The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has released a range of commemorative and educational resources to help young Australians understand the significance of Remembrance Day (11 November).
Announcing the new resources, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Andrew Gee said Remembrance Day was one of the most important days on the nation’s calendar and marked the anniversary of guns falling silent on the Western Front in the First World War: the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
“Our nation stands in silent reflection for one minute each year to commemorate and honour those Australians who have died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations,” Mr Gee said.
He said that to assist schools, ex-service organisations and community groups plan for 11 November, DVA had prepared a Remembrance Day educational resources pack to highlight the importance of honouring Australia’s veterans and servicemen and women.
“The Remembrance Day pack includes a range of commemorative and educational resources about Australia’s military history,” Mr Gee said.
“Some of the education products in the 2021 Remembrance Day pack focuses on the experiences of Australians who were prisoners of war,” he said.
“A range of online and hardcopy resources, as well as posters, a calendar and a book are included in the pack.”
Mr Gee said the book included in the pack was Endurance: Stories of Australians in wartime captivity, which told the stories of Australian men and women who became prisoners of war while serving in the armed forces.
The Minister said an online lesson had also been developed to allow students to hear directly from veterans in a unique experience designed to develop an interactive learning environment.
“The digital pack contains all the resources required to conduct a commemorative service including an Order of Service, sample speeches, music and the Ode of Remembrance, which can be downloaded by families and community groups in the lead up to Remembrance Day,” he said.
“Schools will begin to receive the educational pack in coming weeks,” Mr Gee said.
The DVA’s Remembrance Day Kitbag can be accessed at this PS News link.
