On Tuesday our Damascus College community gathered on the lawn in front of the Catherine McAuley Building to pause for Remembrance Day. With the flags lowered to half mast, Learning Area Leader for Humanities, Gerard Macklin, guided the ceremony, which was conducted by student leaders from a range of year levels and house groups. Their thoughtful leadership set the tone for a calm and reflective moment shared across our entire school.

Remembrance Day marks the end of the First World War and calls us to honour the lives lost and acknowledge the deep and lasting impact of conflict on individuals, families and communities. It is a reminder of the human stories that sit behind the history, and of the responsibility we carry to learn from the past. At Damascus, we do not approach this day as a celebration. Instead, we remember with dignity, gratitude and respect. This reflection aligns closely with our Vision and Mission, inviting us to be a welcoming and inclusive community, inspired by Christ’s Mercy and committed to compassion, justice and peace.

Throughout today, our student leaders also represented Damascus College at Remembrance Day ceremonies across Ballarat. Their presence within the wider community offered a quiet and meaningful act of respect, standing alongside others in acknowledgement of service and sacrifice.

As we move through the week, may this shared moment of remembrance encourage us to value peace wherever we can foster it, listen deeply to one another, and contribute to a world shaped by hope, understanding and care.