Junior School

With ANZAC Day commemorations cancelled across the Mountains it was gratifying to hear how many families had taken part in a driveway street commemoration or a service at their church. I believe Mrs Cooney’s bugle was heard widely across Wentworth Falls!

For our primary Assembly on Monday we were honoured to have a visit from Squadron Leader Craig Scott, Charlotte’s father, who addressed as all on the significance of the ANZAC spirit and how we could all model ourselves on the character strengths the ANZACs embodies. Following is the transcript of his address:

Thank you for asking me to come and talk to you today about ANZAC Day, which most Australians, recognise as one of the most important days of the year. 

The initials ANZAC stand for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and, in 1915, those men, together with British, Indian and French soldiers were sent to fight in the part of Turkey known as the Gallipoli peninsula. It was because of the way those Australians and New Zealanders conducted themselves, and the way they faced the hardships and dangers that confronted them, that the initials became a word - ANZAC - which today is respected in both Australia and New Zealand. 

Their actions forged what has become known as the ANZAC spirit and that spirit has been the driving force behind all Australian servicemen and women ever since. It is still present in the operations that our service people undertake today. I myself have recently returned from a six-month overseas deployment, where the ANZAC spirit is alive and well.

We have seen our personnel serve in Australia and overseas carrying on the spirit of ANZAC. We must not forget today’s veterans, the young men and women who are returning from duty. ANZAC Day is a day to remember all men and women of the Australian Defence Force, regardless of the time they served.

What does the ANZAC spirit mean? I believe it is a short word for a number of qualities which, not just men and women serving in the Navy, Army and Air Force use, but all of us can use in our everyday lives. 

The ANZAC spirit represents a sense of purpose and direction. The original ANZACs knew what they had to do, they knew of the dangers and the difficulties but they got down and did not let those difficulties stop them from obeying their orders. 

You can apply this to your everyday life. You know what work you have to do at school and what tasks your parents may have set you to do about the house. No matter what difficulties you think are in the way, think of the ANZACs and others who have followed them and push the difficulties to one side and accomplish your task. 

Secondly, the ANZAC spirit represents an acceptance of responsibility. This is another quality you should apply in your everyday lives. Take responsibility for everything you do. It is easy to say ‘I did that’ or ‘that’s my work’ when everything goes right. We all know that sometimes things do not go right. Sometimes you do something which is against the wishes of your parents and teachers. Remember the ANZAC spirit and take responsibility for what you are doing. 

The ANZAC spirit also includes a sense of compassion. This has been summed up in the Australian experience as mateship. This means to watch out for your friends, help them at all times, and don’t poke fun at other people at school because they may have had some misfortune.

So, these three very simple qualities are what we mean when we talk about the ANZAC spirit. 

Now, I like every other person hopes that Australia will never be involved in another war - and that you will never be called upon to experience such a terrible thing that the original ANZACs experienced. But you should use these qualities that I have talked about - a sense of purpose; acceptance of responsibility, and a sense of compassion, not only while you are at school, but whatever you do in your lives. If you do this, you will be keeping the faith with those who put the word ANZAC into our language and you will be helping to make sure that the ANZAC spirit is always part of life in Australia.

Lest we forget.

Student achievements

Congratulations to Year 6 students Henry Laurie and Xavier Stephens who represented HICES at the CIS Football championships last week. HICES finished 3rd in their pool with two wins and two losses. Well done, boys!

Congratulations also to our HICES Debating teams who debated in their first round last week coming away with one victory and one defeat. We are all looking forward to hosting a home round very soon and would welcome any interested spectators.

Assembly Awards

Bronze: Keeden Harrison (S3 Fuji Apples)

Silver: Lizzie Nealon-Cook (S3 Fuji Apples)

Mr Nigel Cockington

Head of Junior School

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