LANGUAGES

N’oublions jamais – We will never forget

Saturday 24 March - Thursday 12 April

Thirteen Lilydale High School students will never forget the experiences they had when they visited our French sister school, Lycée Darchicourt.

Expertly led by Sharon Stoyanoff and Kristy Mays they spent five days in Paris before venturing to the north of France to live with the students they hosted here at LHS for two weeks.

In the north, one focus of the tour was to visit memorials and sites which were key battlefields during World War 1. Students were confronted by the enormity of the loss of life and continuing effect of the war on returning soldiers and their families. This has made coming home to the ANZAC Day commemoration services more understandable and real.

Image from the Australian War Memorial

We visited the town of Villers-Bretonneux as it prepared to commemorate 100 years since Australians played a major role in pushing the German forces out of the town. We saw the streets named after Victorian places, Australian flags in shop windows and colourful bunting in the streets. Even though their town was completely demolished, the Australian's brought freedom. For this action, the people of Villers-Bretonneux will never forget Australia.

See this article for a comprehensive account of the battle and its effect on the people involved:

Thoughts from some of the students:

This trip has been so life changing and we have all made lifelong friends and experienced a once in a lifetime experience. Ali T

The cultural exchange to France was the best trip of my life! Being in Paris for five days with my friends was more than I could ever ask for, it was just amazing! Then going to Hénin-Beaumont to live with a French family was just the cherry on top. I learnt so much about the French culture - much more than I could just learn in books. I loved how the French families were so nice and welcoming! I had an absolute ball! I am so grateful I got to go on this trip and I thank the teachers very much for making it possible! Emma D

The French trip is something I’ll never forget, I loved the French gothic architecture and the amazing art.

I thank the amazing teachers who dedicated their own time to showing our group of curious students the huge city of Paris. Sam

Villers-Bretonneux