Year 3 and 4 ANZAC Day

Year three and four students have spent the past two weeks exploring the concept of ANZAC Day, and its meaning within the context of the Australian identity. Our students have specifically investigated the life of World War II veteran Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop, and the contribution he made to his fellow soldiers and Australian society. Here are few information reports that the students wrote recounting key events within his life.

Weary Dunlop

Weary was captured by the Japanese during World War II, when Australia was at war with Japan. He was a P.O.W and he was considered a hero.

Weary was very talented because he finished school in three years! He was also a sportsman when he played Rugby for Australia. He went to Melbourne University to study medicine.

Weary was captured by the Japanese in 1942. He was a surgeon so the Japanese made him treat the sick people. He was still a P.O.W but he just operated on people. He cared for lots of other P.O.W's and he risked his life for them. He and the other P.O.Ws were forced to build the Thai-Burma railway with no food. For every 3.65m of track, someone died making the railway.

At the end of World War II in 1945 he was allowed to go back home along with the other P.O.Ws. He made sure everyone got home before him, to make sure they were okay. When he finally got back home he had a family. His kids were John Dunlop and Alexander Boyd Dunlop. His wife was Helen Ferguson. Years later, he still cared for the P.O.Ws.

Weary Dunlop was knighted in 1969 for hi service to the community and he was also Australian of the Year in 1976. He died peacefully in 1993. Ten thousand people attended his funeral.

By Dakota

Weary Dunlop

Weary Dunlop was an Australian P.O.W. He was a surgeon and he helped the other P.O.Ws, because of that he is a hero.

Weary Dunlop was very talented. He was a smart student in high school - he finished high school in three years instead of four. He went to the University of Melbourne to become a doctor. Before he went to the university he worked at the chemist for six years.

When he went to the army he had to make the Thai-Burma Railway. They started in 1942 and they finished in 1943. It took one year to make. For every 3.65 m of track built someone would die. They would have to do it at night and day and they would not get food.

After the war in 1945 he married Helen Ferguson. They had two sons John Dunlop and Alexander Boyd Dunlop.

Weary Dunlop passed away in 1993. He was knighted for his contribution to medicine. He was Australian of the Year in 1976 and when he died he was 85.

By Melissa

ANZAC Biscuits

Our year three and four students also discussed the disruption war has on the lives of citizens, specifically within the context of family. One of the ways families tried to minimise the impact of war was to write letters and send gifts to Australian soldiers who were deployed overseas. Our students learnt that ANZAC biscuits were sent to Australian soldiers on the Western Front in France during World War I by their families, to provide some level of support and comfort. The ingredients used in ANZAC biscuits were chosen because of their long shelf life, ensuring they got to the soldiers in France in an edible condition. Our students had the chance to bake some of their own ANZAC biscuits using many of the same ingredients as those used over one hundred years ago.

5/6 - Buddy Sessions

This past week the grade 5/6 students worked with their Prep Buddies to create wreaths for their Anzac Day display.

When the Prep Buddies arrived after lunch we read the book Anzac Ted By Belinda Landsberry.

Next we watched a video accompanied by some nice music on how we were going to create our wreaths. These wreaths were pretty complicated so our Prep Buddies needed the expertise of the Grade 5/6 students to cut out and construct them.

We were very impressed with the Prep Buddies ability to colour within the lines and with their concentration levels. Mrs Towill must be working very hard in the Foundation room.

We thoroughly enjoyed working with our Prep Buddies for this session as we got to teach them about Anzac day as well as working on some of their fine motor skills.

By Dylan and Kiri

Awards and Celebrations

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