Remembrance Day

Mornington Secondary College remember the sacrifice of our veterans and current serving personnel at our annual Remembrance Day service. Today we welcomed our special guests,  

Ms Katie Wilkie representing – Ms Zoe McKenzie MP Federal Member for Flinders 

Renee Heath MP – Member for Eastern Victoria  

Chris Crewther MP – State Member for Mornington  

President Mornington RSL – Ms Meryn Cooper  

Mr David Youl – representing Mornington Lodge 

Mayor of Mornington – Councillor Steve Holland 

Deputy Mayor of Mornington – Councillor Debra Mar 

Councillor Despi O’Connor 

Members from Rotary Club of Mornington and Lions Clubs of Mornington and Dromana 

General Manager of Mornington District Basketball Association – Ms Sam Browne 

Representatives from Bunnings Mornington 

Mr Colin Mason – School Council President 

A snippet of the Principal speech to our school community. 

‘I acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional country of the Boonwurrung people of the Victorian region and pay respect to Elders past and present. I recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land, which continue to be important to the Kulin Nation people living today. 

At 11 am on 11 November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months. 

The Allies’ victory would not have been possible without the five divisions of the Australian Corps, who were at the forefront. With their spectacular victory at the Battle of Hamel in the summer of 1918, turning the tables of the war at Amiens, capturing Mont Saint-Quentin and Perrone, and overcoming German defences at the Hindenburg Line, the Australian troops displayed true valour. 

By the time the exhausted soldiers had withdrawn, they had achieved a reputation as a force to be reckoned with. Their sweet success came at a heavy cost, however. Almost 48,000 Australian casualties were reported during 1918, including 12,000 deaths. 

In the four years of the Great War, more than 330,000 Australians had served and 60,000 of them were killed.  

The service today lets all those who have served know how grateful as a nation we are for what they did. We do remember them, for if they had lost, our country would have been very, very different from the one we know now. 

The memories of our veterans, and those who made the greatest sacrifice should live on forever in our hearts and minds.  

On Remembrance Day, flags are flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning and respect. It is said that this tradition stems from sailing ships that lowered their sails at sea to honour an important person or mark a death. 

A thoughtful and peaceful Remembrance Day to you all. 

“Lest we forget”.