The memorial is a space where our students and members of the community are welcome and able to commemorate these significant events and honour our defence personal.
Have you seen the incredible new Anzac mural at Ripley Valley State Secondary College?
Created by Brisbane artist Alan Scheepers, the Anzac Place Memorial features the poppies of Flanders Field and is a dedication to all service men and women.
We recently spoke with Ripley Valley State Secondary College Principal, Brendan Krueger, to discuss the mural’s importance and what it means for Ripley Valley’s community.
What does the Anzac mural represent?
The Anzac mural recognises and reminds our college and community of the service and sacrifice of our service men and women. The field and poppies are a tribute to Remembrance Day and the poem “In Flanders Field”.
We are extremely proud of the mural and “Remembrance Corner”. The dedication recognises and remembers the sacrifices made by our previous and current serving defence force personnel to allow the freedom which we enjoy today.
As a principal, why is it vital to see this section of the Ripley Valley State Secondary College come to life?
In our school, we have a large number of current and previous serving members of the defence forces, and we wanted to recognise their contribution, both past and present to our nation.
As a new school within a rapidly growing neighbourhood, there is no other place for members of our local community to honour significant military and peacekeeping events in our nation’s history such as Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, or Vietnam Veterans Day (to name a few).
The memorial is a space where our students and members of the community are welcome and able to commemorate these significant events and honour our defence personal.
Can you tell us about the vision to expand the memorial?
Our students are planning to add to the Remembrance Corner with a mural extension prior to Remembrance Day. This new student led mural section will allow members of the community to purchase a defence service plaque to honour and recognise a previous or current serving member of the Australian or New Zealand Defence forces.
Further information will be available in November on our school Facebook and website pages. We also plan to install a RAAF metal statue in the garden during our September school holidays with more statues to follow each year.
If you are interested in supporting the development of the Ripley Valley Anzac community space, please contact the Ripley Valley State Secondary College via the website or email us.
