Remembering those who fought and died to protect their country isn’t something we do every day – but one student at Our Lady of the Way Primary Emu Plains frequently reflects on their sacrifice.
The school’s Remembrance Wall bears the names of Penrith locals who served, and Charlotte Robinson views their plaques as more than just names on a wall.
“Anytime I walk past that wall and look at the names, I realise that they’re there for a reason,” Charlotte explained.
She attributes Australia’s bright future to their sacrifice and is proud of her family’s contribution.
“I’ve got three great grandparents who served,” Charlotte began.
“My great grandmother was in the Air Force in World War II, my great grandfather was in the Air Force in World War II also, and they were both in Darwin when it was bombed by the Japanese.
“My great grandfather from the other side of my family was in the Navy during the Korean War and served on the HMAS Murchinson.”
Assistant Principal Catherine Ruff said the Remembrance Wall was restored last year with help from the Penrith RSL and the Yarramundi Veterans Shed.
“We wanted to revamp the wall and put it in a space where it was more open and where our school community could really enjoy it and pay homage to the people who served that are linked to our community,” Ruff said.
“We removed the plaques from our previous wall and the Yarramundi Veterans Shed were happy to take the plaques away and help restore them and polish them up.”
The revamped wall was unveiled on Remembrance Day, and the school used the moment to pay respect to veterans and give thanks to the hard workers who restored the wall.
“We had new signage put up and a big celebration and commemoration. We invited lots of dignitaries and people from the community,” Ruff stated.
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.