MACDONALD VALLEY STUDENTS CONNECT WITH ANZACS
10-November-2011
School students from the Hawkesbury, Wisemans Ferry and surrounds have participated in a competition researching their region’s connection to the ANZACs. The competition, organised by the Wisemans Ferry and District ANZAC Memorial Project group was sponsored by the Hawkesbury Valley ‘Thursday Afternoon Blokies Golf Comp’. Students from Macdonald Valley Public School, Wisemans Ferry Public School and Maroota Public School were invited to research five diggers chosen by the Memorial Project committee. The competition was designed to facilitate education of the valiant sacrifice Australian diggers made for our nation at Gallipoli in the lead-up to the Centenary of ANZAC in 2015. Macdonald Valley Public School won the competition by researching three of the five diggers over a period of 10 months. The prize, a statue of light-horseman Owen Jurd, a digger from the Macdonald Valley, was presented to the students on Tuesday 8 November 2011.
Louise Markus MP, Federal Member for Macquarie, presented the Owen statue to Principal Alison Greene and the students of Macdonald Valley Public School.
“Congratulations to the school and students for their outstanding effort” said Louise Markus.
“The Macdonald Valley Public School students worked hard to research the diggers that sacrificed their lives for our country and for the region. They are proud to be involved in maintaining the spirit of the ANZAC and enjoyed learning all about the diggers from the Macdonald Valley.
“This competition is a creative way to encourage students to learn more about the rich history of the region, as well as the strong connection the Macdonald Valley has to the ANZACs, particularly the light horsemen” said Louise Markus.
The competition, created by the Wisemans Ferry and District ANZAC Memorial Project group, encouraged the youth of the region to learn more about the legacy of the ANZACs; mateship, leadership, tenacity, unwavering loyalty, courage under fire and selflessness.
After the presentation of the Owen statue to the school, Mrs Markus presented a certificate of appreciation to the ‘Thursday Afternoon Blokies Golf Comp’ group on behalf of the Macdonald Valley Public School, and formally thanked the ‘blokes’ for sponsoring this wonderful initiative.
Louise Markus said “the sponsorship the ‘blokes’ provided to the competition is a great example of the community spirit and unity of the Wisemans Ferry district, and a wonderful testament to the people of the district, and their generosity.
“As the grand-daughter of a digger, it is truly amazing to be part of a region that is so proud of its history and connection to the ANZACs. Congratulations to the Wisemans Ferry and District ANZAC Memorial Project committee, particularly President Wayne Moore, and the ‘Thursday Afternoon Blokies Golf Comp’, for such an inspirational project.
“All schools participating in the competition are winners and I look forward to seeing this competition grow in 2012 as the Centenary of the ANZAC draws closer,” said Louise Markus.