News & Media

DESPITE not being a school day, many students from across the region donned their uniforms and honoured those who had lost their lives in wars on Remembrance Day.

At 11am on November 11, locals and visitors at Mildura’s Henderson Park and Wentworth’s cenotaph joined the nation in a minute’s silence.

In the crowds at both events were RSL members, veterans, everyday community members, councillors, politicians and school students.

Eight schools in Wentworth Shire were asked to design banners, which were presented at the Remembrance Day ceremony.

The students will walk with the banners on ANZAC Day.

Mr Baird said it was a great effort for so many students, teachers, principals and families to attend the weekend ceremony.

“I’ve got to thank (them) all for coming because I’m sure there will be other things they’d rather be doing on a Saturday, with sport on and that, it was great to have them there,” he said.

“I just hope we have the same representation next Remembrance Day and all the eight schools taking part at the Wentworth March on Anzac Day next year.”

Mr Baird said he looked forward to seeing the banners in action.

“We were going to have the the best banner to give a prize to, but they were all that good, we just couldn’t do that,” he said.

“I can just imagine on ANZAC Day, it’ll be a real spectacle as they march under their own banner.”

Mr Baird said the banners engaged with a variety of themes and acknowledged different aspects of war.

“For Dareton Public School, they’ve gotten one of the (Indigenous) aunties to give them a hand to make the flag, and it’s a really nice theme,” he said.

“It’s got wording on it to recognise the Aboriginals as part of all the wars.

“Another one had a little dog hiding behind a soldier. I asked ‘What does that signify?’ and the teacher said the kids just wanted to show that animals played a big part in the wars as well.”

Mr Baird said it was important to engage young people and get more people involved in the RSL and these events.

Article written by: Sarah Buchecker

Article provided by The Sunraysia Daily
https://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au