Bannockburn students were treated to a special heritage aircraft flying display following community engagement with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) over eight months.
Year 6 students from St Mary MacKillop Primary School visited the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base and museum in Point Cook, where students participated in a museum scavenger hunt and witnessed a CT-4A flying display by the 100 Squadron.
The visit recognised the students’ efforts in assembling care packages filled with letters, handmade artwork, and treats for people deployed on Operation Aslan in South Sudan in December last year.
RAAF 21 Squadron commanding officer Wing Commander Nikki Clements said it was “fantastic to meet” with the students and show them how much the care packages meant to those deployed.
“The thoughtfulness, creativity and generosity shown by the students made a real difference to our deployed personnel,” she said.
“I wanted these kids to know that even the smallest act of kindness can travel halfway around the world and lift the spirits of those who serve.”
St Mary MacKillop Primary School year 5 and 6 teacher Narelle Nixon said the trip to Point Cook showed the students that “their voices and actions matter”.
“This has been such a powerful learning journey for our students, and they now see how their small gestures had a global impact,” she said.
Inverleigh and District Returned and Services League representative and retired Australian Army Major Murray Pearson said the student’s creativity and compassion reminded ADF personnel why they do what they do.
“What they have done here, it is more than a gesture; it’s a reminder that community, compassion and connection are what truly sustain our defence family,” he said.
