LOCAL school children are using a unique learning resource on campus to learn about World I and II this month.
Compton Primary School has unveiled the immersive war time gallery which was installed to coincide with lessons about war history, featuring information, maps and photographs from World War I through to recent conflicts in Afghanistan and East Timor.
Students heard from Mount Gambier Community Returned and Services League (RSL) president Bob Sandow, secretary Des Schiedl and RAAF bomber pilot Tony Braithwaite when they visited the school to check out the war time gallery last week.
Principal Bec Keeley said the gallery was a resource for students and the school community.
“Our war time gallery has been on display for about three weeks and has something for everyone to look at, learn about and reflect on,” Ms Keeley said.
“It includes a wall of honour in memory of all the local soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and World War II.
“There is also a section that honours the ex-scholars of Compton Downs Public School, who fought in the Great War in 1914.”
Mr Sandow, Mr Schiedl and Mr Braithwaite spoke to students about the role the RSL plays in the community today.
“We had the honour of meeting Mr Braithwaite, who was a bomber pilot and I was lucky enough to have a chat with him over lunch to talk about his time overseas, especially in Egypt,” Ms Keeley said.
“Our Gallipoli singers performed songs and we a shared morning tea – it was a fantastic celebration of our history.”
The school has had a long association with the RSL and will present a mural to the league on Remembrance Day.
Artist Liz Fennell is painting the mural at the school with help from Year 7 students.
The mural will form part of Compton Primary School’s entry in this year’s Anzac Day Schools’ Awards.
