Today I was honoured to attend Newington Public School’s ANZAC Day Assembly. ANZAC Day is a truly sacred time in our calendar and the young students of Newington put on a fitting service. Each class laid a wreath that they had designed themselves, a number of year 6 students were dressed in traditional uniforms and a current serving member of the Australian Defence Force stood proudly on stage. Darcy, my sharp looking friend fourth from the left, was proudly wearing his great-grandfather’s medals from the First World War.
The site of Newington is located on the old Newington Armory, the connection with Australia’s wartime is a direct one and it was only appropriate then that the school has a permanent memorial dedicated to those who served. During the assembly I present the school Principal, Ian Adamson, with a temporary plaque whilst the application for a permanent one is processed.
The students of Newington, and their school itself, are true reflections of the freedoms granted to all of by those brave men and women who gave their life in the defence and service of Australia.
