The St Rita’s College community is embracing creative ways to commemorate ANZAC Day this year, despite the cancellation of marches and ceremonies.

Interviewing elderly family members, participating in ANZAC biscuit bake-offs, letter writing and driveway dawn services are all ways students are honouring the memory of Australian Diggers in 2020. 

Year 11 student Annabelle is set to perform the Last Post on her trumpet from her driveway at 6:00am on Saturday, embracing this year’s ‘Driveway Dawn Service’ initiative.

“This is just a small way that I can contribute to my local community and honour the diggers,” Annabelle said. 

“Even though we are social distancing this year, we can all stand on our driveways at 6am to continue the ANZAC Day traditions, remember those who fought and died for our country and build stronger bonds as a community.” 

As part of a unit on WWII, Social Science students recently got in touch with older family and friends to hear first-hand what it was like to live during the war.

They then uploaded video responses via Flipgrid, a website allowing teachers to create "grids" to facilitate video discussions.

“This was a great way to encourage them to reach out to an older member of their family during this time, get to know their family history or simply another perspective on the topic, and use technology to report back to the class,” St Rita’s Head of Library, Ms Noni Harrison, said.

Year 10 student Chloe said it definitely put the current situation into perspective.

“My grandad was a Sergeant in World War II and he worked in Logistics, getting trains back and forth between Townsville and Rockhampton during the Battle of the Coral Sea,” she said in her reflection.

“It seemed very hard living back then.”

Writing letters to veterans in the last weeks of Term 1 also provided an opportunity for students to show appreciation and stay connected.

RSL Gaythorne Welfare Administrator, Greg Butterfield, said the Sub-Branch were very grateful for the opportunity to share the letters with their veteran community.

“One World War 2 veteran was so touched by the gesture that he wanted to thank the student whose letter he received personally,” Mr Butterfield said.

Students will also get busy in the kitchen this week, eager to participate in Legacy Brisbane’s inaugural ANZAC Biscuit Bake-Off.

This initiative combines social media and online fundraising as a way to commemorate ANZAC Day at home while supporting the families of veterans.