St John Paul II student at 2024 Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service


Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) students, staff and members of the Jarara Cultural Centre gathered around Hyde Park’s Pool of Reflection for the 2024 Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service at Hyde Park.

Since its inception in 2007, the annual Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service continues to unite Australians to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans.

Students from schools across the Parramatta Diocese joined Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, The Hon. David Robert Harris MP, NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, many more dignitaries and hundreds of other students at the moving ceremony.

Guided by members of the Jarara Cultural Centre, CSPD students laid wreaths and paid their respects to Indigenous veterans for their service and protection of our country. Xavier College Llandilo School Captain, Jai Johnstone said it was really important for the students to be there.

“As young people it means so much to us to pay respect to those who came before us, especially considering in their time they didn’t receive the appropriate commendation for the work they did,” said Jai.

Taking place in Reconciliation Week the ceremony combines conventional military protocol with Indigenous ceremonial display. The service has a focus on attendance by school children, with guest speakers sharing the remarkable stories of their service to inspire our youth, both indigenous and non-indigenous alike.

 

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Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au

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  • 02 Dec 2025

    From Facebook
    Last Friday evening, we held our Year 12 2025 Formal at Novella on the Park at Abbotsbury. The Year 12 boys looked resplendent in their formal attire and there was a very large contingent of teachers in attendance to farewell this outstanding senior group. The evening was filled with joy, dancing, gelato and laughter. Special thanks to Mr Williams, Miss Gearing and Ms Aboelsaad for their efforts in organising this memorable event.

    26 Nov 2025

    From Facebook
    16s Super Rugby Cleansweep The 2025 Super Rugby U16s competition began in late September and concluded November 2, and Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown was well represented with four students among the squad, including Charlie Xuereb, Cordell Arama, Talmage Lemusu and Ziyon Lepolo, with all four eventually playing in the determined 57-34 Grand Final defeat of the QLD Reds at Knox Grammar School. Games were played against Victoria, QLD Reds, Western Force and ACT Brumbies, with numerous dominant performances including 97-0 and 96-7 wins. Our Patties boys were consistently named as standouts among the squad. And the proof is in the selection, with three of our boys from the Blue and Gold now named in the Green and Gold. Huge shoutouts to Talmage, Charlie and Cordell who were named in the Australian U16s squad, with Patrician Brothers' Blacktown the most represented school in the squad, a phenomenal achievement to outnumber the nation's elite rugby union schools, proving Patrician Brothers' Blacktown is where champions are made. The College community is incredibly proud of all four young men and are right behind them as they prepare for camp and their upcoming match against the QLD Reds U17s in December. A further special mention as well to Bronson Tupou of Year 9, who played in the NSW Waratahs U15 in a two match series against the QLD Reds, scoring the match winner in one of the games.

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