Last month, we gathered for our annual ANZAC Laying of the Crosses ceremony, honouring the Bedeans who served in the New Zealand armed forces.

While the weather moved us indoors, it did nothing to dampen the spirit of remembrance. Each cross laid is a tribute to those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice.

The ceremony began with a prayer before the Roll of Honour was solemnly read. For each name, a cross was carried down the central aisle by a member of the St Bede’s community, symbolising the life lost and the enduring connection to the college. The Ode of Remembrance and the haunting notes of the Last Post, including a minute of silence, followed – marking a moment of reflection for all in attendance.

It meant a great deal to the St Bede’s College community to welcome Marilyn Jackson, great-niece of Laurence and Leo Donohue, to this year’s ANZAC Day ceremony. Accompanied by her husband Lloyd (both pictured below), Marilyn attended as a representative of the Donohue family – a poignant connection to two of the college’s foundation students who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War I.

Laurence and Leo Donohue, twin brothers and members of the very first cohort of St Bede’s students, were both killed in World War 1. Their names are listed on the College’s Roll of Honour alongside 49 other old boys who died in the First and Second World Wars. You will find the story of the Donohue brothers in our Reflections piece included in this newsletter.

The presence of a Donohue descendant made this year’s commemoration especially meaningful, reminding us that behind each name is a family, a story, and a legacy we continue to honour.