Parramatta District Schools Flag Day Ceremony 2009 3 September 2009

Parramatta High School was honoured to host this year's ceremony. Students from local schools gathered to honour the Australian Flag, along with members of the Australian Defence Forces, Parramatta City RSL Sub Branch, Parramatta Legacy, Parramatta & District Historical Society. Also in attendance was the Hon. Ms Julie Owens MP, Federal Member for Parramatta and Mr Alan Overton OAM. Sblt Nicholas Curran and crew members from the HMAS Parramatta, Cpl Stewart Dawes of the 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers along with Sgt David Kay and Cpl Fiona Morrison Royal Australian Air Force, Defence Force Recruitment formed the Flag Escort Party.

Year 11 students formed the Flag Party and read the Flag Day messages from the Governor General, NSW Governor, Prime Minister and NSW Premier. The school choir led in the Australian National Anthem. The ceremony was originally to be held at the school flagpole, near the Aleppo Pine and close to the site of the school's original flag pole - erected 90 years ago to commemorate the end of World War I and Peace at Versailles. 35 students and staff members served in the Great War and are commemorated on the Honour Roll which hangs in the school hall. Unfortunately, a thunderstorm just five minutes before the ceremony was to commence saw a late change of venue to the school hall.

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