Current Edition | Term 2, Week 1

Anzac Day 2025: Honouring the Legacy of Courage and Sacrifice

Thursday marked an auspicious occasion in the history of St Laurence’s College as we gathered to commemorate Anzac Day—a solemn day of national significance and deep meaning for our community. It is a time to pause, reflect, and pay tribute to the brave Old Boys of our College who served our nation.

In previous years, we have honoured four Old Boys who were killed in the service of Australia:

• Private Grant Walter Kirby
• Lance Corporal Charles Francis St Ledger
• Flight Lieutenant Reginald Ronald Witham
• Flight Sergeant Francis Colin Gordon

This year, as part of our 110 Year review and through the dedicated efforts of our Old Boy Committee, we have uncovered the stories of eight additional Old Boys who were also killed in action. It is with great respect and solemn pride that we now add these names to our College Cenotaph:

• Aircraftman Class 1 William Thomas Small (Class of 1931) – Royal Australian Air Force
• Flight Sergeant John Alfred Adams (Class of 1941) – Royal Australian Air Force
• Lieutenant Thomas Joseph Walsh (Class of 1932) – Australian Commonwealth Military Forces
• Able Seaman James John McIlroy (Class of 1936) – Royal Australian Navy
• Flight Sergeant Kevin Gregory Fogarty (Class of 1939) – Royal Australian Air Force
• Sergeant Reginald Harold Andrew Brandis (Class of 1929) – Australian Commonwealth Military Forces
• Leading Aircraftman Stanley Norman Rowell (Class of 1937) – Royal Australian Air Force
• Leading Aircraftman Vincent Edward Jarvis (Class of 1931) – Royal Australian Air Force

Their names now join the four previously recognised, and are proudly displayed on the St Laurence’s College Cenotaph—a permanent tribute to the 12 Old Boys who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

We hold these men, and their families and friends, gently in our hearts. Their courage, service, and sacrifice form a lasting legacy that continues to shape our College’s values and identity.

Thanks to the diligent work of Ms Helen Turner, Director of Communications, Development and Events, and Ms Heather Batchelor, Coordinator of Records and Archives, our College has also compiled a comprehensive list of 368 Old Boys who have served—and continue to serve—in the Australian armed forces. This living record continues to grow, reflecting our enduring connection to the Anzac spirit. 

As a proud Old Boy myself, it is both a privilege and an honour to ensure that these men are remembered and commemorated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

A deeply symbolic moment in our service saw our youngest students, the Year 5 cohort, enter our ceremony carrying poppies, each bearing the name of an Old Boy who has served, bagpiped in, to the sound of ‘Scotland the Brave’. These were laid in front of the cenotaph, a gesture that powerfully represents the passing on of memory and gratitude from one generation to the next.

As we stand together for Anzac Day, let us reflect on the freedoms these men fought for, the values they upheld, and the responsibility we share to honour their legacy—not only with words, but with our actions.

We were also honoured to welcome our guest speaker, Commander David Jarvis, to deliver the traditional Anzac Address. Commander Jarvis joined the Royal Australian Navy for Officer Training in 1984, serving across various fleet units as a Maritime Warfare Officer. He later became a Divisional Training Officer at HMAS Creswell before transitioning into cyber security, founding his own consulting firm that supported many veterans through partnerships with organisations like Soldier On. In 2019, he returned to the Navy as a Commander, leading efforts to strengthen the cyber resilience of our fleet. Most recently, in 2024, he was posted to HMAS Harman in Canberra, tasked with improving cyber security at Defence’s Network Operations Centre.

As we reflect on the lives and legacies of our fallen Old Boys, we are reminded that remembrance is not only about looking back, but also about carrying their values forward. To our students and families, we encourage you to honour their sacrifice by living lives marked by compassion, courage, service, and integrity. Let us all take inspiration from their stories and commit to making a difference—in our school, in our community, and in our nation. As a College community, may we never forget the cost of freedom and always strive to uphold the legacy entrusted to us.