School’s special Anzac assembly

Waiau Area School students have come together with their community to put on a special Anzac assembly.

The assembly, held yesterday morning, is believed to be the first dedicated Anzac assembly held at the school for decades.

There were 13 young cadets present for the ceremony, with older officers and cadets also present.

The connection between the school and cadets came about when teacher Mary-Ann McNab suggested students going to the Cadet Unit in Invercargill would be a good idea.

‘‘I’ve sort of become a cadet coordinator now,’’ McNab said.

The ceremony consisted of poem recitations, video presentations and singing the New Zealand National Anthem. Ajay Quinn, who has served in the New Zealand Navy and Army, was one of the guest speakers.

School principal Andrew Pardoe-Burnett said he felt proud and privileged to be present at the assembly and it was possible because the students pushed hard for it. ‘‘. . . We’ve really been trying to celebrate student success and having the cadets here is a really good motivating factor for other students to see, to be so proud and solid in themselves and leading by example,’’ he said.

Young cadet Lee Edgerton, 14, said they had been practising for four weeks, and he was really proud of how the assembly turned out.

The school’s assembly ended with students laying poppies on crosses, that were erected in honour of western Southland fallen soldiers.

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF Waiau Area School, in Tuatapere, held its first ANZAC assembly in decades, with the Cadet pupils organising the service yesterday morning. School pupils Peyton Tilby, left, and Cayden Gibbs lay poppies beside the crosses for local fallen soldiers.

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF Cadets, front row from left, Mikayla Cairns, Korbyn Palmer, Trelise Robinson, Scarlet NicolMarsh, and Jahna Te Kani.