By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain

OZY Youth Choir and Making Peas/ce honour Australians who lost their lives in military service overseas, as well as those who lost their lives in the frontier wars in these lands now called Australia.

The poppy has long been a symbol of those who have lost their lives on foreign shores during conflict. The desert pea is a symbol from First Nations people that similarly commemorates those who have died on Country. Arrernte author Bev O'Callaghan has written a book, The Legend of the Desert Pea, that tells the story of the colonial era conflicts with sensitive vivid illustrations by her niece Jesse. Where Aboriginal people died the blood red desert pea flower grows to remember them.

OZY Youth Choir creative director OJ Rushton and Making Peas/ce founder Hazel Davies have written two anthems to spread their message: Anthem of the Desert Pea and One and Free.

Students from Radford College volunteered to learn the anthems and sing them at the Government House Open Day on Saturday 16 March. The day was hosted by the Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley. The students singing the anthems alongside students from other local schools was very moving.

Mrs Hurley then sang You are My Sunshine with the pop-up choir. It was a very uplifting morning of using the arts to share a message of remembrance and connection. Interim Principal Mr Andy Gordon complimented the students on their contribution to the Open Day.

Students around Australia, including Radford students, singing Anthem of the Desert Pea can be viewed here.

Another highlight of the Open Day was the huge range of community organisations that were represented in market stalls. The SES were instrumental in providing marshalling and a BBQ. Radford staff member Mrs Anne Sutherland was spotted working hard on the SES BBQ raising money for a great organisation.