Our Head Students pay tribute to the fallen in Anzac Day reflections
On ANZAC Day our Head Students attended the ANZAC service at Memorial Park to pay their respects to the fallen.
At Hillcrest High School, we recognise that ANZAC Day is not just about remembering the past — it’s about understanding the values that continue to shape who we are today: courage, resilience, unity, and respect. These values are as important in the 21st century as they were on the shores of Gallipoli in 1915. At the first assembly for Term 2 our 4 Head Students spoke about ANZAC Day and the importance of this to our kura. Read their speech below:
Gabby:
As many of you know, ANZAC day is a recollection of the triumphs and tribulations our troops encountered in the past, not just in combat but also far beyond the battlefield.
ANZAC has shown me the importance of leading those around me with purpose and an opportunity to sacrifice and stay true to my values and beliefs.
It has also shaped the outlook on how we as students, citizens and people represent and honour those we hold close to us.
We will remember them.
Shanti:
ANZAC Day has been part of our national story for 110 years now, ever since those first Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Gallipoli in 1915. ANZAC day is more than just a date in history, it’s a chance for us all to stop and remember the sacrifices made not just back then, but in every conflict since.
The lessons of ANZAC have taught us the importance of standing together in tough times. The spirit of friendship, for example, reminds us that we are stronger when we support one another, whether it’s in the face of global challenges or everyday struggles.
For me, ANZAC Day is deeply personal. My great-great-grandad, Ronald Cameron was 17, he was one of the many men who went to Gallipoli. It reminds me that the sacrifices made by those like my great-great-grandad, who went to Gallipoli and never came home, highlight the cost of the freedoms we often take for granted. Their choices remind us to value peace, to cherish our opportunities, and to look out for each other. His story is just one among thousands, but it brings the meaning of ANZAC Day close to my heart. I think about the family he left behind, and the future he never got to see. It reminds me that behind every name on a memorial is a real person, with hopes, dreams, and loved ones left waiting.
As we look ahead, the ANZAC legacy challenges us to live up to those values: to be brave in the face of uncertainty, to make sacrifices for the greater good, and to keep the spirit of unity alive. Remembering the ANZACs isn’t just about honouring the past; it’s about using their example to build a better future for everyone.
We will remember them.
Yousuf:
On the 25th of April, I was given the privilege alongside Gabby, Shanti and Euiin to attend the ANZAC Parade at Memorial Park, on behalf of Hillcrest High School. We were privileged to leave behind a wonderful bouquet of flowers and pay our respect to our countrymen who fought in Gallipoli. And here I am now, feeling privileged once again, as I stand and speak to all of you as part of our assembly.
Being privileged to attend a high school such as ours, with the stress of academics and the amount of activities you can get involved in, means it’s easy to forget about what really matters. I want you all to look around you, to your friends and fellow classmates. Many of the brave soldiers who put others’ lives before their own were no older than we are today. They didn’t get the privilege of stressing about their assignments, finishing high school, or even having fun with their friends.
ANZAC Day is important to me because it serves as a reminder. A reminder of the things we take for granted and the freedom we enjoy. We may never understand the true significance of their sacrifice, but we can unite together as we remember it all. More importantly, we can use it to live in a way that makes their actions meaningful. By being better human beings – by being kind to those around us, supporting one another as one big group and making the most of the opportunities we get, we honour their legacy. Because they deserve to be remembered. The almost 18,000 kiwis who heroically lost their lives. For people like you and me.
Euiin:
They didn’t have to go. But they did.
It’s been over a hundred years since the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli. None of us were alive. And yet, their story still matters.
Why? Because some things don’t fade with time—like sacrifice. Like choosing to do something incredibly difficult, not for yourself, but for the people around you.
Imagine dropping a stone in a river. The stone disappears, but the ripples keep going. The choices those soldiers made still shape the life we live today.
I think about how lucky we are—to feel safe, to go to school, to hang out with friends and live without fear. ANZAC Day reminds us that those everyday things were made possible by people who never even knew us.
And even now, when the world feels uncertain—with rising tensions and talk of future conflict—we’re reminded that peace is fragile. But we have peace.
They didn’t do it for recognition, and for over a hundred years, they haven’t asked for any. But we will remember them anyway. Because what they did still matters.”
We weren’t there. But ANZAC still speaks to us.
We will remember them.
