Age shall not weary them

On Anzac Day we share student-made films on the impact of World War I on young people.

‘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

Jack and Tom has had 320,000 views since it was released in 2015 to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landing.

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

Parcel from my sister Kate shows an alternate side to the Anzac story.

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
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