St Joseph’s and Clonard colleges won national recognition on Monday for their joint Anzac Day service earlier this year.
St Joseph’s teacher and event organiser Annalee McKew said the spirit of Anzac was “certainly alive” at the colleges.
“They’ve really embraced Anzac and they really understand it.”
For Anzac Day this year the colleges partnered with the Geelong and District Vietnam Veteran’s Association, focussing on the Battle of Long Tan’s 50th anniversary.
“They’re fantastic those guys,” Ms McKew said.
The students explored Australia’s war history by visiting the RAAF museum, listening to veterans’ tales, simulating a Kokoda trek and making Anzac biscuits, among other activities.
The day concluded with students commemorating the lives of ANZACs through poetry, dance and letter reading – directed by former Clonard student and actor Amanda LaBonte.
Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan congratulated the colleges on winning the $3000 Anzac Day Schools’ Award out of 68 schools.
The colleges won $2000 in 2015 as the best Victorian school in the awards, for their Centenary of Anzac commemorations, which they invested in this year’s activities.
Ms McKew said they would again invest their prize money in Anzac Day, to make it even better next year.
“I felt incredibly proud of the students and the staff who worked very hard to provide opportunities for young people to embrace the spirit of Anzac.”
