St Mark's Day and Anzac Day
Yesterday. the College community gathered together to celebrate its foundation and give thanks to its founders and benefactors for their achievements and vision in establishing the College.
April 25th is St Mark's Day and the chaplain reminded us during his sermon of how the College was named in honour of the saint whose day the Anzac landing at Gallipoli took place. The College might have been named Christ's or King's, however at the suggestion of Canon RP Hewgill it was given the name St Mark's[1]. The name of St Mark is appropriate, as the impetus for the founding of the College came from men returning to University after service in WWI, however by the time the College actually opened (March 24th, 1925) the men were too old. Our College is forever linked to the events and men of that day.
St Mark's Day is a time to honour the memory of the College's founders and all who sacrificed their lives for the benefit of our country. It is the sacrifice of these men that helps us understand and appreciate the depth of human truth that emerges from Anzac and the notion that sacrifice has an essential place in all of our lives. Sacrifice is part of nature, both at a conscious and an unconscious level. It forms an essential part of the human response to all of life. Put simply, our students at St Mark's know only too well, that sacrifice is vital in their pursuit for academic achievement, for success in sport, in relationships, in engaging and connecting with community. The associated sacrifice of time, the commitment to service and the responsibility to self, and the wider community - running a successful College Club relies on the sacrifices of committee members - of honest people who put aside self interest and take risks for the greater good. Students sacrifice sleep for study - or to attend a College sporting event - for the greater good of the College (and the High Table Cup!). But what of the leaders of the Anzac campaign and their sacrifice at the conscious and unconscious level? The phrase from the Gospel reading from John (15:9-17) "Greater love as no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" is powerful and challenges us to put aside self interest and ask what is right, true or honest. The ANZAC story invites us to make this rich heritage part of our own story, to add to this depth and history of loving and giving our own lives as we seek to live and work for the common good of our community.
In accepting the joys and sorrows of life, in our study and in our future lives, we honour the memory of this College's founders and all who gave their lives as sacrifices for the benefit of our country. "Spernit virtus humum".
[1] A draft press release originally included the following "THe choice of St Mark's for a name is a happy one - St Mark's Day is the same as Anzac Day - a day hallowed in Australian history for all time. No more fitting memorial to the young men who gave their lives in the great war could be found than the establishment of a College within whose walls the youth of today can learn how to spend nobly that live which the heroes of Anzac freely gave for the peace and safety of their country.
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