Local teenager Caleb Harrison is one of six students from across the state to be awarded a place on the ClubsNSW Premier’s WWII Memorial Tour after demonstrating his brilliant writing skills by composing and submitting a 1000-word history essay in a recent competition.

More than 100 applicants were asked to respond to the question “are the lessons of WWII still relevant today?”, with Caleb’s entry proving to be a standout as he addressed the importance of continuing to preserve what we have learned as a result of WWII, and how the world can be made into a much better place.

Last week, the Year 11 student from Clarence Valley Anglican School and his proud mum Jackie met Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis, who said it was easy to see why Caleb was chosen to win a place on the ClubsNSW Premier’s WWII Memorial Tour, an 11-day adventure organised by the NSW Government.

After telling Mr Gulaptis he was grateful for the chance to participate in the tour, Caleb said not many students will have the chance to get this far into the history of some of the most pivotal moments of WWII.

“This opportunity will allow me to see parts of the world I have never experienced before,” he explained.

“New cultures, new people and new perspectives.”

 NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was also full of praise for Caleb and the other budding young historians.

“It is great to see so many students engaged with this essay writing competition,” he said.

“More than 100 entries were received, and it is important that students today continue to talk about the sacrifices and commitment of our servicemen and servicewomen, as it these learnings and conversations that helps keep the memory of the spirit of our diggers alive.”

ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis aid ClubsNSW was proud to teach a new generation about significant moments in history.

“Clubs and the veteran community are intrinsically linked, which is why ClubsNSW is honoured to fund this program,” Mr Landis said.

The students will fly out of Sydney in later this month for their 11-day tour of historic WWII sites in Hiroshima, Japan and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

To read Caleb’s essay, please visit our website, www.clarencevallerynews.com.au

Essay by Caleb Harrison

Are the lessons of World War Two still relevant today?

Undeniably.

We live in a time when the concept of cause and effect has never been more pertinent.

Around the world, the health and prosperity of many are dependent on the actions of a few.

I say a few because not everyone has the power to lay siege upon the sovereign soil of another people.

Not all of us can influence an economy through rhetoric alone.

This authority is bestowed only upon those whom we trust; in some cases, maybe we fear them.

But what stops these powerful few from becoming too ambitious, selfish, and perhaps, even more powerful?

Currently, expansionism similar to that endorsed by 1930s Germany threatens the sovereignty of many nations around the globe.
Today, Russian forces invade and destroy Ukrainian cities and towns, while Beijing continues to
creep through the South China Sea.

These are obvious examples of those who have forgotten or chosen to ignore the consequences of WWII.

They have forgotten the horrendous combination of power and ambition.
Even though much has changed since the 1930s and 1940s, one of the few things that has
remained constant is conflict.

Conflict is inevitable, but the only thing standing between heated discussion and physical warfare is often the events of the past.

Such events act as a reminder to all future generations, a warning.

In 2020, approximately 80000 people perished as a result of multiple conflicts occurring around the globe.

In 2022, conflicts in Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine have already accounted for more than 50000 fatalities.

That number is expected to rise and we are only halfway through the year!

More and more nations are finding themselves teetering on the edge of war and peace.
Have we forgotten what we had learnt all those years ago?

Must we suffer once more before we become aware of the destructive nature of humanity?

The lessons of WWII are not to be forsaken.

They are to be taken on.

Only then will we enjoy unity and security.

It appears that in the calm, we have ignored the brewing storm.

And the only way we can turn around is with the guidance of the past.
But, our knowledge and wisdom will only live as long as we do.

What stops it from dying at the turn of each generation?

We must preserve the lessons of WWII if we are to ever experience peace and unity.

A great way that we are currently preserving the lessons of WWII is through war memorials and commemorative services.

Each year, we are called to remember the past and what it means for the future.

We call this event Anzac Day.

It would be impossible to find an Australian that doesn’t understand the importance of this day. Thankfully, the lessons of WWII and the many wars before and after it are inextricably linked to
our cultural identity.

Because of this, the Australian community understands the cost of warfare.
This understanding has brought us peace with many among the international community.

We use memorials to preserve the lessons of WWII and to remind us of the dangers of
deviating from the path.

We remember what happens when we ignore rising military threats.

We remember the wake of destruction left behind by Adolf Hitler and Hideki Tojo, which draws a
frighteningly similar parallel to the actions of Vladamir Putin.

We also know of the suffering brought about by genocide and ethnocentric ideologies, which are, unfortunately, still represented today.

We commemorate the past to protect the future. And as the memories fade, it is up to us to ensure that we continue to uphold the values we have adopted as a result of the aftermath of WWII.
In the early days of August, 1945, two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
by American aircraft.

It is through events like these that we have learnt that there are no winners
in war.

At the conclusion of WWII, every nation involved came out with less than what
they had started with.

Everyone had lost something or someone.

At the hands of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, more than 220000 people were killed.

More than 200000 of those people were civilians.

Due to the unprecedented destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, humanity has learnt that such weapons of mass destruction are just too wicked to ever be used again.

The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are still today, the only nuclear
weapons to be used in armed conflict.

The lessons of WWII have prevented their use for more than seven decades.

The relevance of these lessons has saved thousands of lives.

If we are to forget just how dangerous we can be, the future will be grim.
Are the lessons of WWII still relevant today?

Yes, now more than ever.

The Earth is governed by human decency, which has been established over thousands of years.

The lessons we have learnt in our turmoil help to protect our future and save as many people as
possible.

For example, the aftermath of WWII gave rise to a vigilant and human rights-oriented international community.

Roy Bennett stated that “some things cannot be taught; they must be experienced”.

Australian culture is quite accepting of this fact.

Our many war memorials help us remember what went wrong and how we can change for the better.

By continuing to preserve what we have learnt as a result of WWII, the world can be
made a much better place.