St Joseph's Nudgee College

March 16, 2009

Four Year 10 students from St Joseph's Nudgee College showed off their flag waving skills at the Royal Commonwealth Society's Commonwealth Day Observance last week.

Feleti Kaituu, Reilly McHugh, Mitch Peereboom and Loughlin Smith helped parade flags and names from each of the Commonwealth's 53 countries as part of the multi-faith service. Mitch also read one of the six affirmations.

The Commonwealth Day Observance is an annual event, hosted by the Royal Commonwealth Society. It is celebrated throughout the Commonwealth of Nation countries on the second Monday of March each year.

This year's Queensland service was held at St Stephen's Catholic Cathedral with 83 students from schools within Brisbane, six multi-faith leaders, a City Christian church leader, consuls, VIPs, and members of the general public attending. 

Honourable Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the Queensland Parliament and President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Hon Mike Reynolds spoke about this year's theme which is "The Commonwealth @ 60: - Serving a New Generation".

April 26, 2009 marks 60 years since the London Declaration, when the modern Commonwealth was born. This year's theme recognises that the future of the Commonwealth belongs with young people and acknowledges the fact that nearly two billion people now live in the Commonwealth, and half of them are under 25.

Attendees also heard from Her Excellency, The Governor of Queensland, Ms Penelope Wensley AO, who spoke about the importance of Commonwealth Day and read a message from Her Majesty, the Queen.

President of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Queensland, Mr Gordon Wilson believes this year’s theme is a great reminder to young people about the importance of the Commonwealth in today’s world.

"The attendance of the young people was very important to us as we wish to keep the public, especially the young people of the future, informed on the significance of the Commonwealth of Nations."