ANZAC Day 2023

On Tuesday 25 April, the Centennial Chapel proudly hosted around 400 guests for our ANZAC Day Chapel Service to commemorate our Old Collegians and Staff who had lost their lives in service to our country.

The Rector, Christine Leighton, made special mention of William McDonald (OC 1959) who boarded at the College between 1951–1958. William served as a Platoon Sergeant between 1963–1965 in Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam and made a special trip from Rotorua to attend this service. Deputy Head Prefect, Lachlan Odlin, gave a very personal address about the resilience his great grandfather, Winston Smith (OC 1932) displayed during his service in World War II. He had spent time in Prisoner of War camps, and sadly was forced to endure “The Long March” alongside 80,000 POW’s in extreme conditions to finally be liberated and returned home to New Zealand.

It was a painful reminder of the bravery and courage our servicemen and women showed during the horrific wars of last century. OCA President, Sam Crosbie (OC 2009) and Ladies’ Circle President Alison Ballantyne laid the traditional wreaths in the Memorial Enclave as The Piper’s Lament filled the Chapel with its melancholy notes and we remembered those who came before us.