Captains' Corner

ANZAC Day is an important day to commemorate because it remembers those who laid down their lives to protect Australia and preserve our freedoms. 

John 15:13 states "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." 

The ANZACs have shown us all this love, by laying down their lives for our ultimate safety and freedom.  

Throughout this week, we came together as a school community for ANZAC Day commemorations, to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who served in the First World War. On Tuesday, the ANZAC Commemorative School Service was attended by Canzona who had the privilege of performing in Anzac Square. Following we had our ANZAC Day Assembly. The whole school gathered in the Assembly Hall with readings from our Student Leaders, the Last Post and Rouse beautifully played by Mia Geere, and heartfelt music performances by members of Allegria Strings, Viotti Strings and Canzona. We were fortunate enough to hear from Warrant Officer Lisa Hines. In 2006, Warrant Officer Hines enlisted in the Royal Australian Army and attended training at Kapooka, in NSW. Between 2007 and 2017, she worked as a Medical Technician, which then saw her deployed to Afghanistan as the Senior Medical Technician in 2018, where she was in charge of all the Australian and American medics. Since returning to Australia, Warrant Officer Hines is currently posted to the 7th Brigade Army Headquarters as the Senior Medical Technician, and in her spare time, she is studying a Bachelor of Nursing through Central Queensland University. Students enjoyed listening to Warrant Officer Hines as she spoke about her experiences, triumphs, and struggles throughout her time in the defence force. 

On Thursday, students representing our College attended our local ANZAC Day Ceremony at Kalinga Park in Clayfield, where our College Captains (Primary and Secondary) laid a wreath and all members of our community gathered to pay our respects to the fallen ANZACs. Kalinga Park is a very important historical ANZAC site. It bears witness to the participation of Australia and New Zealand in the First World War with memorial gates and the construction of the memorial Diggers' Drive by returned soldiers. These memorials were built to demonstrate the process of grieving that was occurring in the district and across Australia at that time. 

It has been a fervent week to honour those who have served our country and enrich our understanding of the relevance of the ANZAC spirit. It is a meaningful reminder, in keeping with this spirit, to reach out to give a helping hand to those in need, stand up for what is right, and make the solemn promise to never leave a mate behind. Lest We Forget.