Newhaven College pays tribute to our ANZACs

It is a Newhaven College tradition for students to speak at ANZAC Day ceremonies across Bass Coast on ANZAC Day.

Newhaven College Captain Kadek Humphris spoke at the Cowes RSL Dawn Service, with Tilly Stecher speaking at the 11am service in Cowes.

College Captain Issy Mahon delivered her speech at the Inverloch RSL service and Harry Arceo was the guest speaker at the San Remo Community Service.

Junior School Captains, James Andrianopoulos, Cecilia Federici, Milla Kirkhope and Samuel Phillips also took part in the ANZAC Day services, laying wreaths on behalf of the College at the 11am Cowes ceremony.

On the Wednesday before ANZAC Day, Newhaven College students and staff gathered to reflect and show appreciation to our armed forces, past and present.

First to speak was Year 9 teacher and Army Reserve member, Ryan Gingell, in full uniform.

"ANZAC Day commemorates the landing at Gallipoli and honours the service and sacrifice of Defence Force members who volunteered to serve.

There was no conscription, no mandatory national service - just Australians and New Zealanders who saw injustice, recognised hardship, and willingly accepted the responsibility to confront it.

"Living in the ANZAC spirit does not require war, conflict, or catastrophe.

It requires us to act according to the values they embodied: Courage - doing what is right, even when it is difficult; Commitment - dedication to duty, team, and purpose; Mateship - loyalty, teamwork, and looking after each other; and Integrity - honesty, discipline, and doing the right thing even when no one is watching."

In her speech at the College service, College Captain Tilly Stecher reflected on how ANZAC Day commemorates the past but also reflects on what is happening today.

"Major conflicts are occurring across the globe right now. There are women, men, and children who do not have the opportunity to gather and reflect on war because they are instead living through it.

I can only hope that someday they will be at peace and can reflect, as we are today.

"If you consider war to be distant and to not have a significant impact on your life as modern Australians, I hope you realise that is the gift we have been given.

That is what these soldiers fought for. For Australians, like us, to be able to be here today, in peace, and think of war as 'distant'."

The Combined College Choir sang the poem 'In Flanders Fields' by Craig Tibbitts, based on the poem by John McCrae, as well as the New Zealand and Australian National Anthems.

A minute's silence was observed, and the Junior School Captains laid a wreath at the Lone Pine as Year 9 students raised the flags.