Congratulations to Alejandro in Year 11 who was chosen by Castle Hill RSL to represent ºÚÁÏÉçÇø as an ANZAC Ambassador in April, and to speak at the Remembrance Ceremony in November 2020.
Each year schools in the hills district have the opportunity to nominate a student to participate in this program. The focus for this year’s commemorations is ‘The Service of Australians in Afghanistan’ and for the interview Alejandro researched, prepared and spoke about various aspects of this theme, including choosing one of the four Australian VC winners in Afghanistan. The interview selection panel was:
- Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne, Mayor of The Hills Shire
- Mrs Bev Jordan, Journalist and Hills Shire Citizen of the Year for 2015
- Mr Austin Rosier, Ambassador in 2015 and Hills Young Citizen of the Year 2020
- Mr Bryan Mullan, retired School Principal and Schools’ Coordinator for the Centenary of Anzac in The Hills.
Following the interview process, four students were chosen to be Anzac Ambassadors. They then had the opportunity to participate in a public speaking program run by former 2GB Radio Host Gareth McGray, Castle Hill and District RSL subbranch President David Hand, Castle Hill RSL subbranch member Bryan Mullan and former Anzac Ambassador Austin Rosier. Alejandro’s role for Anzac Day was to prepare a speech about Victoria Cross recipient Daniel Keighran and give some insight into him and his time in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the Anzac Dawn Service ceremony at Kellyville Anzac Centenary Reserve was cancelled. The service was broadcast on Saturday 25th April on the Castle Hill RSL and Castle Hill RSL Subbranch Facebook pages at 8:00am and 3.00pm, and the Ode at 5:21pm.
For Alejandro being an Anzac Ambassador has become an experience of a lifetime and an honour for him, not only representing ºÚÁÏÉçÇø but to represent his generation to Australian Veterans.
Alejandro’s work as ambassador didn't ended after ANZAC Day. He has also played a role in the Remembrance Day services on Sunday 8th November. Alejandro spoke at the Balcombe Heights Estate Remembrance Ceremony, about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 and how these horrific events changed the world forever. He spoke of Sadako Sasaki who died of leukemia, a result of exposure to the atomic bomb's radiation, who before she died co-founded transforming origami into an international symbol of peace; and how we all must work together to embark on an era to bridge the gap to global peace. You can watch Sunday 8th November's .
Lest we forget.