Students at Port Douglas State School have paid their respects to the bravery and sacrifice of Australia’s Diggers at a special ANZAC commemoration ceremony at the school today ahead of main ANZAC day ceremonies in Port Douglas tomorrow.

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The commemoration saw a high turnout of parents and featured an address by Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu, who spoke of some of the men of the Shire that fought in World War I. 

“More than 175 soldiers from the Shire served their country during World War I, inclduing at least 39 young men who made the ultimate sacrifice and never returned home,” Cr Leu said. 

“These otherwise ordinary young men were husbands, fathers, brothers and sons who felt it their duty to defend their freedoms for future generations.”

Cr Leu went on to detail the tours of several servicemen, whose service was researched by the Douglas Historical Society for their Douglas Diggers project.

One such soldier included Frank Coulthard, who left Mossman in 1918, three days after marrying his sweetheart Elizabeth, joining the 41st Battalion to fight in France. 

Frank Coulthard was wounded by gunfire and mustard gas, not returning to Australia until 1919 to start a cane farm, which his grandsons work to this day. 

The commemoration also saw the laying of wreaths hand-made by students, the singing of ‘Lest We Forget’ by the school choir and the lowering and raising of the Australian flag as the Last Post and Rouse was played. 

Port Douglas State School principal Benjamin Gaske said it was clear the school’s students understood and strongly believed in the ANZAC spirit, despite the Gallipoli landings taking place a century ago. 

“The connection that primary school students feel to these events is definitely significant, even though it was so long ago,” Mr Gaske said. 

“There’s certainly a connection - we’ve seen a lot of parents come out and many of the kids are actually wearing their medals that their family members earned in these campaigns.”

The ANZAC spirit was very much alive in 10-year-old school captain Talia Hoye, who said she saw attendance at every ANZAC day growing. 

“I think it’s important to remember those who fought for our country and so we could be free,” Talia said. 

“It’s about remembering the ones who lived as well as the ones who died.

“It still matters - every year there’s more and more people at the ANZAC day march.”

Cr Leu presented the school with a book on the Douglas Diggers compiled by the Douglas Historical Society, with Mr Gaske saying the book would go into the school’s library resources and be available for all to use.

Douglas Shire will commemorate ANZAC Day tomorrow at dawn and morning services around the shire, including a street march in Port Douglas starting at 10am on Macrossan Street.