The Anzac garden at Glendore Public School is a place of harmony for students and was designed to evoke a connection with Australians and New Zealanders who served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

And the connections are many. There are children of Defence families at the Newcastle school and students with relatives who served in conflicts from Gallipoli to Afghanistan.

Students Ethan, Brooklyn and Madi said each year they attended the Dawn Service on 25 April to pay tribute to “all soldiers that fought for our country”.

The students wrote: “As Defence children this reminds us of the sacrifice and commitment that our parents make every day as well as those who have come before them.

“When we see our parents get dressed in their uniform each day, we feel proud to have role models like them to look up to.”

A former student, Platoon Sergeant Lachlan Kemp, visited Glendore Public this week for the Anzac service and spoke about his work.

Students also planted flower flags to remember servicemen and women.

Lance Corporal Donald Matheson McLellan, a relative of current students Logan and Harry Robertson, was just 27 when he died at Gallipoli on 27 April 1915.

Another student wrote on his flower flag that “Uncle Aaron fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Uncle Bede fuels the planes”.

The school’s Anzac Commemorative Path and Lone Pine Garden was funded through a Commonwealth ‘Saluting their Service’ grants program and designed – with incredible attention to detail – by school executives, student leaders and students from Defence families.

The Lone Pine tree was grown from a seedling from Gallipoli, which was donated by a student and planted on Anzac Day 20 years ago. The rosemary in the garden also came from seed grown in Gallipoli.

The commemorative path and garden opened in 2018. The width of the path – fringed by Australian and New Zealand native plants – is 1915 millimetres, representing the year the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli.

The path is geolocated and aligned as a small-scale replica of the axis of Australia’s Parliament House, Anzac Parade in Canberra and the Australian War Memorial.

The sacrifice of service

Schools around NSW marked Anzac Day this week as the official day on 25 April falls during the school holidays.

Mullaway Public School students will march at the Woolgoolga Anzac Day commemorations on 25 April and this week held a special ceremony at school. The student-led service included a rendition of the school song.

Newcastle hosted its annual Newcastle and Hunter Combined Schools Anzac Service at the Civic Theatre.

This year’s theme was ‘An enduring bond of courage and mateship’ and students listened to stories of Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women and connections made during the time served together.

The P&C at Ulmarra Public in the Clarence valley provided Anzac biscuits and a cuppa for the school’s Anzac service.

In the west of the state at Euabalong West Public School, the commemoration ceremony was described as a poignant reminder of the courage and dedication of Defence force personnel.

Kingswood Public School in western Sydney made good use of the “unbelievable amount of flowers” donated by students, turning them into floral class arrangements to be laid at the new wall of remembrance during this week’s Anzac service.

At Waterfall Public School, the 19 students hosted an Anzac service today with Rural Fire Service members and a former student and RSL sub-branch member as guests of honour.

Principal Yvette Hopper said the service highlighted the connection of students past and present to the school and built community ties beyond the school gate.

Former student Les Ledwidge was educated at Waterfall Public School from 1956 to 1962 and completed National Service in 1973. Mr Ledwidge is a member of the Woonona Bulli RSL Sub-Branch where he served as treasurer for nine years.

The Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington, attended Wirreanda Public School in Medowie for its Anzac commemoration this week.

“Wirreanda Public School has the most Defence families of any school in the state, so its ANZAC service is always very special,” Ms Washington, the Member for Port Stephens, said.

“The school students, staff and families are to be congratulated for conducting such a respectful, thoughtful service. This is a school community that truly understands the sacrifice of service to our nation.”