In the lead-up to Anzac Day on Sunday, Illawarra high school students have been learning about the lives of our returned service people.
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Dapto High students Kayla Varir and Brodee Beattie were among the students who took part.
"It's been really interesting, because I find by learning about it we can learn lessons from them and honour them," Brodee said.
"The soldier I studied, Sergeant Norman Baxter Clark, his plane actually crashed behind my school.
"We've been told his story many times, but (I) never actually knew who he was, and through this program I was able to research more about him."
Wollongong City Council has been working with students from Dapto High School and the Honour Our Fallen initiative to pay tribute to local ex-servicemen and women whose remains are interred within the Wollongong Memorial Gardens.
Students have placed more than 700 flags, one for each passed veteran, on every memorial site to honour those who have served our country.
As part of the history project, year 10 students from Dapto High School researched the lives of 11 deceased local veterans.
Council hosted a commemoration ceremony at the Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, allowing the students to pay their respects to the servicemen and women.
Students also spoke during the service about the lives of the returned service people they had learned about via their studies.
Brodee said Anzac Day was important as it "honoured all the people who have fallen and made sacrifices for us to be here today".
The ceremony took place with representatives from the City of Wollongong RSL Sub-Branch, along with the founding director of the Honour Our Fallen program, Rick McCarthy.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said it was important for young people to be engaged with the history surrounding Anzac Day.
"Placing the flags on the memorials of all those people who have at one time served in our armed forces and having the younger members of our community involved in this mark of respect helps pass on the essence of our Australian spirit," Cr Bradbery said.
"This is a thoughtful way to pay tribute to all our service men and women who have given so much in the interest of our country."
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Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
