Bundamba Secondary College Newsletter – May 16, 2002 ANZAC DAY CEREMONY AT BUNDAMBA SECONDARY COLLEGE

Bundamba Secondary College students' Ceremony

Our annual ANZAC ceremony was held on the day preceding ANZAC Day. A large number of ex-servicemen and women together with representatives of government and three local branches of the Returned & Services League were present for this occasion. Ms Anna Bligh, Minister for Education, was unable to attend and she was represented by Ms Jo-Ann Miller, Member for Bundamba, who is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister. Ms Miller is a popular visitor to our college as she takes a keen interest in, and is a strong supporter of developments at the college. Mr Bernie Ripoll was represented by his political adviser, Mr Armand Von Stein, himself a former member of the Defence Forces. Bernie apologised for his absence this year as he had been invited to attend the ceremony at Bremer High School which was being conducted by Mr Jim Runham, a former student and teacher at this school. Councillor Trevor Nardi represented the Ipswich City Council.

Honoured guest, Mr Harry Barker and Cadet Chelsea Palmer - Memorial Garden Ceremony

The college is appreciative of the members of government taking time off from their many commitments to join us in showing our appreciation of the service and sacrifice given by our servicemen and women. The fresh floral wreaths laid at our honour stone by them adds a special touch to the occasion. Whilst we honour all servicemen and women who gave or offered their lives for our freedom, this year, the sixtieth anniversary of the fall of Singapore and the consequent capture and captivity of some of the nation's finest young men and women, we particularly honoured four surviving prisoners-of-war, all of whom worked on the notorious Burma/Thailand Railway, where so many died from illness, starvation and the brutality of their captors. We also honoured those who were called upon to serve in Papua/New Guinea as it was at the Battle of Milne Bay, sixty years ago, that the enemy suffered their first defeat on land, and the threat of invasion of Australia was removed.

"Kiwi" Reg and Ms Vivienne Stanbury, President Goodna Sub Branch RSL

Three of the four surviving prisoners-of-war who live in the Ipswich area, Mr Harry Barker, Mr Baden Jones and Mr Bobby Landers, attended our ceremony. The other survivor, Mr Stan Denning, was unable to attend as he was attending an ANZAC ceremony at his old primary school at Glamorganvale. Mr Maurice Horrigan, also a prisoner-of-war who served with Mr Baden Jones, and Mr Errol Jorgensen, President of the 25th Battalion Association, who served in the Battle of Milne Bay, travelled down from Toowoomba to be with us on this special occasion.

Honour Stone

Mr Harry Barker, our honoured guest and representative of former prisoners-of-war spoke of the events leading up to the fall of Singapore Island and their subsequent entry into captivity. From Mr Barker's address, we are left in no doubt that this military disaster can in no way be attributed to any shortcomings of the Australian forces sent to defend Malaya and Singapore. In his moving address to the assembly, Mr Barker challenged the youth of Bundamba Secondary College students' Ceremony today to help find a solution so that we can all live in harmony without regard to creed or culture.

Honoured guest, Mr Baden Jones and Gemma Palmer - Memorial Garden Ceremony

Mr Barker's address ended with the following statement: "The Past is our Heritage: The Present is our Responsibility: The Future is Your Challenge - Perhaps you can win where we failed". Among our honoured guests this year was Mr Bobby Landers a former prisoner-ofwar, and more significantly a man of Aboriginal descent. Bobby's presence at our ceremony provided us with the opportunity of acknowledging the significant

contribution made by indigenous servicemen and women in the defence forces of our country. Bobby also has the distinction of having been born on ANZAC Day and we took the opportunity of celebrating his birthday a day early.

Ms Jo-Ann Miller presenting WWI Memorial items to Mr Errol Jorgensen - President 25th Battalion Association

In the spirit of reconciliation, and as a tribute to our four honoured guests who were ex-prisoners-of-war, each was invited to plant a palm tree in the college's memorial garden. The particular palm trees selected for planting have a botanical name which was named after the last surviving Aboriginal who had traditional knowledge of the area in North Queensland where the palm trees originated. Mr Cec Fisher, a veteran of the Korean War, and also of Aboriginal descent, read the poem "Black Digger March Tall" at the Memorial Garde n Ceremony. Cec is a well known Ipswich identity and author of a number of books on poetry.

World War II Veterans and Air Cadets Gemma and Chelsea Palmer

A staff morning tea was held in the College Library for our distinguished ex-service personnel, government representatives, student council and visitors. Such an important event on the College Calendar could not have occurred without the fine efforts of many staff and students. Particular thanks are given to Bradley Aitchison and Krystie Parker, Year 8 students, who laid wreaths on behalf of the college; Soloi Taefu, of the Student Council, who organised the sale of so many badges for the RSL; College Captains, Tiara Cassady and Matthew Tunstall, for their readings of the Ode and Resolution; Gemma and Chelsea Palmer, Air Training Corps Cadets who formed the Guard of Honour; Student Council members who were part of

the official party; Ms Lewis and the Home Economics staff and students for their wonderful catering effort; Mrs Dulley for having the Library and Courtyard presented so well; Ray Ross and the Cleaning Staff for the overall presentation of the areas where the visitors gathered.

Honoured guests Ex-Prisoners-of-War Mr Harry Barker, Mr Maurice Horrigan and Mr Bobby Landers

Particular thanks are given to minister, Major Rod Strong and bugler, Brad Strong from the Bundamba Salvation Army for their continued support of our ANZAC Ceremonies. We also thank Dr Peter Webb and Miss Michelle Coolwell from We Care Ministry whose efforts enabled us to have Bobby Landers present for our ceremony and Cec Fisher for his contribution by reading his poem at our Memorial Garden ceremony. A special thank you goes to Mr Richie Mackie, Stone Mason, of Booval who both this year and last year, provided mudstone blocks which were used to manufacture gifts for our honoured veterans.

Memorial Garden

There are many others, too numerous to mention, who contributed to the success of the occasion. The fact that you were a staff member, student, invited guest or visitor who was present on the day, indicates that you helped make the occasion a success and that the service and sacrifice of Australia's finest men and women will not be forgotten. Mr Eddie Habben ANZAC Day Co-ordinator