By Kyra Gillespie
Soldiers who sacrificed their lives in war were in the forefront of students and teacher’s minds at Kooweerup Secondary College’s Remembrance Day Service.
Held on Friday 9 November, the event was attended by RSL guests, some of which who spoke about the importance of Remembrance Day.
“There are many alive today who are living with the aftermath of war, and who continue to be reminded of the horrors of war,” RSL President John Camileri said.
“We are handing over the task of you to carry on their legacy. We will remember them.”
Mr Camileri also awarded the RSL Citizenship Award to Kooweerup Secondary College student Alysha Alie.
The award acknowledges “courage, endurance, sacrifice and mateship.”
After moving performances by the school choir and college senior band, the special guests attended the school’s Memorial Garden; created by staff and students to mark the centenary of the Armistice.
“A local steel worker created the sculpture, we have a knitting club who knitted the poppies for us, and our lead gardener – along with some students – created a brand new garden. This did not exist two weeks ago,” Assistance Principal Margaret Nicolson said.
“They’ve worked nonstop; we deliberately put it out the front because we wanted the public to be able to see it too. We’ve got seats here, and what we’re intending to do is to make it a quiet, reflective place where people can come and sit, with plenty of shade and a beautiful garden.
“There are around 40 local people who died in war, so they are going to go on an honour board which will be hung here too. This is what we have done for 100 years.”
Vietnam veteran Jim King, who served in the Armoured Regiment, was moved by the tribute.
“It’s really special to be remembered this way,” Mr King said.
