As for all Australians, serving in the armed forces had many benefits. It was a chance to serve your country, a paid employment opportunity and many people sought the adventure and comradery. However, for Indigenous Australians, it was an opportunity to break free of the daily constraints that they were expected to live with in the early 1900’s. Due to government discrimination, Indigenous Australians were not allowed to enlist in the armed forces. Many Indigenous Australian’s enlisted as Māori, Indian or Pacific Islander to join Australia’s armed forces. Although the numbers are not clear on how many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples enlisted due to ethnicity not being recorded, it is believed that over 400 Indigenous Australians enlisted in World War I.

This week 5/6M learnt about the brave Indigenous people who fought in World War 1 and created fact files to learn more about those people.

By Myles Thorburn

By Zarah Brooks

By Tia Chiotelis

By Zarlee Graham

April

• Thursday 25th - ANZAC Day
• Friday 26th - School Closure
• Sat 27/Sun 28 - Confirmation Commitment Mass 

May

• Thursday 2nd May - Assembly 2.30pm
• Tuesday 7th - District Winter Sports Year 5/6
• Thursday 9th - 7:45am - Mother's Day Breakfast, 9am - Mother's Day Prayer Gathering.
• Friday 10th - Mother's Day Stall & District Cross Country 
• Wednesday 15th - Division Cross Country
• Thursday 16th May - Assembly 2.30pm
• Monday 20th - District 1500m
• Tuesday 21st - District Athletics & Prayer Gathering Feast of St Eugene de Mazenod
• Wednesday 29th - Confirmation Retreat Day 9am-12pm
• Thursday 30th -  Assembly 2.30pm & Sacrament of Confirmation 6pm

June

• Thursday 6th - Mass for Feast of Immaculate Heart of Mary 9am and Regional Cross Country
• Friday 7th - Foundation Excursion to Old Gippstown
• Thursday 13th - Assembly 2.30pm
• Thursday 20th - Winter Division Sports
• Thursday 27th - Assembly 2.30pm & students last day for term 2
• Friday 28th - School Closure for Staff Professional Development

July

• Monday 15th July - School Closure for Staff Professional Development
• Tuesday 16th - Student first day Term 3
• Wednesday 17th - Multicultural Day Celebrations
• Thursday 25th - Assembly 2.30pm
• Friday 26th - Grandparent's Day Prayer Gathering

Last Thursday night some of our Year 3 children celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation in St Mary’s church. We are so proud of the children and the way they engaged with the preparation in the weeks leading up to this very special sacrament. It was such a powerful, personal, intimate and prayerful celebration. We thank the families for their support in helping to prepare their children, Fr Daniel and to all who supported the children throughout this special sacrament. 

Congratulations; Alexander Dunne, Lila Boskma, Willow Davidson, Emi Whittaker, Connor Bremner and Henry Halket

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we celebrated our school community through the excitement of the Fun Run on Friday, I felt so proud of our school and the bonds created with our staff, students, parents and extended family. We had so many volunteers who helped to set up, cooked the sausage sizzle lunch, sprayed the water and powder on the kids, provided the music, all taking on a role to ensure that the day was a fantastic day, one to cherish and remember for the children in our school. We are so blessed to have our families and all they bring to our school. This was a fantastic celebration and a wonderful day.

This week we are focused on ANZAC Day, the day when we reflect on those brave soldiers who fought in the war so that we can live in the freedom that we have in our wonderful country. We are reminded of the sacrifice of the soldiers and their families and the courage they showed, and continue to show, to ensure that innocent people are protected.

The following prayer was shared with our staff and is one that speaks to us all.

ANZAC Day Prayer

In a world where so many live in fear of being hurt or killed in war, of going hungry

because of war, and of losing their homes and loved ones, we ask our God to listen

to our prayers.

We pray for our world. Help all people to work for peace and not war.

We pray for our countries, New Zealand and Australia. Help us to value our freedom,

the beauty of our land and our way of life.

We pray for those who are suffering because of war at this time. We remember

especially the people of The Middle East and Ukraine. Give them hope that peace

will come.

We pray for all families of soldiers who have gone to war or are currently deployed

on peace keeping missions. Be with them in their worry and their grief.

We pray for all Australian and New Zealander soldiers who have died defending our

freedom and the freedom of others. May they rest in peace with you.

We pray for peace in our own hearts, in this community and in our family. May we

learn to be peacemakers in our daily lives.

Loving God, hear our prayers as we strive to be peace-loving people. Heal our world

and heal the hearts of those who cannot love. We offer these prayers in the name of

Jesus Christ.

Amen

LEST WE FORGET.

Kind regards

Lisa