ANZAC Essay Competition
Congratulations to Brigid N and Sarah D who entered the ANZAC Essay Competition. Brigid placed in the top three winners and Sarah, in the short list of eleven. Well done girls. You have done St. Benedict’s proud! Included  below are Brigid’s and Sarah’s essays.

Happy Easter, have a safe and relaxing holiday.

Blessings of the Risen Christ.

Linda de Salis

Defence School Mentor

Rest on Arms Reversed
Rest on arms reversed is a military drill used at funerals, liturgies and times of sadness and mourning such as Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day. The service person’s weapon is faced down so as to not intend fire. When forces march in reverse arms, the service person’s weapon is held pointing behind them and is held behind their back. It is a symbolic form of respect, especially used in Commonwealth countries.

To me rest on arms reversed means respect and thankfulness towards the men and women who have fallen while serving their countries. My family and I have deep respect for those who have fallen to protect us. My father is a Wing Commander medical officer in the RAAF and he cares for many service personnel affected by their personal experiences of armed conflict. He recalls the deep sense of respect felt by all present during the ANZAC Day dawn service whilst he was deployed on operations. 

The tragedy and impact of armed conflict is felt during the fighting and for years afterwards. Rest on arms reversed provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the impact of armed conflict upon those who serve, their families and the communities affected by the conflict. My great grandfather served as a bomber pilot in the RAF during World War ll. The war remained with him when he returned home. This affected his family, his relationships and his community. 

Weapons faced down symbolise the cessation of hostility and the opportunity to rebuild. Relationships with our enemies can be restored, and can even flourish. It is so important to rebuild and make peace with the countries that we’ve fought with so we can make sure to have as little conflict as possible. The sacrifice of those fallen has contributed to peace and security in the world. The incredible losses nations have suffered help to ensure such conflicts never happen again.

Although I am a child and have never served in the Defence Force, and although I don’t have a weapon to rest on, I can show my own respect in my own way. I can attend ANZAC day services and liturgies, read and educate myself about these wars and conflicts, and most importantly, show respect to those individuals who put the needs of their country before their own and lay down their lives for the benefit of others.

by Brigid N (Yr. 6), St Benedict’s Primary School Narrabundah.

Rest On Arms Reversed
Rest on arms reversed is the position defence people adopt to show respect for the people who had to go to war for our country that we are living in today.  These people gave their lives for us so that we can have our freedom in Australia.

I have been to a military funeral and Anzac services and have seen this drill action done. When I see it I feel sad because it reminds me that innocent people had to go to war and leave their family and friends.  People have fought and died at war for us and I feel so sorry for those people because they would have liked to spend their life with their family and friends. I also feel grateful because of what those people did for us. 

The people who are doing the rest on arms might have a friend who went to war so they are sad because they are missing their friends and relationship with them. They are grateful for their friends who went to war.

Their family has also had to make a sacrifice to say goodbye to their son and daughters and then find out that they would never get to see them again. For families who lost a dad or mum they would also have to work harder than before so they have money so they can keep their home for their children. 

If they didn’t go to war we would not be called Australia anymore, they fought for our country and commonwealth. So we would also like to thank the people who went to war to save Australia. They have saved Australia, thank you, but also those who they left behind; family and friends. So we should respect our homeland as much as possible so the hundreds of thousands of deaths wasn’t for nothing and those people who fought who are still with us don’t feel sad because they think we don’t appreciate them.

Rest on arms shows us to respect those who sacrificed and put their country before themselves. It tells us to be thankful for what we have today and give thanks for the safe world we get to live in. Rest on arms means that we are thinking of those who have died for Australia, and we also think about the loss their families endured when the soldiers didn’t come home.

by Sarah D (Yr. 6), St. Benedict’s Primary School Narrabundah.