What started with a conversation became a year of connection, learning and storytelling for Year 12 VCE VM students, who have spent the year working alongside veterans from Frankston RSL.
Throughout the year, students have listened to the veterans’ stories, learning about their lives, experiences and service. They then researched and wrote biographies celebrating the veterans they came to know, creating a lasting record of their personal stories.
On 18 August, this work came full circle when students reunited with the veterans at the Shrine of Remembrance for the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan commemorative service.
John Paul College was one of only five schools invited to participate in this year’s ceremony, providing a significant opportunity for students to honour the service and sacrifice of veterans while reflecting on the stories they had spent the year documenting.
Standing alongside the veterans at the Shrine gave students the opportunity to see history through a personal lens. What they had learned was no longer simply something read in a textbook; it was connected to the people they had met, listened to and come to know.
The experience highlighted the value of intergenerational connection and the importance of preserving personal stories, ensuring the experiences of those who served continue to be remembered and shared with future generations.
The story was also featured on 7NEWS Melbourne. Watch the coverage and see our students and veterans come together at the Shrine of Remembrance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2UjaVslAPk