Veteran Groups Appealing To Schools To Share Anzac Traditions
Anzac traditions are a cornerstone of Australia’s national identity, preserving the stories, values, and sacrifices of those who have served in uniform. As the custodians of remembrance grow older, veteran groups across Australia are increasingly appealing to schools to play a stronger role in keeping this heritage alive for future generations. By engaging students through education, ceremonies, and meaningful fundraising initiatives, schools are becoming vital partners in passing on the spirit of Anzac — courage, mateship, service, and respect.
Growing this collaboration between veterans and educators reflects a shared belief: Anzac traditions are not only about remembering the past, but about shaping the character and values of young Australians today.
Anzac Traditions in Modern Australia
Anzac traditions originated from the legacy of Australian and New Zealand forces who served during World War I, particularly the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. Over time, the meaning of Anzac has evolved to honour all Australians who have served in conflicts, peacekeeping missions, and humanitarian operations.
Beyond their historical significance, these traditions serve a broader purpose. They foster national unity, promote respect for service, and encourage reflection on the cost of freedom. For younger generations, Anzac traditions offer a powerful connection to Australia’s heritage, helping students understand the real stories behind the dates, medals, and memorials.
As firsthand memories of earlier conflicts fade, education becomes one of the most important tools for preserving Anzac traditions in an authentic and meaningful way. This was the case with the Bears To Schools campaign, conceived as a community-focussed initiative during the Centenary of Anzac.
Schools Asked to Take a Leading Role
Across the country, veteran organisations, RSL sub-branches, and defence community groups are urging schools to strengthen their involvement in Anzac-related learning and commemoration. These groups recognise that schools provide a natural setting for teaching history, values, and civic responsibility.
Veterans often visit classrooms to share personal stories, lead assemblies, or participate in Anzac Day services. These interactions bring the Anzac legacy to life in ways textbooks alone cannot. Hearing directly from those who served helps students develop empathy, gratitude, and a deeper understanding of service and sacrifice.
In many communities, veteran groups are also partnering with schools to organise remembrance events, flag-raising ceremonies, wreath-laying services, and local marches, reinforcing that keeping these traditions is a shared community responsibility.
Teaching Through Meaningful Student Engagement
For the Anzac legacy and traditions to resonate with young people, learning must be active, relevant, and engaging. Schools are finding creative ways to integrate remembrance into the curriculum and extracurricular activities, including:
Classroom projects exploring Australia’s military history
Student research into local service members and memorials
Creative writing, art, and storytelling inspired by Anzac themes
Participation in Anzac Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies
Intergenerational programs connecting students with veterans
These initiatives help students move beyond symbolic remembrance toward a deeper appreciation of what Anzac traditions represent: resilience, sacrifice, teamwork, and national pride. When Anzac traditions are embedded into everyday learning, schools ensure remembrance becomes part of students’ lived experience rather than a once-a-year observance of Anzac Day.
Making Remembrance Visible
Many veteran groups encourage schools to support Anzac traditions not only through education but also through visible acts of commemoration and fundraising. Symbolic items and campaigns provide a tangible way for students to express respect while contributing to veteran welfare.
One initiative gaining traction is HeroTags, a child-safe, collectable fundraising product designed specifically for young Australians. HeroTags are colourful PVC tags that attach to bags, hats, or clothing, without the use of sharp pins, making them ideal for primary and junior secondary students.
Each HeroTag features meaningful designs celebrating courage, mateship, respect, and service, reinforcing key values in a format that resonates with children. The tags also include space on the back for a student’s name, encouraging ownership and personal connection to remembrance.
Veteran groups and schools use HeroTags in fundraising stalls, assemblies, Anzac Day activities, and community events, providing a safe, affordable, and engaging way for students to support veterans while learning about our Anzacs.
HeroTags: A Meaningful and Practical Choice
HeroTags were developed in response to requests from veteran not-for-profits for a kid-friendly fundraising product that aligns with Anzac values. Their design and purpose make them particularly suitable for school-based remembrance initiatives.
"What a great idea. I would expect significant interest in the HeroTags, particularly from primary schools." - Gayle Walkom, CSM, Defence School Mentor, St Patrick’s College Townsville, QLDKey features include:
Child-safe design. Each tag has no sharp pin.
Affordable pricing. With a recommended retail of only $3.00, participation is very accessible to families.
Collectable themes. Thematic designs encourage ongoing engagement.
Educational alignment. Values highlighted reinforce respect and remembrance.
DVA-approved use of the term “ANZAC”. This ensures compliance and credibility.
HeroTags are used by RSL sub-branches, community fundraising tables, shopping centre activations, and local events, as well as in school fetes, assemblies, and student ambassador programs. Supporting initiatives like HeroTags, schools help keep the Anzac heritage visible in everyday student life while raising funds that benefit veterans and their families.
Honouring Veterans and Strengthening Community
Anzac traditions have always been a unifying force, bringing together families, schools, veterans, and local communities. When schools collaborate with veteran groups, the impact extends far beyond the classroom.
Veteran groups emphasise that these traditions are not only about history. Instead, they are about building long-term respect for those who serve. When schools actively participate in remembrance initiatives, students develop an enduring sense of gratitude toward current and former service members.
Community Anzac events often involve students performing readings, laying wreaths, singing the national anthem, or displaying creative works inspired by remembrance. These moments reinforce a sense of shared responsibility, reminding Australians that honouring service is a collective duty. Programs that involve veterans directly such as guest talks, mentorship initiatives, and storytelling sessions create lasting impressions. These encounters humanise military service and highlight the real-world impact of courage, duty, and sacrifice.
Over time, this exposure nurtures a generation that understands the significance of Anzac traditions and feels personally invested in preserving them. When we talk about Anzac traditions, schools help strengthen intergenerational ties, ensuring that stories of service are passed down with respect and authenticity. Explore HeroTags for schools and fundraising today.
