Special guests at our Anzac Day assembly

In the week leading up to the ceremony, students engaged in Anzac themed lessons in all faculties. RE students looked at the symbols of Anzac, indigenous perspectives and the role of army chaplains; English students studied the role of nurses and Anzac picture books; Maths students examined the statistics of Gallipoli; Science students researched the Lone Pine; Food Technology students made Anzac biscuits; Italian students created posters about Anzacs from diverse backgrounds; Japanese students studied about the Ibuki; 11 Ancient and Modern History studied the Turkish perspective of Gallipoli; Geography students have been studying the geography of Gallipoli; PDHPE did an ‘army boot camp’; and Visual Arts created a multimedia artwork called ‘What Anzac means to me’.

In homeroom, every student in the College created one of the craft activities used to decorate the MSC. Years 7 and 8 made paper poppies which were used to spell out ‘1915’ and ‘2015’ in the MSC. Year 9 completed slouch hats which had the individual name of an Australian who was killed in the Vietnam War.  Year 10 created the paper rose wreaths which had the names of Australians killed in World War I. Years 11 and 12 made crosses, each colour represented a different conflict from the Boxer Rebellion right up to Afghanistan and each has the name of a serviceperson who was killed in that conflict. The girls also participated in "swap an Anzac fact for an Anzac biscuit" on the Friday before Anzac Day.

Our ceremony was attended by a large contingent of veterans, Mr Kenneth Kerrigan, Sergeant Kenneth Gibb of the Australian Army, Uncle Roy Mundine, Uncle Charles Mundine, Mr Ken Foster, National President of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, Mr Ernie New and Mr Dutchy Holland (President) of the Campbelltown RSL Sub-Branch, Mr Robert Dunn Ingleburn RSL Sub-Branch and former staff member, Mr Bernie Egan. Sr Kerry Mcdermott  and  a large contingent of Aboriginal Elders, including Uncle Ivan Wellington attended. Politically, we were represented by Mr Russell Matheson MP, Federal Member for Macarthur, Mr Greg Warren, MP, State Member for Campbelltown, Councillor Paul Lake, Mayor of Campbelltown City Council and Councillor Penny Fischer representing Camden Council.  Mr John Greene, previous Principal of St. Patrick’s College whose family spans a military heritage of three generations, and many other former staff attended.

Our ceremony began with an Acknowledgement of Country by Tahlia of Year 10. This was followed by a multimedia presentation called  a ‘Song For Grace’ a true story about a girl whose brothers went off to the war. Eleanor, the College Captain, did the official welcome, followed by the Anzac Requiem read out by Year 11 student, Shai, and Lois from Year 9. Year 10 student, Kate, whose grandfather is a Vietnam veteran, read out the ‘Prayer for the Anzac Centenary’. A multimedia by Caroline from Year 7, then played which outlined the history of the Gallipoli campaign, the diversity of the soldiers involved and brought the story up to the current conflict in Afghanistan. Mrs Lennox gave the Opening Address and introduced veteran, Mr Kenneth Kerrigan who gave the Address.  Year 11 student, Charlotte, then introduced ‘Our Anzac Ancestors', where staff and students said a short piece about their ancestors involved in World War I. These were: Brittney (Year 11) Ashleigh (Year 8), Kammeryn (Year 8), Kendall (Year 10) Nellie (Year 12), Analysa (Year 9), Maisie (Year 12), Margot (Year 11), Hayleigh and Georgia (Years 11 and 9), Payten (Year 10), Mrs Jackie Irwin – Staff, Mrs Eileen Norris – Staff and Mr Charles Lincoln – staff, who gave his speech in a Turkish soldier’s uniform. 

St Patrick's College Campbelltown ANZAC celebrations flag raising ceremony from St Patricks College Campbelltown on Vimeo.

Year 11 student, Lauren then talked about the research the College has undertaken into the two diggers, Mr. Herbert Kitching and Mr Stephen Longhurst, who are buried in the Congregationalist Cemetery next to the College. This was followed by a multimedia presentation by Lauren and Amy on the men and women from Campbelltown involved in the Gallipoli Campaign. Students from Amity College, introduced by Fatima (Year 9), read out a tribute to the Turkish soldiers killed and Ataturk’s speech in Turkish and English. The College Choir sang  'Here You Lie' , a song based on Ataturk’s speech.

 Mr Ken Foster, President Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, introduced by Caroline (Year 7), read the official Prayer of Remembrance. This was followed by the wreath laying ceremony narrated by Karen (Year 11). The first wreath represented those who are currently serving in the Australian military and our veterans. It was presented by Sergeant Kenneth Gibb of the Australian Army who has served in South-East Asia, the Middle East and  Afghanistan and his daughter Kendall in Year 10.  The second wreath commemorated all the Aboriginal people who have served in the Australian Forces and was presented by one of our Aboriginal Elders, veteran Uncle Roy Mundine and Year 12 student, Tara. The third wreath was brought up by students from Amity College, representing all the Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. The St Patrick’s College wreath was presented by Payten (Year 10), whose ancestor fought at Gallipoli and Rhiannon (Year 10), whose cousin, Corporal David O’Connor, an English Royal Marine, was killed in Afghanistan in 2012,  Eliza (Year 10), whose great uncle was a ‘Rat of Tobruk’ and Kaitlyn (Year 10), whose ancestor, Douglas William Howell, was a POW at Sandakan and died on the 2nd Ranau death march in World War II. This wreath also paid tribute to those servicemen who attended St John’s Prep School for Boys, which operated on this site until its closure in 1969.

Mr Ernie New, of Campbelltown RSL Sub-branch, read ‘The Ode’ and ‘The Last Post’ was played by Chloe from Year 7. The flag raising was followed by Emily (Year 7), poem recitation of ‘True Heroes’. The College Choir concluded the service by singing the New Zealand National Anthem in Maori and English, then the Australian Anthem in  Dharawal and English.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Lone Pine sapling and Gallipoli rosemary were planted by all the girls with an Anzac ancestor in the special ‘Anzac Centenary’ garden developed by Mr Tony Smylie. Mr Russell Matheson and Mr Greg Warren unveiled the plaque.

Fran Musico Rullo - History Teacher