The Rotary Club of Boronia has received a $3120 grant from the State Government’s Anzac Day Proceeds Fund and Victoria Remembers programs to support its annual ANZAC Day service for Grade 5 and 6 students from local schools in the Knox Council area.
The service, which has been a community staple for over a decade, provides a unique opportunity for students to engage with Australia’s ANZAC history in a meaningful way.
This grant will help fund transportation for the students to and from the event, which takes place at the Tim Neville Arboretum, in Ferntree Gully.
A member of the Boronia Rotary Club and coordinator for the event, Lance Deveson said the ANZAC Day service, which has been running since 2015, is the only one of its kind in the Knox area specifically designed for primary school students.
“We started this because there was nothing for primary school children in our district,” Deveson said.
“It’s important to us that kids understand the history behind ANZAC Day, especially as they begin to develop a sense of connection to their country’s past.”
The funding is part of the Victoria Remembers Grant Program, which aims to support commemorative events and educational projects across the state.
Boronia Rotary Club will use the grant to cover the costs of bus transport for students attending next year’s service, the club also covers other costs through its own fundraising efforts, such as wreaths, music, and chair hire.
“We’ve been doing this for a while now, and it’s a real challenge to fund the service without grants like this,” Deveson said.
“The bus transport is the biggest cost, so this funding is a huge help.”
The service, which typically includes a guest speaker, music from local school choirs, and a moment of silence, aims to engage students with ANZAC history in a personal and meaningful way.
For the 2026 service, the guest speaker will be a veteran who served in submarines and now works in submarine design to give students a connection to both the past and present.
“The students really connect with the ceremony,” Deveson said.
“They often tell us they’ve learned something new about ANZAC Day, and some even go on to attend other services on ANZAC Day itself.”
The ANZAC Day service for Grade 5 and 6 students will take place on 22 April, 2026, at the Tim Neville Arboretum in Ferntree Gully.
For more information about the Victoria Remembers Grant Program, visit vic.gov.au/victoria-remembers-grant-program
