ANZAC commemorations

All Australians who have lost their lives in war were honoured during the St Joseph's College ANZAC Day commemorations.

The college re-dedicated the recently refurbished memorial stone and remembrance pool to all people who have died whilst serving their country. The memorial was originally built in 1957 under then Headmaster, Brother Othmar, to honour the memory of Old Boys who had fallen in World War II.

The college community was addressed by Lieutenant Colonel Dr Michael Campion (70), a remarkable Old Boy who has made significant contributions across the world in his role as consultant surgeon to the Australian Defence Force. Lieutenant Colonel Campion has been deployed to Rwanda, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, East Timor, Banda Aceh, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a Gynecological Oncologist at the Royal Hospital for Women and is also active in Ophthalmic Surgery.

Lieutenant Colonel Campion shared his thoughts about the meaning of ANZAC Day and spoke about the experiences of the very first ANZACs in Gallipoli.

"ANZAC Day is not only about loss. It is about courage, duty, endurance, love of country, mateship, having a sense of worth and knowing that we can all do something, no matter how small, to better our world," he said.

"The ANZAC spirit remains a real and powerful force. Australia and New Zealand know we can act to defend our freedom."

He also reflected upon the sacrifices of the 50 Old Boys who lost their lives in the Great War, and spoke of the pride they had in being able to represent, not only their country, but their college as well.

"Not many of you would know that a formal Old Boys reunion dinner was held in Egypt in 1915," he said. "They had a shared strength, a ‘brothers' quality and a friendship that is part of the ANZAC legacy."

Headmaster, Mr Ross Tarlinton, said ANZAC day was gaining new meaning over the years. "We now remember not only war but humanitarian projects as well," he said. "The concepts of service for the greater good and working to achieve social justice are not foreign to us as Marists. Our founder, St Marcellin Champagnat, asked us to be not only good Christians but good citizens."