Media Release

This week, KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter was honoured to take part in a special wreath laying ceremony with students from All Souls St Gabriel’s School in Charters Towers.

The ceremony took place at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in Canberra during the Year 6 students’ trip to Canberra.

Mr Katter reflected on the first time he visited the AWM and said,” I had the very great honour of being selected for one of the 12 Queensland cadet scholarships to Duntroon and I thought it was one of the more thrilling events of my life going to the War Memorial. I’d heard stories of Milne Bay from my Uncle Billy and I’d heard all these stories but then I went in and saw the reality – it was a very, very moving experience.”

The AWM’s school wreath laying program enables students to participate in a special commemorative ceremony in the Hall of Memory, where they lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian soldier. The AWM hopes the program teaches students that the freedom and life we enjoy today came as a great sacrifice that should be honoured and respected.

AWM Director, Dr Brendan Nelson and Veteran Al Bridges addressed the students, as well as Mr Katter. Mr Katter spoke about different battles, the sad realities of war and the devastating impact conflict has upon families.

Mr Katter said, “If ever you get the chance to see the movie Private Ryan, I think it had the most moving scene of any movie that I have ever seen and it’s of this mother washing up in the kitchen and all that is in that woman’s body just crumbles out when she’s forced to answer the door and the two men in their black suits handover the telegram. This means a lot of me because my Great, Great Grandmother in the First World War got a telegram and in the Second World War soon after Uncle Bert Henley was released from Changi my Great Grandmother got the letter telling her that her son was killed. So this was real kids, this was not people elsewhere. These are kids that would’ve gone to All Souls, just like us and they were asked to shoulder rifles and go out and defend their country.”

A spokesperson for All Souls St Gabriel’s School said the Year 6 Civics and Citizenship program’s annual trip to Canberra has become a highlight for students in their final year of Junior School.

The spokesperson said,” Often the best learning occurs outside the classroom when students are provided with the opportunity to engage in dialogue and be immersed in authentic learning experiences. Over the course their time in Canberra, the students will enjoy a variety of educational experiences which will deepen their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Australia’s history, cultural heritage and democracy.

“It was a great honour this year, for our Year 6 students to visit the Australian War Memorial and take part in a wreath laying ceremony, a service they shared with Dr Brendan Nelson and Hon. Bob Katter.

“The students will return home on Friday with a greater sense of national pride and respect for our nation’s history.”

—ENDS—