The Ode
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

On Wednesday of this week, the Senior School commemorated ANZAC Day with a special Assembly led by our senior students who had recently returned from the French-History Study Tour over the Easter vacation. The Study Tour to France provided opportunity for the girls to visit several memorials that commemorated the lives lost during both the first and second World wars including, most notably, the D-Day Landing Site at Omaha Beach in Normandy.

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The Study Tour was an inspiring and thought-provoking experience for the girls with all attesting to gaining a greater insight, understanding and appreciation of the significance of ANZAC Day. Their Tour also marked a historical point in time, with our girls visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, a mere three hours before the tragedy of the fire last week.

Lucy Croft Year 11
“In every cemetery, the graves of Australian soldiers could be found as the ANZAC fighters were present in many important battles that took place in France during World War One. Many of these graves were found in the Australian National Memorial in the city of Villers-Bretonneux. The large tower that overlooked the countryside, once a battlefield, still had gashes from artillery fired during World War II.

We were also fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the American War Memorial near Omaha Beach on an appropriately cold and rainy day. As we stood in a small chapel in the centre of the complex, our guide shared stories of the service men and women that were buried at the War Memorial. The most memorable story was of the four women, one a ‘doughnut dolly’ who worked to boost the morale of the soldiers at Omaha Beach. The other three were African American women who worked in the War Postal Office and were sadly killed when their vehicle was bombed. They were buried in this memorial in recognition of their dedicated service.

The tragedy and loss of life during both world wars is a memory that will remain with me.”

Sophie Garrett Year 11
“Despite the cold and rainy weather, we felt immensely grateful to visit the D-Day Landing site, Omaha Beach in Normandy. Viewing the Les Braves Memorial Statue, located on the shores of Omaha Beach, provided a poignant reminder of the lives lost on June 6, 1944. The commemorative statute reflected the fallen American soldiers of World War II, with this memorial representing three elements: The Wings of Hope, Freedom and Fraternity.

A 360 degrees cinema located at Museum revealed footage of the fateful D-day Landings. The film depicted the harsh conditions the brave soldiers were faced with both crossing the English Channel during a ferocious storm and the immense danger of landing under fire of the German Army. How quickly many of the men fell.

We all experienced an overwhelming sense of remorse and appreciation towards the soldiers who fought and lost their lives so nobly.”

Astrid Low Year 11
“During our stay in Normandy, we experienced an opportunity to visit the German Battery at Longues-sur-Mer, near Bayeux. This site contains well-preserved concrete bunkers built and used by Germany during World War II. The view from the bunkers to the D-Day Landing beaches formed a vital part of the German coastal defence battery, also known as the Atlantic Wall established along the western coast of Europe. These batteries still contain the original long-range machine guns used by the Germans. The bunkers with extremely thick concrete walls and large mounds of earth shielding the structures made them almost impenetrable to the opposing allied troops.

Walking inside the bunkers, we could feel one of the darkest moments in history. It was an extremely confronting and chilling experience. We were able to stand in the bunkers and look out onto the D-Day Landing beaches, sharing the same view as German soldiers on the June 6, 1944. An experience impossible to replicate with words or photographs.

This experience allowed us to truly connect with the history we learn in our classrooms at St Catherine’s and to truly understand and appreciate the devastating loss of life that occurred during World War II.”

Eleni Stamoulis Year 11
“During the Study Tour, we visited the Sir John Monash Centre, an interactive War Museum located beneath the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux. The Sir John Monash Centre cleverly uses a phone app to provide the explicit detail and information about each historical item to be viewed and all aspects of the lives of Australian’s fighting in the war.

It was fascinating to learn about the more intimate details of the lives of soldiers during their time in the trenches including how they entertained themselves when they were not fighting on the Front. The Museum also details the unsung stories of Australia’s history – the fate of Australian soldiers following the war and the impact continuing long after its end. This included stories of the wives, children, parents of soldiers and the doctors and nurses who risked their lives to save others.

It was certainly moving to really grasp and understand the intricate stories from the war that are sometimes forgotten or overlooked as being recognised now as a part of our Australian history.”

Mrs Michelle Carroll