English and Humanities

Year 9 Shrine of Remembrance

On Thursday the 15th of August the Year 9 students,  as part of the World War 1 unit we are currently studying in Humanities, travelled to the Shrine of Remembrance . 

After we arrived at the Shrine we split off into our Homeroom groups to participate in different activities. In one of these activities, we were taken on a tour, where a guide explained to us the different areas located at the Shrine. An area we were taken to, the Sanctuary, resonated with everyone. The power of the room impacted everyone, allowing us to reflect on all that these soldiers had to endure. 

The other activity was a presentation by Lambis Englezos. Lambis told the story of how in 2009 he and his team discovered the mass grave of 250 Australian soldiers who were killed in the Battle of Fromelles in 1916. It was an inspirational story of perseverance and endurance. I know that his story will stay with me. 

We also listened to a presentation from Kaye De Petro. She told us about her father’s experience in World War 2, and although her story wasn’t about the war we are currently studying, it gave a great understanding of what the soldiers in WW2 would have had to undergo if they were prisoners of war.   After everyone had listened to the presentation and toured the Shrine we went outside to eat lunch and explore the Shrine Gardens ourselves.   Overall, the excursion was a very special and powerful experience especially for those who hadn’t been to the Shrine before.

Lydia McCracken-Matthews, Year 9 St Emile