Cassie Dixon, Head of Teaching & Learning
The 25th of April has been known as ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand for the past 110 years. From the year following the events at Gallipoli, we have continued to mark the day to ensure the actions of the ANZACs are never forgotten.
We gather together. We recite The Ode of Remembrance. We listen to The Last Post. We observe a minute’s silence. We listen to The Reveille or The Rouse. We remember.
I take great comfort in these unchanging practices. There is something incredibly special about ANZAC Day, as we are reminded that we are part of something bigger than ourselves and that we still have lessons to learn from history. It has been a privilege to commemorate ANZAC Day at both school and public events in the last two weeks.
Jonas, Lucas and Cooper attended the Richmond ANZAC Service on 19 April and laid a wreath on behalf of our school.
Anastasia, Henry, Patrick and Poppy represented Kuyper at the Kurrajong ANZAC Day Dawn Service, organised by the Kurrajong District War Memorial Club. Our students bravely spoke in front of hundreds of people (something I know many adults would struggle to do!), and also laid a wreath.
As a school, we commemorated ANZAC Day by gathering for a whole-school Assembly on Friday, 24 April. We were joined by special guests from the Kurrajong District War Memorial Club, and were honoured to hear from our Guest Speaker, Flight Lieutenant Jessica Burton of the Royal Australian Air Force. Jess, who is also a Kuyper Mum, shared insights that were impactful for audience members of all ages. She explained that during times of uncertainty, members of the Australian Defence Force are able to find strength in their five core values:
Service: Selflessness that prioritises the security and interests of the nation and its people.
Courage: Strength of character to act correctly, regardless of adversity or danger.
Respect: Valuing others and treating them with dignity, humanity, and fairness.
Integrity: Consistently aligning thoughts, words, and actions to do what is right.
Excellence: A commitment to personal and professional improvement and striving to be the best.
Jess focused on the importance of Courage and Integrity, highlighting the strength of mind and character required to do what is right even during times of adversity or danger. Put simply – to step up, to say or do the right thing, even when others around you don’t agree.
This can mean saying or doing something, even when it’s not popular, or not saying or doing something, even when it is the popular thing. Jess encouraged us to show Courage and Integrity in our thoughts, words and actions, and reminded us that we can choose to be like members of the Australian Defence Force through the choices we make in everyday moments.
Courage. Integrity.
I was reminded again of the importance of these attributes in the life of a Christian. So often, it would be easier to go along with the ‘popular’ way of speaking and acting. It can be incredibly difficult to find the Courage and Integrity needed to do what we know is right, and to have the strength to not ‘go with the flow’ and do the things we know we should not do.
The apostle Paul talks about this in his letter to the Romans, when he says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do… For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:15, 18b-19)
If even Paul struggled in this way, what are we to do when we find ourselves in times of adversity or danger? How do we choose to think, speak and act with Courage and Integrity?
Thankfully, God does not expect us to find the strength to do so within ourselves. Instead, we read in 2 Corinthians about Jesus’ promise to Paul that His grace and strength are sufficient. By recognising our own weakness, we are better positioned to rely on God, who is generous and provides for His children.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10