APRE NEWS

Dear Parents,

These past few weeks have certainly been out of the ordinary so I hope that you are managing to keep some kind of balance with work, school work and family time. For some of you I imagine that this has not been easy, particularly when we have all been asked to stay away from our support network (family and friends).

There have been many things that we have had to forfeit over the last couple of months:

• family gatherings over Easter
• Easter religious services (I usually do Stations of the Cross in Peacehaven Park)

to name just a couple. On Saturday, many of us would be involved in annual/ traditional ANZAC Day services however with restrictions in place our observances will be different but no less reflective or significant. At school here we are not able to assemble together however whether learning remotely or on-site, the message of ANZAC Day will be shared. If you are driving along Ruthven St, past the school on the weekend, keep an eye out for our ANZAC Day wreaths.

I am including the words here of Warrant Officer Cooper who spoke to our community in 2018.

ANZAC Day

Anzac is made up of 5 letters A.N.Z.A.C...but what does the word Anzac mean? Well it means Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and Anzac Day commemorates the fateful landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli, on the 25th April, 1915. This has been further broadened and covers all campaigns that Australian soldiers have been involved in since.

Many people ask…

“Why is it that we use the day the ANZACs landed on the Gallipoli peninsula?

Why don’t we use the day the war ended? or perhaps the day a great battle was won? Like Villers Bretonneux? Why is it that we commemorate a defeat? 

Well…the answer to that is that both Australia and New Zealand are different, indeed Australian and New Zealand soldiers themselves are different…..more than any other soldier..........this is because of their Anzac spirit.

Before the Gallipoli campaign, Australians, who had an enthusiasm for Australia, had a greater patriotism for the old country, England. That is to say that they still accepted England as home even though they lived in Australia.

When Australians were called in 1915 to go to war, they enlisted partly for a sense of adventure and partly because the empire needed them. The Australians were, however, an untried force which the British thought to be “unruly and undisciplined”.

It was at Gallipoli that the reputation started of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers as being tough men, men who could endure, men who could go on fighting, no matter what.

It was at Gallipoli where it was seen that the Australian and New Zealand soldiers, even if beaten, were great fighters and their loss was not due to lack of courage, stamina, spirit or skill. 

It was at Gallipoli that the legend of the Australian and New Zealand soldier was born and both were seen, not just as another country in the British Empire, but as countries in their own right.

I am sure that most of you know the story of Simpson and his donkey; but for those of you who haven’t, Simpson was an Australian soldier at Gallipoli who, with his donkey, Murphy, unselfishly helped wounded soldiers from the battlefield, and carried them down to the safety of Anzac Cove.

Unfortunately, after saving countless soldiers’ lives, he was eventually killed. So, it is important that all of us think of Simpson and Murphy with their unselfish acts tomorrow.

Usually, on Anzac Day, many people attend dawn services, Anzac Day assemblies and other special gathering but unfortunately this year that is not possible. That does not mean that Anzac Day will go unnoticed and unrecognised. Schools, families and community groups will determine their own way to acknowledge Anzac Day 2020.

We know that it is a day of commemoration, a day to say, 'thank you' and to honour all soldiers, from all wars, who have fought, and more importantly who gave their lives for Australia.

It is these sacrifices that allow us the freedoms we have today.

Finally!!

It is important to remember that ANZAC Day is a day that we thank all service men and women for the sacrifices they and their families have made. It is where we never forget our fallen. This is the reason every year we repeat the words…

                                 “Lest we Forget”  (thanks to Warrant Officer Paul Cooper)