By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A DAY off school for the public holiday didn’t stop the students of Fountain Gate Secondary College from commemorating Anzac Day.
At a special ceremony held on Anzac eve in the college’s gym and attended by a range of RSL members, local MPs and councillors, the school’s students and teachers alike remembered the Australian soldiers who had given their lives for the country.
Guest speaker and Victorian RSL President David McLachlan spoke to the students about the strong respect that had developed between the Turkish and ANZAC soldiers across the battlelines despite being enemies during the war.
He also spoke of how generous the Turkish government is in opening up its borders to Australians every year, who make the annual pilgrimage to Gallipoli to pay their respects.
And in a surprise conclusion to the morning ceremony, unexpected special guest Vice Consul for the Consulate General of Turkey Ersel Ozdemir was welcomed by the school fraternity.
