History Club Attends Victory In The Pacific Day
The History Club was invited to the 74th commemorations of Victory in the Pacific held at Cabra-Vale Diggers Club on 14 August. Campbelltown RSL Sub-Branch requested our 10 members dress in their war nurse costumes and lead the march to acknowledge the ‘Year of the Nurse’. The students dressed as nurses were: Chloe K, Bronwyn Z, Laura Z, Olivia M, Eve M, Gianna M, Chantelle G, Emeline L, Abbey C and Tess M. The rest of the History Club marched behind the veterans.
History Club with Guy Zangari MP and Greg Warren MP
Thirty-five History Club members attended accompanied by Mrs Lucette Zapirain (parent and maker of the nurse outfits), Miss Calka, our College Archivist, Mrs Joanne Cavallin and myself. Emeline L of Year 7 was dressed in an authentic World War II uniform and gave an address about the role of war nurses in the theatres of war where Australians have served. She focused particularly on the service of World War II nurses, 78 of whom died, many as POWs of the Japanese. Chantelle G, Olivia L and Caitlin R wore the service medals of their ancestors and presented a wreath on behalf of the College with Eve M in nurses costume and Zara H who is a recipient of the Premier's Anzac Memorial Scholarship.
The History Club members were thrilled to meet Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, Governor of NSW and catch up with 103 year old World War II veteran, Bert Collins.
Some reflections of members of the History Club about VP Day
Emeline L reflected ‘I was honoured to be able to speak at VP day on behalf of St Patrick's College and the nurses who served in previous wars. I am very grateful and will never forget this great opportunity’
Chloe K wrote ‘On 14 August 2019, I participated in the history club excursion to Cabra-Vale Diggers Club. For this special event, I dressed as the red cross nurse and joined in a march with the rest of the history club girls... I really enjoyed this lovely experience and having the chance to make new friends and meet people who served in the war. Overall, I really enjoyed this day and will remember it for years to come.’
Bronwyn Z recalled, ‘VP Day was a very heart warming excursion. It told us how brave our Australian soldiers and nurses were. I loved the wreath laying ceremony, there were 75 in total. The day was very exciting and I will never forget it.’
Hein J wrote the following reflection:
"The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world ”. This is a quote I think of when I remember VP Day. Recently, the history club had gone for an amazing excursion, here we celebrated and remembered the date that marks the Japanese surrender that ended fighting in the Pacific. Through this wonderful experience we stopped for a time of silence to remember all the nurses and men that served our nation. We also got to meet some very important people such as the NSW governments'. We were the only school who had girls dress up as nurses and wear their great grandparents medals. So let us join and say "LEST WE FORGET".
All photographs taken by Christabelle A.
Fran Musico Rullo - HSIE Teacher
