Gathering on the Johnstone Oval on the 1st of May, The Newington College Cadet Unit’s ANZAC Day Parade remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

After the sounding of the bugle by Cadet Lt William Van Asperen (ON 2006) to signify the commencement of the parade, the Newington Cadet band marched onto the parade ground at 8:40, under the gaze of the Official Party and a sunny, clear sky.

Highlights included the Cadet band opening the parade and the unit’s Colours being marched past by WO2 Matt Dyster (12/FL), CUO Anton Fichtenmaier (12/MO), CUO Jack Favero (12/PR) and CUO Jack Cambouris (12/KL). Both companies saluting as they passed.

2018 was the final Centenary year of the First World War so the parade honoured in particular those Newingtonians who laid down their lives during the last year of the war. Twenty-nine Newingtonians fell in 1918 in great battles on the Western Front, including Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel. Mont St Quentin and the Hindenburg Line, also in Syria and Palestine.

One such soldier was William (‘Bill’) Tasker (ON 1911), whose death on 9 August 1918 exemplifies both the selfless service and sacrifice and the loss of great potential in young lives cut short by war. Hailing from Condobolin, Bill came to Newington from 1906 to 1911, A sportsman of outstanding ability, he led Newington’s 1st XV in 1910 and 1911, also leading the Combined Schools XV in 1911. He played first grade rugby after leaving school, represented New South Wales and played six Tests as a Wallaby. Working as a bank clerk and having begun a part-time course in law, Bill enlisted in January 1915. He was severely wounded at Gallipoli and was invalided home, the shrapnel in his legs having ended his future on the sports field. After two attempts, he succeeded in re-enlisting in 1916 and was wounded two more times in action on the Western Front. He died of wounds received during the Battle of Amiens on 9 August 1918, three months from the end of the War

The ANZAC Day Parade was a great success. Mr Graham Potter, house master and science teacher called it “a spectacle beyond spectacle” and Inspecting Officer Lt. Col. Andrew Hine lamented that the cadet band’s performance this year was the best yet. With over 400 cadets on the parade ground, the morning was another year’s rousing salute to the ANZAC Diggers of our nation’s past.

Alistair Shaw (10/LE)