Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

It was great to see the many smiling faces of students as they entered the school gates on their return from school holidays.  Term 2 has started off as busy as Term 1 finished with a flurry of important activities and celebrations.  This included the ANZAC commemoration service on Tuesday last week and our own service held on Friday, 28 April.  I was so appreciative of the number of students and staff that not only attended but also participated in the Taree March and Service.  Special mention must go Makayla Boere from Year 12 who sang the recessional hymn, God Save the King and the National Anthem at the Taree service.  I am also aware that several of our students attended and participated in other services across the region.

On Anzac Day, we gather to remember and honour the brave men and women who served and sacrificed their lives for our country.  Anzac Day is a time to pay tribute to the courage, loyalty, and dedication of the soldiers who fought in the First World War and all conflicts since, of those thousands of young Australians that have given us a free democratic country and the security to enjoy life without fear.

One of the most famous stories of ANZAC is the story of Simpson and his donkey.

During the Gallipoli campaign in World War I, Australian soldier John Simpson, along with his donkey, would carry wounded soldiers to safety under heavy fire.  Simpson and his donkey became legendary figures, embodying the ANZAC spirit of mateship and selflessness.

Simpson's story illustrates the importance of mateship in times of war and hardship.  He risked his own life to help his fellow soldiers, embodying the sense of loyalty and mutual support that is central to the ANZAC ethos. 

During World War I, civilians volunteered to join the Australian Imperial force, and serve in the war.  They came from a variety of cultural backgrounds, including Our First Nation People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait descent, and soldiers of Belgium, French, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Italian descent to name a few.

Two examples of people of various cultural background involved in the first world war were:

Private William Reginald 'Bill' Rawlings who was a Gunditjmara man born near Purnim, Victoria, in about 1890.  As a young man, he worked as a horse-breaker.  Rawlings was one of many men from Framlingham Aboriginal Station who enlisted in the AIF.  In July 1918, he was awarded the Military Medal for leading a bayonet charge at Morlancourt, France.  Rawlings was killed in action on 9 August 1918 and buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières.

Lieutenant Dalbert Hallenstein who was a promising Jewish officer of German descent from a well-known Melbourne family.  After nearly four years of service, Hallenstein was killed in action at Péronne on 1 September 1918, only 500km from his birthplace in Heidelberg.  His commanding officer described him as 'a brave man, and a capable officer' and lamented his loss.

It does not matter what side you are fighting for or your cultural background, people are people.  We all have hopes, dreams, fears, and those we love and who love us.  As Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.”

In other words, we are called to love one another, even amid the hell of the battle of war our ANZACs were able to embody the spirit of what it means to be human.

At our school ANZAC service during my address, I finished off by saying the following to the school community.  Life can be difficult, peer pressure enormous, social media invasive, friendships fragile and our self-esteem is under constant assault.  Take strength from the courage of the Anzacs.  Take a stand and do what is right, stand up for the poor, the weak and those who cannot stand up for themselves. If at times you need to stand alone outside your peer group, then be strong and do so.  When others need you be there for them, no matter their background be a mate.

Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are.  It makes Australia a great place to live and is an integral part of our identity.

‘Together with Christ we serve our community’.

Inspired by GOSPEL VALUES and the practical examples of St Mary of The Cross MacKillop and St Clare of Assisi our Mission is to…

CONNECT LEARN ASPIRE RESPECT ENGAGE

Kind Regards

Phillip Gibney
Principal