The beginning of the Assembly featured a video of images the students had collected depicting Australian women in each of the major conflicts beginning with the Boer War up to Afghanistan and continuing peacekeeping missions.  Ava M and Lauren G then introduced the History Club girls who took on the personas of different women over time in historical costumes. World War I was covered by Eve M as Matron Grace Wilson and Nikitta J as local Minto nurse, Elizabeth McRae. With World War II, Bronwyn Z took on the persona of Ingleburn nurse Cynthia Haultain who was killed aboard the Centaur in 1943. Isabelle S played nurse Vivian Bullwinkel who survived the Banka Island massacre and Japanese POW camps. Ava C dressed as  a Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) member, Emily M as a VAD nurse and Laura Z and Karli G were members of the Land Army. Charlotte D covered the 1950s and the Vietnam War period as a member of the  Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps and Gabrielle V and Jamelia M covered the period up to the present day. The students described the major changes for women over time, from roles restricted solely to nursing to the present day where women can be involved in frontline combat.

Diadem A then introduced a very special guest. The address was given by ex student (class of 2007) and current serving member of the Royal Australian Air Force,  Squadron Leader, Brittany Lovett.

Her address outlined her personal experience as a serving woman and the many obstacles women have faced in gaining equal rights over time. She shared her experiences of her time in the Middle East and in Afghanistan. Brittany outlined to the students why Anzac Day is so important to her, particularly as she has lost friends in combat. Her address was very inspiring and the student body was very engaged by Brittany’s address.

Lily K then introduced the President of the Campbelltown RSL sub branch, Mr Warren Browning and Ms Lindy Deitz, General Manager of Campbelltown Council, to present a plaque to Abbey C on behalf of the RSL and Campbelltown Council. Abbey C gave the address on Anzac Day in Mawson Park. Mr Browning and Ms Deitz spoke to the girls on how important it was to commemorate the fallen. They congratulated the College on keeping the Anzac spirit alive in the College and in the local community. Mr Browning had also mentioned that the previous director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendon Nelson, had mentioned to him how impressed he was with the work the History Club had done on Anzac Nurses in 2019.

Chelsea P had the honour of introducing our local Federal Member, Dr Michael Freelander, to present the 2020 Anzac Day Schools’ Award to the History Club for ‘Most Innovative Commemoration’ in an Australian school. He spoke highly of the College saying it was ‘iconic’ in the Macarthur area and stressed that the work of the History Club had been of great importance to the local community.

I wish to thank Lucette Zapirain for her help with the historical costumes, Mr Nash and his Biobox crew for IT, video and photography and Mr Combes for his assistance.

Fran Musico Rullo - HSIE Teacher