Centenary of Armistice: The Poppy Project

This Friday SJC OBU will host a commemorative Mass and luncheon to honour all Old Boys who have been involved in conflict and for those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country.  At 11.00am, the bells of the College will ring out, as they did across the Western Front and around the world, heralding the end of what the world hoped would be the war to end all wars. The Centenary of Armistice will also be celebrated at our Family Mass this Sunday 11 November).

As a feature of the commemoration of Armistice and Remembrance Day 2018, ‘The Poppy Project’ has involved our community. It is estimated more than 6000 poppies have been received. The depth of feeling that went into the making of these poppies, and the stories of families who participated in remembrance of someone they knew who has served, represent the love, honour and respect of those who participated. You will note these now displayed on the Circular Lawn and on the cross in the Chapel.

With the support of the Religion and TAS departments, the Resource Centre has had each student from Years 7 to 11 attach a poppy to the cross or a stem to a poppy while acknowledging the name and date of the fallen, often a member of their family. The boys conclude this commemoration with the College Prayer – ‘Teach me O Lord…’. Smaller crosses, made by Years 8 and 9, encircle the perimeter of the circular lawn in memory of 133 Old Boys and 15 unknown soldiers.

The poppy at the centre of the large cross was crocheted by Ibu (Mrs) Sinarti Handaru with the assistance of her grand-daughter, Margie Duncan, mother of Matthew Duncan (Year 7). Ibu Handaru, at 102 years of age and living in Indonesia, was alive for Armistice and lived through the Japanese invasion from 1942-1945. Her great-grandson Matthew placed her poppy in remembrance of his grandfather who served in Vietnam.

LEST WE FORGET

Susan Glenn | Alumni and Community Relations Manager | Advancement Office