Prefects’ Assembly ANZAC Service

Prefects’Assembly

There was singing, dancing, acting, plenty of humour, and some fun video clips at the highly anticipated Prefects’ Assembly, which had ‘The Hunger Games’ theme.

The assembly was held in two sittings to increase audience capacity and invite prefects’ parents and caregivers back on site for the first time since 2020. At the Junior Assembly for Years 8–10, the Year 8 prefects were celebrated, and Noah Fanene (Year 10) won the Middle School Developing Positive Relationships (DPR) Award. Ben Robertson (Year 13) won the DPR at the Senior Assembly.

The speaker for both assemblies was Lynonahdolphin Tausa (Year 13) who gave a powerful talk about knowing where you have come from. The speech was built around the Samoan Proverb ‘E lele le toloa ae ma’au i le auvai’ – The toloa bird flies far, but will always return to the water. Team of the Week went to the Senior A Girls’ basketball and the 9A rugby teams, after an entertaining physical challenge which included apple bobbing and speed portrait art.

The prefects did a great job of putting together the cleverly constructed assembly, with a high level of entertainment, which was enjoyed by all.

ANZAC Service

Two hundred guests gathered to pay their respects to Old Collegians and staff who gave their lives in service to their country at the annual ANZAC Day service, organised by College Chaplain, Rev. Paul Morrow, with the assistance of the College Sacristans. The moving service also honoured those who have served in our defence forces. Noah Fanene (Year 10) sang a moving rendition of Danny Boyand Toby Cammock-Elliott (Year 12, Piper) and Naomi Dana (Year 12, Bugle) played the Last Postand Piper’s Lament. Other senior students involved in the service were Head Boy, Harry Withers, Deputy Head Girl Charlotte Roche, prefect Rachel Holyoake, and Deputy Head Thomas Kamo, who delivered an outstanding address, reflecting on the relevance of ANZAC Day from a student’s perspective.

Board Chair, Felicity Odlin, and OCA President, Meg Black, read the Roll of Honour and wreaths were laid in the Memorial Enclave by Alison Ballantyne (Ladies Circle) and Meg Black (OCA).

Left: William Couper (Year 11) in a 1942 Jeep remembering Bill Whitson, his grandfather, and John Appleby, his cousin twice removed, an Old Collegian on the Roll of Honour. Right: David Keys (OC 1950) attended the ANZAC Service.