Unfortunately, we are unable to hold our Anzac sub-school assemblies this year. We hope your family finds a suitable way to commemorate this special day on Saturday, and suggest you consider taking up one of the many options suggested on social media.
The Anzac tradition—the ideals of courage, endurance and mateship that are still relevant today was established on 25 April 1915 when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Anzac Day is the day on which Australians remember the sacrifice of those who have died in war and is commemorated every year on the 25 of April.
ANZAC day is not a day for honouring war, for war is not something to be honoured. War is something that is used as a last resort when diplomacy has failed and it is used by a nation to safeguard its sovereignty. We do however, on ANZAC day, honour the people of Australia who have undertaken warfare to protect that sovereignty, no matter how distasteful it may have been to them personally and in spite of the risk of losing their lives.
To them, on ANZAC day, we say:
‘Be proud of what you have done, as we are proud of you. Parade yourselves confident in the knowledge that your deeds are appreciated by the Australians for whom you served, no matter which of Australia’s battles you have fought. You have helped create a tradition which our relatively young nation can display with honour in any company.
We thank you for all of this’.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
Lest we forget
Our Tree The library staff of VSC initiated the idea of planting an Aleppo pine to commemorate the centenary ANZAC Day celebrations. On 24th April 2015, a Lone Pine, which is a descendant of the Australian War Memorial tree, was planted. Principal, Mr Tony Jacobs, read the history of the tree and the Battle of Lone Pine and along with Ms Wendy Ward who represented the 10th Australian Field Ambulance Association, School Captains Sam Brindley and Louisa Xie, planted the tree with students and staff watching.
