Lest We Forget

One of the privileges of my position as Chaplain is attending the Cranbourne Anzac and Remembrance Day services. With Remembrance Day falling on Saturday this year, we did not do a formal service as a school community, but we were represented through our newly appointed Senior School Captains Mya and Jay, Senior School Social Justice Captain Sophie and our Junior School Captains Ameek and Namish. It was very special to be there with their parents and Mme Morgan to honour the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Our Captains, along with other students and members of the community, laid wreaths as a sign of respect, pausing among individuals from many walks of life to reflect on this day of national significance.

It can seem a simple thing — a moment of silence. Yet, in our society it is something that is increasingly rare. Even rarer than a moment of silence is to have a particular focus for it — in this case, consciously reflecting on and giving respect to those who have sacrificed themselves in war. Within our own school community, we have former and current members of Australia’s defence forces and we take this chance to pay our respect to them as well, recognising and appreciating their work.

Lest we forget.

Happy Birthday to …

There are few times in one’s life when you are able to attend a 95^th birthday party, and it was my pleasure to attend one at the weekend; my nan — Winifred Riviere celebrated with a small group of family and friends. As a Christian, she often commented on how grateful she was for the many blessings God had given throughout her life, even though she faced significant challenges. Yet, these were not what she would focus on. Instead, she would look at the gifts she had been given, and the faithfulness of God in seeing her through the various seasons of her life. 

It is incredible to think of the many ‘worlds’ she has lived through. It is not only that today is completely different from when she was born, it is that when she was born was completely different 20 years later, which was completely different 20 years after that. The world, and her world, changed again and again. The tiny woman eyeing off the sponge cake and clutching at her cup of tea, slowly bringing it to her mouth is far from the active grandmother I knew growing up. Yet, the core of who she is remains.

It is not the only birthday I am celebrating at the moment. I am sure there are those in our community who would agree with me that it does not seem that long ago that we were celebrating Casey Grammar turning 25. Yet, as in everything, the years roll on and we find ourselves again in a milestone year. It is a time for us as a community to reflect on what, amidst all the change, remains. In the same way that a person grows, evolves and changes over decades, so too has our school. 

The world likewise has changed, and the culture, expectations and experiences now are very different from what they were when Cranbourne Christian Community College opened its doors. Still, the core of who we are as a school community continues. We see the Christian foundations of the school continuing to be evident, in the beautiful class Chapels, the prayers we share as a community, our desire for reconciliation and social justice.

May we take this opportunity to reflect on the blessings of God over these 30 years and the story of faithfulness in that time.

With every blessing to you all in the week ahead.

Monique Riviere-Pendle

Chaplain