Student Comment
ANZAC Student Comment - Sophie Bruynel
The 25thof April 2012, is 97 years on from the terrible tragedy we know as Gallipoli. This battle happened in 1915, and veterans who survived the event are no longer with us today. So why is this occasion relevant to us almost a century later? Why do we still commemorate this conflict in Gallipoli which was by no means a successful encounter for our country? While Anzac Day is the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers at Gallipoli, more significantly it marks a national day shared with Australia which commemorates and remembers all military conflicts, veterans, and personal sacrifices made by the servicemen of our two countries.
The battle of 1915 proved to be a complete disaster beyond comprehension. Our soldiers along with Australian and British troops landed on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey, ready to fight against the Turkish forces. Little did they know that the terrain they had stepped onto was not only harsh and unforgiving, but also the wrong landing place. The Allies were out in the open, susceptible to open fire from the Turks up on higher land. With such little shelter on the shores of Gallipoli, the conflict saw about 1 in 4 New Zealand fatalities by the end of it, which came to nearly 3000 men.
We all know that New Zealand is a pretty small country and rather isolated from the rest of the world. Despite this, our soldiers have played a large role in coming to the aid of other nations in times of trouble, and World War 1 is the perfect example of this. Our men (some as young as ourselves in Years 12 and 13) eagerly signed up to fight. To them, it must have seemed like an adventure, something to be excited about. They were unaware; they didn’t know that this war would put them in terrible fighting conditions with minimal food and little resources. Worst of all, they were unaware that this war would see a number of their fellow soldiers; their brothers, uncles, fathers and friends, all fall victims to the peril of war.
This loss of life didn’t only affect individual families. It affected communities, towns... the whole nation was affected. During Easter I was on holiday down south when we came across a small town practically in the middle of nowhere and saw a memorial for soldiers from around that area who had lost their lives in World War 1. There were some 20 to 30 names on that memorial, several with the same surname. Families may have lost several members, be it sons or fathers, and it goes to show the scale of how many men actually went to war. The fact that a tiny, remote place has a long list of names from their community that they lost in the war got me thinking...that there are undoubtedly hundreds of other memorials around New Zealand, just like the one I saw and it shows that as a country, despite our size, we have lost so many good men in not just World War 1, but also numerous conflicts since then.
Take the total fallen at Gallipoli and add it to the list of countless troops who have fallen while fighting for our country in other wars, and it becomes evident that New Zealanders are a pretty amazing bunch of people. So many soldiers have sacrificed their lives over the years, fighting for important causes that have shaped our country into what it is today. We have them to be thankful for, and this is why we come together each year on Anzac Day. The self sacrifice, bravery, tenacity and loyalty which our servicemen demonstrated, are qualities that our nation has come to revere and have helped shape our sense of identity. These soldiers fought for us. We mourn their loss every year, and carry so much respect for them and their efforts. This is why we remember.
So on the 25th of April, and today, take the time to think for a minute about those who fought for our country on that strange, foreign land almost a hundred years ago. Some of you may have relatives who were involved. Many old collegians fresh out of school from St Andrew’s have fought in several wars and conflicts in the last century. These men sparked the start of a new era – a nation of brave heroes who helped to give New Zealand its own unique identity, which can still be seen in action today. Currently there are over 600 New Zealand troops serving our country overseas in places that need our presence. So not only do we remember those who fought for us nearly 100 years ago, but we keep in mind those who are still serving New Zealand today. It is important we show our New Zealand Soldiers from the past and the present how much we appreciate their efforts and how proud we are of them and to be a part of New Zealand’s heroic legacy.
Presented by Sophie Bruynel at the St Andrew's ANZAC Day Service, 25 April 2012
Founders' Day Address - 2012 Ashleigh Shipton, Head Girl
Picture this... white hairs growing on your old chin, double lens bifocal reading glasses, hearing aids turned up to full throttle so you can enjoy some classical beats, sitting in your favourite rocking chair surrounded by a cabinet of trophies that read ‘All time Bingo Champion year 2080’ ‘All time Bingo Champion year 2081’ ‘All time Bingo Champion year 2082’ and ‘Best So do ku year 2084’. Folks....that’s usin about 70 years time. Maybe by then Jono you’ll have white hair and Isaac you may very well be bald. But as much as we joke about it...it’s quite something to think about.
[youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=PL12F6BE422DF3E884&v=ZsYMUCJIqAE]
You see, all too often, as teenagers, we forget the generations who have gone before us, the people of the past. But we too forget that someday, we are going to be that generation, someday we are going to be called the people of the past.
My role model Desmond Tutu often says ‘a person is a person through other people’. What he means is no one comes into this world fully formed. We have to learn how to speak, to think, to walk, and to behave from our fellow human beings who teach us. I mean imagine if we DID come into this world fully formed....out we pop, walk up to our mum, give her a hug and say ‘Surprise!!’
But thankfully for our mothers we don’t do this, because we have been designed from day 1 to need other people, older and wiser, to teach us and to shape us into who we are today. As St Andrew’s students, we have been shaped by the Old Collegians who have gone before us.
I decided to do some reading about these Old Collegians in ‘High Flies the Cross’. This is what Mrs Leighton calls the St Andrew’s College Bible. It weighs 2 kg and has 467 pages of pure goodness. But, when I say I read ‘High Flies the Cross’ I’m not talking about how we ‘read’ our English novels where we glance at a few words, turn a few pages, and rent out the movie...nope this book is yet to be made into a movie, so I literally had to read ‘High flies the Cross’ –beginning to end.
After about four hours, three cups of strong coffees, and 2 breaks to stop and watch One Directions promo video, I finished reading it. And too be honest….I was really disappointed….really disappointed that I hadn’t read this book earlier! It is so interesting and not to mention has great vintage photographs of some of our favourite teachers when they were in their prime! I really recommend you all go home and read it, because if you want to truly appreciate St Andrew’s and how its shaped you, you must first understand where this school has come from and who our Founders really were. After reading the book I learnt a very important lesson- that the Founders of our school where the ones that sparked the flame of our St Andrew’s spirit…and I realised that means that we are now the ones who keep that Spirit burning.
So what does this Spirit of St Andrew’s exactly mean in each of our lives today? I believe it provides us with two main things.
Firstly, the Spirit of St Andrew’s teaches us to face the future no matter what comes our way. You see in 1939 the St Andrew’s spirit was be tested beyond measure. Boys as young as Jono and Isaac were called up to join the forces in World War 2. In fact by mid-1940s there were over 100 Old Boys serving in the army. That’s the same number as every one of our Year 13 boys.
I was fortunate to speak with one of these Old Boys who had served in Italy when he was just 18 years old - Mr Barry Moore. He attended St Andrew’s in 1939. I asked him how the Spirit of St Andrews had affected him in active service, and he told me a very moving story. He said the lessons he had been taught at St Andrews during their chapel services and also the happy memories of his time here was what gave him hope to want to live each day through the war. He remembered being taught Romans 8:39 at school: ‘neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ I can’t explain how powerful it was to hear someone talk so passionately about their school.
Victor Frankle, a famous psychologist once said “Hope is what keeps people alive.” Some of you may put your hope in God, some of you may put your hope in your talents or in your successes. We don’t know what our future holds, but what we learn today will definitely impact how we cope with our future. I don’t know what you are going through at the moment or what your future may hold. For many the future might be easy, but for some the future might well hold economic difficulties, stress in your family and maybe even health issues. What will we base our hope in through those difficult times? I feel the spirit of St Andrew’s will equip you with values that will help you cope with whatever your future may hold. As a school we have lost our chapel and Strowan house. Our boarders have had to cope with the difficulties of living offsite. And yet, our school has kept on. We have kept on because the spirit isn’t alive in the buildings – but in the people and memories of St Andrews and like Mr Moore, we have been equipped with a strong foundation that will give us hope to face the future.
Secondly, it means that we will always belong to a supportive community made up of past and present students. The Spirit of St Andrews is available to each and every one of us, young and old. It doesn’t discriminate...it’s not only available to those who win the all the awards or get the best grades, it’s not only available to those who are the best sportsmen or the best musicians, it’s not only available to those who have the most friends or throw the coolest parties. It goes beyond all of that. Some of us are going to go off and do great things – maybe become the next Brad Thorn, the next Reece Darby, the next Miley Cyrus, the next Black Caps captain, maybe some of us will never actually leave the college and stay on as a teacher, maybe…just maybe one of us might become the next Prime Minister of New Zealand. But wherever our journey of life takes us once we’ve left school we will still be connected to each other.
But although this Spirit is free to all here, it comes with a responsibility and sacrifice. It’s kind of like if you get given this puppy from your grandparents for Christmas. Pretty darn cute isn’t he. But we all know that if you don’t feed and nurture it, this puppy is going to die. The St Andrew’s Spirit works the same way....it’s a gift from the Old Collegians to us. We now have a duty to look after it. By carrying on our traditions, by taking pride in our school, by treating others with respect feeds our spirit so that we can one day give it as a gift to the next generation of St Andrews students. Think about it, everyone in this room, every teacher you’ve ever had, every one of your friends you’ve ever made, every person you have ever loved will not be here in a 100 years’ time. Life is precious. Will people remember you? Will they remember the legacy you leave behind? Yes, I do believe they will. Because although we may not be here on this earth, the spirit of St Andrews that each of us help grow, will be. At school we have been taught Ephesians 3:20 ‘He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or could imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.’ This will help us through the good times, but particularly through the not so good times.
So I urge you this Founders’ Day to be grateful for the 95 years of Old Collegians who have shaped our school and have shaped you into who you are today. And as you listen to the bagpipes, do yourself a favour close your eyes, take a deep breath and feel the spirit of St Andrews.
Ashleigh Shipton
Head Girl, 2012