News and events at PEGS
ANZAC Day Forum
Each year the Middle School promotes Social Justice activities through the Year 10 students. On April 26, an Anzac reflection and forum was conducted with students from Isik College in Broadmeadows, the theme being “The Resolution of Conflict”.
At the Assembly two different viewpoints on the war were presented, first by Mr Tom Ruttkay from PEGS and then from Mr Emre Celik from the Australian Intercultural Society. Mr Celik’s grandfather fought on the Turkish side at Gallipoli and he recounted how his Grandfather had passed on memorabilia and memories from that experience. The Assembly included the reflections of staff members who had visited Gallipolli, stories of heroes from both sides, national songs and poems, and the moving words of Attaturk “Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
In the forum that followed, Year 10 students from both schools further reflected on the resolution of conflict by first, considering the Gallipoli tradition from a Turkish perspective, by looking at the issues relating to conflict resolution and by listening to people engaged in interfaith dialogue.
Peter Batchelor
Chaplain
April 2006