College marks Remembrance Day 

College marks Remembrance Day 

On Friday 11 November 2022, our College commemorated Remembrance Day, marking the 104th anniversary of the end of World War I.

A short history of Remembrance Day

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month attained a special significance in the post-war years. This was the moment hostilities ceased on the Western Front and became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilisation of over 70 million people and left between nine and 13 million dead, perhaps as many as one-third of them with no known grave. The allied nations chose this day and time for the commemoration of their war dead.

Since World War I, Australians have been called on many times to serve in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. Almost two million men and women have worn with pride the uniforms of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force. Tragically, over 103,000 names are listed on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial. Those listed were members of the Australian armed forces who died during or shortly afterwards (as a result of war service) in World War I, World War II and post-1945 conflicts, warlike service, non-warlike service and certain peacetime operations. Remembrance Day is a time for Australians to unite in solemn respect and remembrance for all those who served and died.

Working for peace

This year marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of Australia’s involvement in global peacekeeping operations. In 1947, four Australian military officers were deployed to the Netherlands East Indies (present-day Indonesia) as part of a multinational peacekeeping force. They were the first peacekeepers to go into the field. In the 75 years since that operation, tens of thousands of Australians have served on scores of peacekeeping missions around the world. Most have been military personnel, but peacekeeping also involves police and civilians. At our commemoration, we watched a short video biography on Major General Cheryl Pearce, a distinguished soldier who has served in two major peacekeeping operations. This video tells the story of Major General Pearce’s service as a peacekeeper in East Timor and Cyprus. She is only the second woman in United Nations peacekeeping history to hold the position of Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. She was also part of the first all-female leadership team in UN peacekeeping history. Major General Pearce has received the Conspicuous Service Cross for her achievements. 

I would like to extend a special thanks to the students in the Year 9 Elective History class who supported and led our service. 

Lara Grimm
Assistant HSIE Coordinator