History Club – memory and legacy of Anzac Day

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance. This year as a nation Australians commemorate the milestone of 110 years of the first landing of the Anzac fighting forces at Gallipoli in 1915. The legacy of Anzac Day is to honour with gratitude the memory of those who have given their all for their country and identify the values of the Anzac spirit. Students studying History across Years 7-11 engaged in source analysis and inquiry. To build historical and civil understanding students explored primary resources from the Digital Classrooms and Digital Memorial Boxes of the National Museum of Australia and the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park.

Anzac Commemoration Services are an opportunity for communities to be unified in the act of respect. The formal Commemoration Service was observed by our school community through the College Assembly and included the Ode, The Last Post, one minute of silence for the fallen and The Rouse. The members of the History Club who led the service included Calliope Stewart, Monterey Tam, Emily Wong, Charlotte Salameh and Poppy Haigh. Year 7 History students created the wreath for the fallen and Year 11 Modern History students designed the reflection video. Prayers were also given for the fallen. Thank you to the Director of Music Amy Richardson, Trumpet Tutor Toby Rands and the College Assembly Choir for the heartfelt musical expression that set the reflective tone of the College commemoration.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Reflections

The Anzac Day commemoration was a powerful reminder of the bravery and sacrifice displayed by Australian and New Zealand soldiers. Being a part of the ceremony made me feel honoured in preserving their legacy and sharing the values of courage, mateship and unity to the school community.
Monterey Tam
Year 11 History Club Ambassador

The Anzac Commemoration assembly was a respectful, and poignant celebration of all those soldiers who fought in the world wars. As we listened to poetry and the Last Post, we were reminded as a school community on the importance of honouring these legacies. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to play a role in commemorating the effort and sacrifice of all those men and women who served in the war.
Emily Wong
Year 11 History Club Ambassador

It was an incredibly rewarding experience to take part in the Anzac Commemoration assembly. Standing before the assembly, I felt the weight of history and the significance of honouring those who had served and sacrificed their lives for our country. As I spoke the words of the poem ‘After the Service’ by Jeff Cook, I hoped to convey the respect and gratitude that Anzac Day represents.
Poppy Haigh
Year 11

The opportunity to participate in the Anzac Day Commemoration during assembly was touching as well as didactic, reminding us to appreciate the sacrifices made by many for our nation, and the unity in gratitude and respect.
Calliope Stewart
Year 11 History Club Ambassador

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Monterey in our Modern History class to conduct research into the experiences of Anzacs as well as an investigation into how their legend is commemorated in the present. This enabled us to construct a reflection video, in which we shared our learning with the school community in a reverent and engaging manner.
Charlotte Salameh
Year 11