Pukete school children create Anzac display
Students at Pukete Primary School in Hamilton have created an Anzac display at their school in memory of those who fought at Gallipoli 100 years ago.
With Anzac day on the horizon, Pukete Primary School students have created a remembrance display.
The display includes a single red poppy planted in the grass among 30 small white wooden crosses.
The crosses bear the names of Anzac heroes – soldiers who did not return from the First World War.
Teacher Carolyn Smith said the school’s Year Five and Year Six students from the ruru team put the crosses together. The crosses were then arranged by the 12 senior members of the student council.
“It was quite special because we knew that we were doing something for the school,” Heather said.
She explained setting up the display came with a few challenges to get the crosses safely placed in to the grass. “It was quite difficult putting them in without breaking them. One of them snapped in my hand so we had to fix that.”
Her fellow council members agreed.
Bree said “It was kind of hard getting the littlest piece of wood in the right place – We used really sticky tape,” while Tahlia explained “All the soldiers in this [display] are all Hamilton soldiers.”
Each morning the display is surrounded by admiring parents and children. Students said their parents were touched and felt proud of what their children had helped create.
Photo by: Shontelle Cargill
“My Mum thought that it was really well set out – and she liked how we put the poppy in front of the unknown soldier’s cross,” Heather said.
The students unanimously agreed they enjoyed learning about Anzac day.
“Anzac Day means to remember the soldiers that have fought for our country and died,” Tianarangi said.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC) at Gallipoli in 1915.
