Pigeon Post

In keeping with social distancing guidelines binding Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic, the RSL shut down community commemorations last month. This meant that there would not be a Dawn Service at Loyalty Square this year.

ANZAC Day is heavily steeped in tradition; exceptional leadership qualities have been displayed by our Prime Minister, Alex, who, with family support, wanted to ensure Balmain Public School's tradition of being represented at our local ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Loyalty Square continues, regardless of COVID-19.

The idea was brought forward, a wreath organised, the RSL contacted and made aware and plans to lay the wreath made. Fellow Prime Minister, Marcella, was quickly on board to support, along with her family.

Yesterday morning, our two leaders, representing Balmain Public School and donned in school uniform, met at Loyalty Square, to lay the wreath and show their respects. Cliff, Logan's Dad, was also present, to take official photos.

Thank you, Alex and Marcella! Balmain Public School is so very proud of you! We also thank Alex's and Marcella's families for their support, as well as to Cliff, for taking time out of his work schedule to take the photos.

#BalmainWillNeverForget

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

Source (photo and information): http://www.leichhardt5000.com.au/memorials-plaques/balmain-loyalty-square/

This is possibly Australia’s first memorial to WW1 soldiers, unusual because it lists only those killed in action prior to the involvement of the AIF on the Western Front in France.

It was unveiled on 23 April 1916 just before the first anniversary of the Gallipoli landing to record the names of soldiers form this district who have fallen in the service of the Empire. It was the subject of a a Balmain Council design competition in 1915.

A functional structure it was built as a drinking fountain with a circular base and steps of Bowral trachyte and a four sided superstructure of Pyrmont Sandstone. Balmain's dead 38 at the time of its completion are honoured on four marble tablets, below which are four bowls . It is interesting that on later honour roll honour in the Balmain Town Hall there were then 1500 names of serving soldiers.

(Source: Sydney’s Hard Rock - Story by Robert Irving, Ron Powell and Noel Irving)

Why Balmain became the site for one of Australia’s earliest war memorials is unknown. However, at the time of the memorial’s unveiling, Balmain was a working-class suburb whose main industry came from its busy docks. At the outbreak of World War I the population of Balmain stood at around 32,000, with approximately 5,000 men eligible to enlist. Nearly all of these men did enlist, and considering the physical nature of the main industry of Balmain at that time, their absence would have been sorely felt. Apparently without prompting from any military or civil central authority, the local council allocated £200 for the monument, while four local businessmen volunteered to pay for the marble tablets. Funds also came from local residents, and the design was created by a soldier from Balmain.

*Loyalty Square was refurbished in time for ANZAC Day 2015*

My grandfather, Donald Ross, served Australia on the HMAS Sydney during the Second World War. The ship returned to Sydney after a victory in the Mediterranean Sea.

They spent time at home; my mum remembered her Dad coming home with a beard. I think he brought home a canary in a cage as a gift to her!

When they sailed away, she was not to know that that would be the last time she or her mum would see him. The Sydney was sunk in the Indian Ocean off the West Australian coast. All the sailors died. 

He was greatly missed. The poster for this year’s ANZAC Day shows happy sailors when they had had a big victory.

Jack and Tom is a short film created by the students of Miranda Public School and Port Hacking High School to commemorate the 100th ANZAC Day.

*This video has been shown at a previous Balmain Public School ANZAC Day Ceremony.

Parcel from my sister Kate (Kate is Tom's sister) is a parallel movie to Jack and Tom and looks at WWI from a woman's perspective. Again, it is a collaboration between Miranda Public School and Port Hacking High School.

Australian actor, and Balmain East resident, Bryan Brown, makes a special guest appearance in this short film. Bryan is the Department of Education's Arts Unit Film By Ambassador.

https://www.artsunit.nsw.edu.au/film-sea-ambassador-–-bryan-brown

An incredible $594 was raised!

A huge THANKS to our Year 6 bakers and families: Zoe A 5/6C, Laila C 5/6C, Oscar F 5/6C, Freya H 5/6C, Greta R 5/6C, Olivia S 5/6C, Lachie W 5/6F, Sylvie D 5/6W and Alex P 5/6W.

Thank you to all who supported, either by ordering ANZAC biscuits, or via direct donation!

We can't wait for our next fundraising activity!!!!!!