Maitland has a proud history of local sons and daughters enlisting to defend their country.
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Like schools across the Hunter and the country, All Saint’s College St Peter’s graduates have been among those who served to the end.
The school is now calling on families of former students who served and died to inscribe their loved ones’ name on the school’s ANZAC monument.
Principal Michael Blake said it was important to mark the names of those who fought.
Both as a mark of respect for the fallen soldiers and for the school and wider community.
“It’s important to instill a sense of heritage,” she said.
“It’s about teaching students where they come from and the sacrifice others have made.”
Multiple plaques will be fixed to the monument with names and details of service engraved and arranged according to conflict.
Mr Blake said the school held ceremonies on ANZAC and Rememberence Days while students proudly laid wreaths and represented the school at ceremonies in the wider community.
He said the school enlisted speakers from the RSL to educate students on the importance of the ANZAC tradition.
“Another element for us is getting the students to realise they’re walking in the footsteps [of those whose names are on the memorial],” he said.
“Many of our students are the same age as those who fought.”
Mr Blake said that detailed records of the school often only went back 60 years as a result of Maitland’s infamous 1955 flood.
As a result, the school is relying on families and friends to help them piece together a comprehensive list of servicemen and women for the memorial.
“We want families to let us know who they were, who they served with”
Mr Blake encouraged anyone with information to contact the school on 4933 6933 and ask for school librarian Mandy Greaves. The school can also be contacted through admin@maitlandsp.catholic.edu.au.