Wow! it is really strange to think that it is already 2015 and that this time last year we were all finding out about being accepted into the young ambassadors and that we would be going to France. This opportunity was the absolute highlight of my 2014 and has given me some incredible memories and friends. Before we left I was nervous that the trip would be difficult with clashing personalities and being in each others company 24/7. I really needn't have worried, this trip and the programme has...
2014 was a whirlwind of a year for many reasons, but none so significant as being part of the Shared Histories project as a Young Ambassador. This role took me to many places both literally and metaphorically that I never dreamed I would be able to experience in my last year of high school. Though the experience of being in France and Belgium is now over, the memories we made and things we learnt will last forever.
I had always considered myself to be relatively knowledgable about WWI and...
Although most of our students are aware that it is the 100th year anniversary of WW1 and that there is plenty of information available for them on TV , internet etc. we think that the actual event is too far removed from, and not really relevant to their lives.
Too many generations have passed by, and for most families oral history of the event seems to have somehow been forgotten over time or overtaken by more recent wars and tragic events.
We have learned from experience that if students...
Thursday the 4th of December saw me get the opportunity to visit two classes at Saint Mary's College in Wellington. I presented an overview of our trip earlier in the year and explained Shared Histories mission and projects. During the time I got asked many great questions by the year 9 and year 10 classes and saw a real engagement with the topic.
It was an absolute pleasure getting to talk to them and i hope to be able to talk to other schools if I get the chance.
photo of me and the...
Following the Easter Rising in 1916 in Ireland, Irish Republicans living in New Zealand who supported Irish nationalism formed organisations in solidarity and to promote the Irish republican cause. In Dunedin they formed the "Maoriland Irish Society" and published a radical monthly magazine called "The Green Ray". This fell foul of wartime regulations and was supressed in 1918. Wartime regulations which had introduced censorship regulations limited freedom of speech. Many publications written...
The 11th of November marks the anniversary of Armistice day, the day the Great War ended. After a horrific 4 years (1914-1918) of war it finally came to a halt when Germany and the Allied Powers signed an armistice. During our trip to France we had the privilege to visit Compienge, the place the Armistice was signed. We visited many war museums, at one I was grateful to meet Siham and Nicolas, teachers of College Jean Fernel, Stratford High School’s partner school in the Shared Histories...
An exhibition in the city of Dunedin at Toitū (Otago Settlers Museum) explores the stories of enlistment and departure, conscientious objection and conscription, the horrors and honours of war. In one section titled “Dissenters” they present primary documents on those who refused to fight. The caption on the display said;
“Most Dunedin citizens strongly supported the war effort. Some small groups and individuals, however, refused to participate for political, religious or moral reasons. But...
Bonjour tout le monde. j'ai eu la chance à faire un discours à mon classe sur le sujet du voyage de Jeunes Ambassadeurs, et voila un vidéo de mon discours pour vous.
If reading through blog posts isn't your thing, then here is a video of my Young Ambassadors Tour speech that I was able to use for my English internal that give a day-to-day account of what we did on the trip back in July.
Before I went on the Young Ambassadors Tour, I had an interview with the Manawatu Standard.
A man named John who saw the published article, got in touch with me through school. He asked me to take a picture of his uncle Donald Wallace Macnamara, and put it next to his name at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery. I was more than happy to do this for him, as I could see it was of great importance to him and his family.
Visiting the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery was a very moving and emotional experience...
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