Principal's News
Dear Parents & Parishioners,
Some weeks ago, Ian Royall penned an atricle in The Herald Sun under the banner, 'Badge of Respect'. Royall shed light on World War II heronine Vivian Bullwinkel, who this year will become the first woman to appear on Victoria's ANZAC Day appeal badge. Nursing associations have welcomed the recognition by the RSL in which Vivian Bullwinkel has been honoured for both her bravery and compassion. Vivian Bullwinkel is best known as the sole survivor of the Banka Island Massacre in 1942.
The following tells the story of Vivian Bullwinkel as captured by Ian Royall:
Born in South Australia, she became a nurse and midwife and moved to Hamilton, Victoria, to begin her nursing career and later moved to Jessie McPherson Hospital in Clayton, Melbourne.
She enlisted with the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1941 and left for overseas duty in September.
After the Japanese invasion of Malaya, her unit evacuated to Singapore and later she was among the last 65 nurses to leave the islands aboard the Vyner Brooke.
Two days later, Japanese aircraft sank the vessel, and Ms Bullwinkel was one of only 22 nurses among the survivors who made it to the shores of Banka Island, east of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Ordered to walk into the ocean, the nurses were machine-gunned from behind. A bullet passed through Ms Bullwinkel's body, but she feigned death and was the only nurse to survive.
She then hid with a wounded British soldier for 12 days before surrendering again, and then survived three and a half years as a prisoner of war.
Rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, she left the army in 1947, dedicated herself to her profession and became director of nursing at Fairfield Hospital.
Ms Bullwinkel was honoured with the Florence Nightingale Medal, an MBE and the AO. She died in 2000 aged 84.
ANZAC Day
On Tuesday morning, our School Captains, Harriet J and Thomas W, along with our Vice Captains, Eleanor J and Hunter F, represented Our Holy Redeemer at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Surrey Gardens. The focus of this year's service centred on the history of the Shrine in Surrey Gardens, while also exploring the stories of some service men and women whose names are inscribed on the Honour Board within the shrine.
Harriet related the story of the undertaking to restore and update the Shrine in 2018 so as to correctly include the names of young people from the local area who names had either previously been ommitted of incorrectly recorded. Thomas shared the story of the three Mawson sisters who had volunteered as nurses during the Great War. The Mawson sisters are the latest names to be included on plaque 15 on the Honour Board.
Eleanor and Hunter presented a wreath on behalf of the OHR community. Thank you to Josie McCarthy for creating our wreath.
I would also like to acknowledge our School Captains and Vice Captains who represented our school so proudly, and extend my thanks to their families for committing themselves to participate in this important event. We were joined by other OHR families during the annual service.
Ms Lynette Giddings, from the Surrey Hills ANZAC Day Dawn Service Committee, sent the following acknowledgement on Wednesday:
Please thank each of your students for their participation by reading their speeches so well &/or carrying and carefully laying the beautiful wreath on behalf of your school community, at the foot of the Stone Cross in Surrey Gardens.
Once again members of our committee have already received many compliments from the general public about the service and in particular, the exemplary way the young people performed their roles in the service.
As each year passes, fewer veterans are able to take part in the ANZAC Services and/or the marches held around the country. It is important for us to be reminded of their service and in many cases the ultimate sacrifice they gave for our country and the way of life will still enjoy in Australia because of their committment to serve our nation. This can only happen if the younger generation understands about the history and importance by being involved on ANZAC Day.
We look forward to your school's continued support and participation in future Surrey Hills ANZAC Day Dawn Services.
Remembering ANZAC Day at OHR
Yesterday, we also took the opportunity to recognise ANZAC Day as a school community. During the afternoon, students, staff, parents and relatives gathered together in the hall to commemorate all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations and the contribution and suffering of all those who have served.
Thank you to Mrs Lisa Canty who put a lot of time and careful consideration into preparing this meaningful tribute.
Lisa and I would also like to acknowledge the valuable contribution made to the OHR ANZAC Day Commemoration by Colonel Holloway, Captain McCarthy, Josie McCarthy and Natalie Allan.
The staff were so proud of the respect shown by the students on this occasion.
How was your day?
Over recent weeks we have promoted some questions that parents can ask of their children about their learning. We are sure you have found them helpful.
Below you can access some further questions parents can ask of their children that will hopefully facilitate a more open discussion.
Winter Uniform
The first two weeks of Term 2 are a time of transition where students are able to wear either summer or winter uniform. As of this Monday, 8 May, all students are required to be dressed in their winter uniform.
For details of our uniform supplier, Spartan School World, please refer to the School Community page in this newsletter.
OHR Cross Country
Congratulations to all our students in Years 3-6 who are participating in today's OHR Cross Country at Macleay Park in North Balwyn. The Cross country is run as a House Event in the lead-up to the North Balwyn District Cross Country. The Years 3 and 4 students will run approximately 1500 metres and Years 5 and 6 will cover approximately 2000 metres.
The District Cross Country will be held at Macleay Park on Friday 12 May. As Mrs Golds wrote in the previous newsletter, there is a restriction on the number of students able to qualify for the District Cross Country. The selection of the school team will be based on the results of today's School Cross Country.
Working Bee
This is a friendly reminder that our next Working Bee is scheduled for Sunday 7th May from 8:30 - 10:30am. Within that time we will also have a sausage sizzle.
Please bring along wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, loppers, and petrol or electric blowers.
If you are able to assist, even for part of the time, it would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to bring along your children - they can either help out or play with their friends.
For task planning and catering purposes, please confirm your attendance to either of our Working Bee coordinators, Justin or Luke:
Luke.Torpey@jrtpartnership.com.au
School Closure Day
During Monday's school closure day for staff professional learning, the School Leadership Team facilitated an agenda which encompassed the following:
- An update on the new Multi-Enterprise Agreement and the implications for teachers and learning support officers
- Developing the conditions for a Performance and Development Culture based on Feedback
- An analysis of OHR Student Wellbeing Data: affirmations and recommendations
- A tour of all learning areas in the school and noting examples of good practice. This also provided an opportunity to explore processes that are deeply embedded right throughout the school.
Wishing everyone a great weekend,
Frank