St Joseph's Nudgee College

April 25, 2008

St Joseph's Nudgee College held their ANZAC Day ceremony on April 24, 2008 and honoured the many ex-servicemen who attended the morning.

A piper led ex-servicemen and women, who were accompanied by student representatives, onto Ross Oval.

Nudgee staff and students organised the ceremony, which began with Mr Ron Wall (Pathfinder POW) lighting the eternal flame.

As part of the ceremony, the oval became a field of white crosses interspersed with red poppies. The crosses commemorated the many men and women who laid down their lives during times of war.

The Last Post echoed from the arches of the Duhig Building, followed by one minute's silence. The Rouse and the New Zealand and Australian National Anthems conculded the formal proceedings.

Principal Daryl Hanly ended with thoughtful advice that today was not the only day we should celebrate the ANZAC's sacrifices made and we should remember them always because they are a fine example of "leaving a legacy".

"I challenge you, as young men of Nudgee, to do the same and leave a legacy at Nudgee and indeed across your whole life," Mr Hanly said to the full school congregation.

Dean of Community and Mission Mary Veling then invited Year 12 boys to form a Guard of Honour for the ex-servicemen and women. The Year 12 boys then accompanied the ex-servicemen and women to Ryan Hall for morning tea.

The day, which was also attended by St Joseph's Gregory Terrace Old Boys, family and friends, was a fitting tribute to the men who fought in wars, those who regrettably lost their lives, as well as those who fortunately returned.

45 Nudgee boys lost their lives in World War I; 102 in World War II; and one in the Vietnam War.

Nudgee Boarders attended the Dawn Service at Sandgate on ANZAC Day. Twenty six boys marched with photographs of fallen Old Boys of the College pinned to their blazers . They joined the rest of the Boarding Community for the service at the completion of the march.

Director of Boarding Mr John Bussenschutt said he was proud of our young men who volunteered to rise at 4am, donned full uniform and marched with the local community in honour of our fallen Nudgee brothers.

"They are truly committed to being involved and being proud representatives of the Nudgee family," he said.