Anzac spirit lives on at St Mary's

Published: 9 May 2010

Remembering: Mike and Justine Oxenham and their children, Grace and Flynn, check out the Anzac Day display at St Mary's, Ipswich

IN what has become a tradition for St Mary's Primary School, Ipswich, students gathered with the local community at first light on Anzac Day.

They came to remember and honour the bravery of those who fought for Australia in the past.

St Mary's has a significant number of students who have a parent or parents serving in the defence forces, especially at the local Air Force base at Amberley.

At various times some of the students' parents are on deployment overseas.

On Anzac Day the school community especially remembers those students and their families.

To honour current and past members of the Defence Forces St Mary's Defence Force teacher aide Lisa Johnson arranged an Anzac Day display in the school foyer.

All students coloured red poppies and placed them on the display, just like visitors to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

The whole school then gathered for a liturgy the day before Anzac Day in the parish church.

The following morning at dawn students from local schools joined the St Mary's school community, government and council representatives of government, and Ipswich residents at the local memorial stone.

Two St Mary's students helped Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and Cr Andrew Antonelli to lay a wreath at the memorial stone.