1995 School Magazine

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@irlg' Gremilar $cbool I8rid[ane 1995

AUSTRATIA REMEMBERS - VPDAYATBGGS

AI,IZAC MEMORAL SQUARE

fhese people have waited fifty years to tell their story and I during 1995 young Australians have listened...' So began the National Youth Forum which was held at Brisbane Girls' Grammar on August 15. The Forum was attended by the Prime Minister and Mrs Keating; Con Sciacca, Minister for Veteran Affairs; \7or1d War II veterans and students from every state and territory in Australia. Thirty BGGS girls, including Year Ten student Necia Bernays who had represented the school at the State Youth Forum held in March, were also in attendance. The Forum ran for one and a half hours; the first thifty minutes were broadcast live to the nation. Students from all parts of Australia played a centrai role in the proceedings. W.e heard from a number of youth ambassadors who explained how they had commemorated the impact of the war and the contribution of Australians to the war effort. Students told of how they had worked with veterans in their local communities on such activities as making a peace garden, composing music and drama, setting up displays of war memorabilia and explor- ing family histories. One senior student from Canbern aptly summed up the impact that such activities had on herself and her fellow students. '\7e learnt that war is not about a chapter from a history textbook, but it is a real tangible event that affected the lives of many people.' This was reconfirmed as we listened to the personal recollections from veterans who had taken part in the pilgrim- age to Papua New Guinea, Borneo, Europe and the Middle East. Veterans talked about what war meant to them. According to Ted Kenna VC, 'Not a day goes by in war that is without pain...losing a mate or whatever. I pray there will be no more wars... no more VCs...no nothing'. For those who attended the National Youth Forum one could not but feel great admiration for Australian youth and deep gratitude to the veterans for their sacrifices fifty years ago. Nor could one forget the haunting words of George Santayana 'Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive ir.' JULIE HENNESSEY

T went Nvice to the monument located ^t Anzac Square. IThe first visit was on Anzac Day, the second on a normal weekday afternoon. I am glad that I got to experience being there on Anzac Day. Being surrounded by men and women who served in \forld \Var Two gave me quite a different feeling from in the afternoon. I felt patriotic and proud that Australia served so well in the Second \7or1d'War, and have written a poem to express my feelings: No longer is forgetting a problem to these men, But remembering every so many years Those who made 'the supreme sacrifice'. Comrades, friends, fathers and mothers 'S7ho by patriotism and sacrifice served their country'. But memories fade, soldiers die And take with them their experiences.

Thoughts of things past are lost, And the tales of \7or1d \flar Two Are forgotten to be told to the next generation. 'We, the fortunate, remember. 'Age shall not weary them', Stories told, memories disappear. Cold facts passed down, missing the one thing That made them memories: Emotions. Old men and women recall, Remember every so many years The Supreme Sacrifice of which I've been told. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, \{E \TILL REMEMBER THEM.

EMMA HARRISON

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