Age shall not weary them
On Anzac Day we share student-made films on the impact of World War I on young people.
25 April 2020
‘Jack and Tom’ was created by students of Miranda Public School and Port Hacking High School and tells the story of two boys who grow up together, eventually going off to war with each other.
Video – Jack and Tom
Duration – 7:14
y2mate.com - Jack and Tom_7wel0ZDi-pU
Tom
We're sailing the seven seas
Jack
Ahoy, we're pirates.
Tom
Are you going fishing, Jack?
Jack
I'm going to catch a whale. That's what I'm gonna do.
Tom
You're gonna catch a big toe. Come on Jack, over the top.
Jack
Come on Tom, I'll race ya. Let's see who's first.
Tom
Hey Jack, what are you up to?
Jack
I was going for a fish. Old boy says the snapper on.
Tom
Old boy. He wouldn't know a fish from a frog. Anyway, we got footy practice.
Jack
Oh, sorry mate. I clean forgot.
Tom
Well, come on Jack. Other top.
Jack
Give me the ball then.
Come on, Tom. I'll race ya, let's see who's first.
Tom
Where have ya been?
Jack
Cronulla, there's been quite a commotion.
Tom
What's going on? You're really worked up, my old mate.
Jack
Well, this fellows come to town, a big bloke from Hawaii or something.
Tom
I've heard about him. The Prince? No, the Duke? Heard he'd been doing some surfing. That's funny – I've been doing that for years.
Jack
No, this was different. I was watching him.
Tom
Really?
Jack
Yeah. He was standing up and riding it. Amazing.
Tom
Then what?
Jack
Well, after he finished, all these people wanted to shake his hand, grab his picture and put it in the paper.
Tom
Do you get your face in a picture? Did you meet him?
Jack
Better than that.
Tom
Is that the board? The Duke's board?
Jack
They were too busy fussing over, I decided, I'll borrow the board. I'll give it back later.
Tom
Here I was thinking you were chatting up the ladies. Come on Jack. Over the top.
Jack
I'll raise your Tom. Let's see who's first.
Tom
Where'd you get that case?
Jack
My mum made me bring it. She said, "you'll be gone a long time. You need lots of clothes."
Tom
Clothes? You can fit the kitchen sink in that thing.
Jack
Don't worry, she tried.
Tom
Just think, next stop Cairo. Come on, Jack. Over the top.
Jack
Come on Tom, I'll race ya. Let's see who's first.
What do you got there, Tom, old mate?
Tom
A parcel from my sister, Kate. Jack, we're about to go, I'm scared.
Jack
It's all right, mate. It's all good. Are they those Anzac biscuits she made you?
Tom
I think so, yeah.
Jack
You know what? You use those as weapons. Johnny Turk wouldn't know what hit him.
Commander
Jump on in 10 seconds, men.
Tom
Come on Jack, over the top.
Jack
I'll race you, Tom. Let's see who's first.
I'll race you Tom. Let's see who's first.
‘Parcel from my sister Kate’ is a parallel movie to ‘Jack and Tom’ and looks at World War I from a young woman’s perspective. The film was a collaboration between students at Miranda Public School, Caringbah Public School and Port Hacking High School. As patron of the Film by the Sea festival, actor Bryan Brown, donated his time to appear in the film.
Video - Parcel from my sister Kate
Duration – 10:39
Boy 1
Boys, we'll never make it. Those Thompson boys will stop us for sure.
Boy 2
Let's face it, we're outnumbered and they're too strong. That flag's never coming off the pole.
Tom
What about my sister Kate.
Boy 1
She's a girl. Girls don't storm battlements and take castles and capture flags.
Kate
This one does.
[Cheering]
I won't let you down Tom.
Thompson 1
There's a girl in the group.
Thompson 2
What a bunch of g–
Tom
She smacked you Thompson boys.
Boy 1
What a tiger, she's braver than brave.
[Cheering]
Kate
Who wants to try one of my biscuits? It's a new recipe.
Boy 1
I wouldn't mate, she looks pretty but the biscuits aren't.
Tom
They're downright dangerous.
Kate
You're hilarious. COme on, try one for me?
Boy 1
Ok, lads, we'll all have one of Kate's biscuits.
[tapping biscuits on wooden bench]
Kate
What's got you all in a fluster?
Tom
The old Huns really been giving it to France and Britain. It's on Jack, it's on.
Jack
We need to sign up, Tom. We need to do our part and while we're at it we'll see the world.
Kate
This isn't a game Jack. It's not like capturing flags, this is war. People get killed. The newspapers don't tell you everything.
Jack
We'd better be in it. We can't not sign up.
Kate
If you boys are going I'm going to sign up.
Jack
Sorry Kate, they don't take women.
Kate
Why not? I can run faster shoot straight up and ride better than all you lot.
Tom
They won't let you Kate. They just won't.
Kate
We'll see about that.
How do I look?
Jack
What are you doing here?
Kate
I'm signing up. How do I look?
Tom
You look like a girl dressed as a bloke. It's not gonna work.
Jack
Maybe if we gave her a few whiskers, she'd look the part?
Tom
Alright, I'll sort out the whiskers, you get the paperwork done.
Jack
Righto
Tom
Alright, see you in a second mate.
Now remember Kate; deep voice, no eye contact, make sure you look down.
Jack
And if you're not sure, just say "mate". Here are your papers. I fixed them up best I could.
Enlistment officer
Name?
Kate
Ummm... mate?
Enlistment officer
Mate? I'd love to be your mate. Why don't we have a cuppa and a bit of a chat. Don't be a boofhead son. I'm a sergeant. Now, what's your name?
Kate
Ben, sir.
Enlistment officer
Full name?
Kate
Down, sir.
Ben Down?
I fix them up best likely you're next
sir down seven down pending romantic
sense of humanity what's your brother
Bob man I don't know man
good luck that's all
what am I going to do Khan I did I know
whether you take clover all punched on
punch me you see no hard units
distraction a distraction I'm game you
can fight like that good enough for me
okay the next room get eautiful what
you're a girl
let's go that again at least you can say
you gave your best shot you nearly got
through this yellow box would have been
a hurdle though what can I do now
don't worry sis we've back before you
know
look after my brother you know Mary's
horse got out last week that's the third
one was come on ladies we need to have
these parcels ready by Friday or they'll
miss the boat it's wrong Emel
she had a little from the vehicle her
husband's missing on the Thunder
that's the third letter this week for
someone from this space they were and
they said the war would be over by
Christmas that was two Christmases ago
there'll be no young men left soon
okay no no no pls i would like either
were there before for me I need to find
my brother is living in friend it's not
that reason there's you both I just have
to go what you have to go in a
roundabout way
I'm here to see my brother Tom its
private Thomas hook
it's the Patriots restaurant you must
come back later he's a very sick man
I've come all the way from Australia so
I'm not going to come back late I must
insist my Tom services you make
something else
careful he was caught in an explosion
and then gasped as he lay in the field I
thought I'd never see you again I've got
some biscuits for you outside in my
suitcase show me a better cake but worse
that's not very nice
I've come halfway it's Jack he was right
there with me before the explosion he
pushed me out of the way came he pushed
me out of the way it's okay Tom where's
Jack now this is in my hair when they
found me it's Jack's
I found use home I'll find Jack this is
for you jack
you were brave and brave I'll never
forget you now the years have gone
quickly plans new memories are clear and
fast locked in my heart and my soul and
his death draws me gently need for me
there will be no fear for you I'll be
braver but embrace all the joys of our
childhood throws a wild carefree lives
when our eyes could see all that was
cool and our friendship is wrong as to
last
last
you
‘Film by’ is a Department of Education initiative to support students learn about the film-making process, from scripting to shooting and editing. The films are then showcased at community film festivals around NSW.
- Student voices