Alongside the poppy and rosemary, the Gallipoli pine is part of Australia’s history and a standing testament to our soldiers.
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Sacred Heart Central School today honoured that legacy with a planting of a sapling directly descended from the tree destroyed during the Battle of Lone Pine.
Students, staff and community members gathered in the cathedral this morning for a liturgy service to honour the fallen.
They then moved outside to witness Korean War veteran Ted Fergus plant the pine with his great-granddaughter Macey Bryant.
Macey is a kindergarten student and continues the family’s strong association with the school since Ted and his wife Wilga moved here 35 years ago.
“This small seedling has a monumental story, a grandchild of the very tree which topped the hill at Gallipoli,” teacher Erryn Marsay said to those gathered.
“In planting this tree we pledge to always honour the sacrifice of those who fought and died for us.
“We also pledge to hope and pray for a world in which war itself is only something to be remembered.”
Ms Marsay is an English and History teacher at the school and the planting was her idea.
She travelled to Melbourne to collect the sapling from Wattle Park, where one of the four trees grown from WWI soldier Keith McDowell’s pine cone still stands.
“I am really passionate about remembering the past and honouring the contributions others have made,” she said.
Mr Fergus said it meant a great deal to him to take part in the planting.
“I have enjoyed it and it is lovely to have my family together to witness it.”
He and his wife were joined by seven members of their ever-growing family, and are proud to have a continued legacy of serving our nation.
Their grandsons Trevor Miller and Ty Fergus are both currently active in the Army and have served in Afghanistan and Timor respectively.
Mr Fergus was born and raised in England, and served in Germany and Italy before coming to Australia in 1951 to train soldiers in Puckapanyul.
Instead he found himself called up for duty in the Korean War, and it was during this time that Wilga began writing to him.
Upon returning to Australia he met her in Sydney. The pair fell in love and were married within the year.
“He only cost me a penny in stamps,” Mrs Fergus said.