Sir John Monash Commemorative Service

On Friday the 8th of August we were privileged enough to attend the Sir John Monash Commemorative service, held by the Spirit of Australia Foundation at The Parliament House in Melbourne.

The ceremony began at ten o’clock in the morning. The twelve of us- Mr Chisholm, Ms Veldsman and the ten chosen students- were given seats in the downstairs area where all the speeches and tributes were conducted. 

During the program students were regaled of Sir John Monash’s achievements, from his educational journey to his use of science and systems to ensure optimal achievements during times of war. Post-war, he pursued his passion for engineering and contributed to many major developments such as the State Electricity scheme that pushed Australia into a future of electrical power, and construction of suburban railways.

Not only were these achievements discussed for their historical significance, but their inner symbolic meanings were emphasised. Students, teachers and others present were given the opportunity to analyze the state of Australian Society, namely with relation to the education and defence industry. Officials from these institutions voiced how Sir John Monash influenced many of their values and programs- with his brave leadership that prioritised the lives of his people, providing a beacon for those serving the Australian Defence Force in the years to come. His love of learning and continuation of educating society post-war has also become a key part of Australia, with universities, schools and educational institutions named after him. And so, he has become a figurehead of Australian society, inspiring many of us to this day and onward with his desire to serve the community, contribute to national success and development and teach those around him. 

The program was a beautiful tribute to one of Australia’s most prominent heroes. We proudly wore our blue ribbons that symbolise his service in the First World War and watched our peers lay a wreath in commemoration of all of the sacrifices that Monash made whilst working towards making Australia such a successful nation. We were also lucky enough to speak with dignitaries, members of the army and teachers about some of their experiences and reflections, after the ceremony. 

Overall, the experience was insightful on various levels- enabling us to gain a deeper understanding of the man our school has been named after. With all his achievements and contributions, it is easy to understand why our school encourages students to follow in his footsteps. The ceremony also provided us with the valuable opportunity to pay tribute to him on behalf of the students of John Monash Science School which we are very grateful for. 

A big thank you to Mr Chisholm and Ms Veldsman for taking ten of us out on this special experience!

~ Alisa Krivulin, Elana Ronagh and Prathish Hewage

Our student attendees from across Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12: