ON TUESDAY, April 24, St Joseph's staff, students and special guests including Member for Southern Downs James Lister and Norm Steele from Stanthorpe RSL, gathered in the Bathersby Stadium for a prayer service to commemorate Anzac Day. The School Band and St Joseph's Choir led the Service with the National Anthem and took part throughout.

Special Guest Australian Army Chaplain Jim Cosgrove, a 30-year ADF veteran, addressed the gathering about "The Meaning of Anzac Day”. Chaplain Jim said Anzac Day was very different for many people. He spoke of the courage that characterises our defence forces.

"No matter how scared they are, they wouldn't let their mates down - even if it means they are going to die,” Chaplain Jim said.

"Our Anzac tradition of service and self sacrifice isn't reserved for soldiers only, it is for all of us to be ready and courageous to serve, to give, to be generous, and to be responsive to the needs of others. It applies to you when you are five years old, or 10, or 15 or 50 years old. Anzac Day cannot just be about the past and about soldiers, it needs to be about us, here today, our lives, our families, our school, our community.

"Anzac Day can be about some brave soldiers 100 years ago on the other side of the world, or it can be about us here today in Stanthorpe.

"Today as we celebrate Anzac Day 2018 at St Joseph's School, let us pray that God will help us grow stronger every day, to build in our lives the same courage and care for others this is part of the Anzac Spirit.”

Chaplain Jim's clear message was that all of us should look out for our mates, stand up to bullying and help those in need.

Everyone then moved to the school's memorial garden for the special wreath-laying ceremony. The invited guests, families and students were then invited to lay a wreath in memory of past servicemen and women.

Soldiers memorial walk for Preps

Last Monday, Prep students were busy making Anzac biscuits.

With Anzac Day fast approaching, this was an ideal way to kick-start the week and communicate to students the importance of Anzac Day and why we pay tribute those who have served for our country.

The next day, the Prep class embarked on an exciting walk to the soldier's memorial.

On their walk, the students looked for autumn leaves. Once they arrived at their destination, the students were shown around the soldier's memorial and could read the names of the soldiers on the plaques.

As a final act of respect, a small bunch of flowers were laid at the soldiers memorial with the Preps saying a prayer for the brave men and women who fought in the wars.