ANZAC Day
Ivanhoe Grammar School’s Cadet Unit honoured the Anzacs this week at dawn services and marches on ANZAC Day. On this special day, we commemorate the sacrifices and contributions of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers who fought and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions, especially during World War I. Our cadets were involved with numerous services at Whittlesea, Laurimar and the Heidelberg RSL ANZAC Dawn Service. Teacher Mr Rizzo was honoured to be able to lay a wreath on behalf of the school and our cadets were a key part of the ceremony held in Heidelberg.
Every year on a school day as close as possible to ANZAC day, we gather at school to pause, reflect, and give thanks. On Wednesday a special service was held at Plenty Campus with more services following at University Campus and The Ridgeway Campus alongside the Buckley House Grandparent’s Morning on Thursday, where grandparents and carers are invited to the ANZAC day Commemorative Service combined with a Grandparents’ Morning for students in years Foundation to Year 2, this has become a highlight of the Buckley House calendar.
During WWII, the School’s founding Headmaster, The Reverend Sydney Buckley, kept in close contact with his old boys who were on active service and the School has a unique record of their stories. Seventy-two past students lost their lives and each year their sacrifice is remembered, and their relatives are invited to the service.
At each of these special assemblies, the school community acknowledged the first Anzacs – those very brave Australian and New Zealand soldiers who landed in the early dawn 103 years ago on 25 April 1915 on distant shores – and remembered and honoured the 72 alumni who died while members of the Armed Services since 1939. At each service, there was the posting of the Catafalque Guard, the laying of a wreath, the reading of the names of the Fallen and a minute silence in their honour.
