By ANEEKA SIMONIS
NOT much can convince students to go to school on a weekend, but teachers at a school in Tynong say that won’t be an issue on one Saturday next year.
The Anzac Centenary, which falls on Saturday 25 April, will be a special day for all Australians as they reflect on the sacrifices made by servicemen and women during World War I.
Students and teachers at St Thomas Aquinas College in Tynong will mark the milestone day by leading a united walk through the town to the Tynong memorial followed by a concert at the school to commemorate the centenary along with the country’s battle to liberate French town Villers-Bretonneux.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs the Honourable Senator Michael Ronaldson and Federal Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent met with some of the students who will perform in the concert at the Nar Nar Goon Light Horse and Field Artillery Museum last week.
Senator Ronaldson said he was pleased to award the school $6000 from the Anzac Centenary local grants program on Tuesday 9 December.
“The application submitted by St Thomas Aquinas College was commended for its creativity and its potential to involve and unite the whole community,” he said.
“The thought of the community walking together on the day is a very, very special one.”
Father Delsorti from St Thomas Aquinas College said the event was encouraging students to research and learn more about the past sacrifices made by men and women during the war.
“It is marvellous. The kids are very excited. It has led to them researching people from the Tynong area who were involved in World War I,” he said.
“We don’t want children to forget what servicemen did for us in years gone by.”
Eliza is one student who is counting down the days until she can perform in honour of people who made the ultimate sacrifice 100 years ago.
“It makes me feel part of the community,” she said.
Mr Broadbent said about 600 people gathered at the Tynong memorial this year. He said he expected the centenary would attract a much larger crowd.
