INVERELL RSL sub-branch members cut a very dignified swath in the front rows of Macintyre High School last Thursday morning.
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The men visited the school assembly to present gifts to the students who made the shortlist, and four finalists, Jesse Hayden, Colette Monaghan, Emily Cairns and Ashley Johnson, and teacher Lee Cutler.
Macintyre High School was chosen as one of 25 NSW schools to send four students and one teacher to the centenary event.
The students accompanied by Ms Cutler will be heading to Turkey in a few weeks time for the official ANZAC Centenary service at Gallipoli.
Ms Cutler said their group would be sleeping out at Gallipoli Cove the night before the dawn service and then walk up to the Lone Pine for the Australian Memorial Service.
The 11 shortlisted students each received a medallion and all those who made a submission were warmly congratulated by the RSL. Sub-branch secretary Graeme Clinch joined Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall on the selection panel to choose the four students
“It’s probably one of the hardest tasks that I’ve been involved in my life, or working career, anyway,” Mr Clinch said.
“Any one of the 21 submissions that were put in to go to Gallipoli would have been worthy winners.”
Mr Clinch said he was grateful to the teachers who helped with the selection process, but the day was intense and left him drained.
Student Katie Benfield accepted the medallions for herself and the 10 other students who were on the short list, from RSL member Peter Kearsey.
Then RSL sub-branch president Pat McMahon presented medallions, Australian flags and custom-made jackets to Ms Cutler and Ashley, Colette and Emily.
Jesse was sitting his year 12 exams and was unable to attend the presentation.
Ms Cutler will take a large flag to Gallipoli and the RSL asked if she might have it blessed on the site to bring back. It will be the flag that flies on commemorative days at the newly refurbished cenotaph. She felt moved by the RSL men’s gifts to herself and the students.
“To get those jackets with the rising sun, I just,” she began, and put her hand emotionally to her chest.
“I just think it’s amazing that they’ve gone to so much effort and want to be involved and to be part of it,” she said.
