce ‘hand-to-hand’ fighting … each day casualties increased.” 

“Weeks later … 39th Battalion supported by 

2/14th … 2/16th … and 2/27th Battalions  successfully stalled the Japanese advance … And Kokoda was back in Australian hands”. 

“At the end of 39th Battalion's involvement in New Guinea … 1,666 men had served in its ranks … when we arrived back in Australia … the ‘muster roll call’ was only … 32 men.”

Kristy Mays