Media Release For Battle for Australia
10th September 2008-09-08
In 2003 students from our school attended out first Battle for Australia ceremony at the Cenotaph in PallMall . At the conclusion of the ceremony, it was overheard that they had nowhere to have their ceremony for the next year and so Comet Hilll Primary offered the use of our assembly area. The Committee very gratefully agreed and since then they have forged a very strong relationship with our school.
Comet Hill Primary has held the ceremony for the last 4 years at our school. We are the only primary school which is auspiced by the RSL to plan and run the ceremony in conjunction with the Bendigo Battle for Australia Committee.
In 2006 Mr Cliff Richards, President of the Bendigo and District RSL, presented the school with a seedling tree from Lone Pine at Gallipoli which was planted at the school and the children care for.
Our students study the Battle of Milne Bay and the Kakoda Track and then write an essay about the campaign. The children's essays are presented to the Battle for Australia Committee who then choose the stories to be read out on the day.
For the first time this year the committee awarded a $50 voucher to each of the winners. This year's winners are Emily Green and Michael Bowley both from Grade 6.
Our School Captains recite the Ode- Raewyn Wilson and Michael Bowley
The Students also sing in the choir which is trained by Jann Watson and who sing “Lest we forget” which is even more poignant this year as the Chairman for the Bendigo Battle for Australia Committee unfortunately passed away on the 18th August this year. He will be very sadly missed as he used to visit Mrs Watsons Classroom and talk with the children.
Mr Ken Whalen along with Mr. Bruce Vinnecombe were the founding members of the Bendigo Battler for Australia Committee. For todays ceremony Mr Ron Lindsay , secretary for the Battle for Australia Committee will fill in for Ken Whalen.
13/1/27-10/9/08 Kenneth Francis Whalen
The Ceremony is organised by Mrs Jann Watson a grade 5/6 teacher who liases with the Committee at the monthly RSL meetings and the school who run the ceremony. Comet Hill Primary school is very much Committed to forging a strong relationship with the RSL and the returned service people.
The Comet Hill Parents Association prepare and serve the light refreshments at the conclusion of the ceremony. The Hot food is supplied from Anne Caudle by Mr John Heitzer from Veterans Affairs
