Students ensure spirit of ANZAC lives on
Schools
The story of two brothers from Pinnaroo who fought and died in a battle in Boullecourt, France, provided the inspiration for a Kildare College student’s winning entry in the 2018 Premier’s ANZAC Spirit School Prize.
When she was younger, Lila Weidenbach’s grandfather shared stories about the heroics of her distant relatives, Frantz and Claude, during World War I. Keen to understand more, the Year 9 student undertook her own research, which resulted in a field trip to Pinnaroo where she uncovered more facts and stories.
Lila was able to confirm that the brothers, who had enlisted in Kadina, were killed by the same shell during battle in France. She discovered that another soldier, Eric M Edwards, had written home to tell the family and the community of their fate, and then stayed on in Boullecourt to mark their graves.
In recognition of her winning efforts, she will join the other 14 award recipients from around the State in a fully funded two-week study tour of Vietnam during the October school holidays. Accompanied by teachers, the group will have the opportunity to learn more about the war that ravaged the country and the soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Other award recipients from Catholic schools who will be on the study tour are Laj Thind and Jenny Tran from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College; Archer Lowman from Christian Brothers College; and Neva Van Raalte from St Francis de Sales College.
Archer Lowman
Neva Van Raalte
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