Anzac Day Ambassadors
ANZAC day this year will be a powerful reminder for four local Year 11 students in particular of the impact of war.
The four: Anika Pandey, Baulkham Hills High School; Isabelle Henderson, Northholm Grammar School, Jacob Carr, Marian Catholic College Kenthurst and William Go, Castle Hill High School are the 2024 Hills ANZAC Ambassadors and were named recently after an extensive selection process.
Sponsored by Castle Hill RSL Sub-branch, the Hills program was started in 2015. Over the years since then there have been 42 ambassadors.
President of Castle Hill and District RSL Sub-branch Cheryl Hill called it an “outstanding” program that added young voices to the remembrance services.
“It is important to involve the younger generation in this ANZAC Ceremony as they are our future. We are very proud of every one of our Ambassadors. All of those who have served as ambassadors have benefited greatly from the role. Not only have they enhanced their public speaking skills but, more importantly, they have developed an understanding and appreciation of the service and sacrifice of our veterans in all conflicts,” she said.
Three ambassadors have had the additional experience of mentoring those ambassadors who followed them.
This year, former Ambassadors Elizabeth Rodd and Georgia Titterton participated in the selection process and are now mentoring the new ambassadors through their training and service.
Every year nominated students are given a given subject to research for their ANZAC Day talk, this year it is Gulf War 1 and 2.
The four will be speaking at this year’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service on Thursday 25 th April 2024 at the Centenary of ANZAC Reserve, Wrights Road, Kellyville.
The address will be given by Commodore Terry Morrison, the Commander Surface Forces responsible for providing the Government with sustainable and lethal destroyers, frigates, major amphibious and underway replenishment vessels.
He has served in the Navy for 33 years, 18 of these at sea and he has commanded Patrol Boats, a Navy Training Team in Iraq, a Guided Missile Frigate and a Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock.
Castle Hill & District RSL sub-Branch is inviting veterans (anyone who has ever served), families, and community members to pay their respects to all those who have served in the Defence of the nation.
The ANZAC Day Dawn Service this year will be livestreamed and available at chrslsubbranch.org.au/2024ANZACday.
Cheryl Hill, President of Castle Hill & District RSL sub-Branch said: “Our service to the veteran community extends beyond ANZAC Day.
“Our mission is to support veterans, foster camaraderie, and resilience. Throughout the year, we run activities and events for service personnel and their families.
“The sub-Branch has a dedicated welfare team in place to support service personnel and their families.”
To find out more visit the Website: chrslsubbranch.org.au; Facebook: facebook.com/ch.subbranch or call the office on 8858 4909.
