From the Archives
80th anniversary of Cadets and Victory in the Pacific Day – 15 August
15 August marked the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. “VP Day” – or Victory in the Pacific Day – was commemorated around Australia, being the official end to hostilities between Australia and her allies, and Japan in 1945.
The day was celebrated in Orange with a street parade featuring the newly-formed Wolaroi Cadet Unit. Formed in June, the 51-member corps - under the command of teacher Captain F P Young - trained hard to ensure they were up to marching in formation on the auspicious occasion. In October that year, some of the NCOs participated at a training camp at Holsworthy barracks learning skills which set up the Wolaroi Cadet corps for the future.
Wolaroi Cadets, 1945. This was the year the Corps was established.
Wolaroi Cadets, 1945. This was the year the Corps was established.
A Royal Mystery...
Wolaroi College heartily celebrated the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 with a parade, church service, bonfire, fireworks and special Coronation Supper. The idea arose to plant trees as a visual reminder of the event, so the Senior Prefect of Wolaroi College boldly wrote to the new Queen, seeking to be sent some oaks from the Royal estate in Windsor.
The response was so impressive that it was featured on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘Column 8’—a section known for its witty and unusual news—on 22 September 1953 (see below).
Acorns were sent in return, by the deputy ranger of the Crown Estates Office, Great Park, Windsor. (Bio-hazard restrictions were obviously much less stringent then, or perhaps the 'royal' seal got them past customs.) The acorns were reportedly nurtured by some of the boys and planted on the school grounds.
Although no records remain of where the trees were planted or what became of them, the story highlights the significance of the Queen’s role in the life of the school and in Australia at that time.
