On Friday the 24th of April, Northern Bay College students and staff proudly joined the local community to commemorate the spirit of ANZAC Day at a moving service held at the Norlane RSL. The event highlighted the importance of reflection, respect, and gratitude for the sacrifices made by Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women.
This year’s service was strengthened through valued partnerships, including the ongoing support of the Kardinia Rotary Club, whose involvement continues to enrich opportunities for students to engage meaningfully with their community.
The ceremony was also attended by the current member for the district of Lara, Ella George and representatives from the office of Richard Marles, alongside local dignitaries, reinforcing the significance of the occasion.
Students played an active role in the service, with several contributing through readings and the laying of a wreath. They were joined by Northern Bay College alumna Dave Murphy, now a serving Navy officer, whose presence provided a powerful connection between past and present service.
The ceremony at Norlane RSL was a proud moment for the college, showcasing the respect and maturity of its students while strengthening ties with community partners. Through events like this, Northern Bay College continues to foster a strong sense of civic responsibility, remembrance, and community pride.
College Captain Mohammad H
Last year, I had the incredible honour of travelling to Türkiye as part of the 2025 Premiers Spirit of Anzac Prize. For me, it was more than a trip overseas, it was a journey through history remembrance, and reflection that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
When we first crossed the Dardanelles and arrived at the Gallipoli Peninsula the landscape appeared calm and peaceful. The beaches were quiet, the hills stood still and the sea gently touched the shoreline, it was hard to imagine that this very place was once the site of such unimaginable conflict and sacrifice.
Standing at ANZAC Cove was a moment I will never forget, looking across the narrow beach and up towards the steep cliffs above, it became clear just how difficult the conditions were for the soldiers who landed there in more than 110 years ago. Many of whom are not much older than I am standing before you. Yet each of them showed courage, resilience, and mateship in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Over the following days, we visited important sites such as The Nek, Chunuk Bair, and Lone Pine. Each place carried its own powerful story. One moment that truly stayed with me was standing at The Nek, where the battlefield is only about 25 metres wide. In that small space hundreds of young Australian soldiers lost their lives in just a matter of minutes through the machine gun fire. Seeing it in person made the cost of war feel incredibly real.
But perhaps the most breathtaking and emotional moment for me was visiting Lone Pine. As students when we learn about Gallipoli in school, we often imagine these battlefields to be much smaller. But standing there in person was overwhelming. The area was far larger than I had ever imagined, and it was difficult to comprehend the horrors that unfolded there.
Lone Pine was the site of one of the most brutal battles of the Gallipoli campaign. Soldiers fought in fierce hand-to-hand combat, showing extraordinary courage and determination. Standing among the graves I realised that beneath that very ground lay the stories of young men who risked and gave their lives for their mates and for their country.
At that moment, the history we read about in textbooks became real. It was deeply humbling to stand there and pay my respects to the courageous soldiers who sacrificed everything so that future generations, including all of us here today, could live in the country we are fortunate to call home.
Visiting Gallipoli helped me understand that the ANZAC spirit is more than just a moment in history. It represents courage, sacrifice, resilience, and mateship. These very words that continue to shape our nation today.
One quote that is remembered by many who visit Gallipoli comes from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish commander who later became the founder of modern Turkiye. In honouring the fallen soldiers from both sides, he said:
“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives … you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours … You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.”
Standing on those cliffs and beaches made me realise that remembrance is not only about honouring the past but also about ensuring we carry forward the values these soldiers fought for.
It was an honour to stand where they once stood 110 years ago, and to pay my respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and helped shape the nation we live in today
Lest we forget.
Thank you.
Mohammad Husseini
College Captain
Northern Bay P-12 College