Upham House pays tribute to service and sacrifice with ANZAC assembly
Posted on May 09, 2025
At the end of Term 1, Upham House held its annual ANZAC Day assembly, honouring the sacrifices of service men and women.
The event brought together students, staff and special guests in a respectful and moving tribute.
Upham House was privileged to welcome several distinguished guests. Among them were Madeleine East from the RSA Poppy Trust, Barry Dreyer, President of the Howick RSA and James Hannah, a long-time friend of Upham House. James is the son of Dr James Bradshaw Hannah, who was captured as a prisoner of war alongside Charles Upham and played a critical role in saving Upham’s severely injured arm.
Upham House also extends it thanks to Adele White, Howick Local Board Member and Dean Clisby, Vice President of the Howick RSA, for their continued support and attendance.
The assembly opened with a karakia led by Head Boy Oscar Stewart. This was followed by reflections from Upham’s Service Captains, Maria Secara and Parth Setia, and speeches by House Captains Cerys O’Loughlin and Haowen Xie. Manny Kumar and Caitlin Austin, Sports Captains, delivered a dedication to ANZAC soldiers. Derek Liang and Jocelyn Chow, Cultural Captains, spoke about the work of the RSA.
Madeleine East shared insights into the RSA’s role in supporting returned service personnel and its contributions to the local community through charitable work.
Barry Dreyer spoke next, highlighting New Zealand’s involvement in recent international conflicts and acknowledging the efforts of today’s military, particularly those serving in South Sudan.
James Hannah encouraged students to read Mark of the Lion, the biography of Charles Upham, an extraordinary account of bravery and service.
Academic Prefects Namman Singh and Kelly Ma read the roll of honour for the Howick and Pakuranga communities, commemorating those who served in World War I and World War II. Peer Support Leaders Tanish Naidoo and Alana Burn laid wreaths in their memory. Oscar then recited the Ode in both Te Reo Māori and English.
The ceremony concluded with a performance of The Last Post by Flynn Healy (Mansfield House), followed by a minute of silence in remembrance.
Special thanks go to Ms Chan See, Macleans College Staffroom Manager, for organising a morning tea for the guests.
Upham House also presented a donation of $10,000 to the Howick RSA Poppy Trust. The funds were raised through a range of student-led fundraising initiatives held throughout the year. This contribution reflects Upham House’s strong commitment to supporting returned service personnel.