Honouring service, remembering sacrifice

Nicole Roache, Marketing & Advancement Manager

Each year, The Geelong College pauses to reflect on the meaning and legacy of Anzac Day - a moment to honour the service and sacrifice of those who have served in the Australian Defence Force, and to acknowledge the peace we enjoy as a result.

In 2025, our Anzac Day commemorations took on a deeply personal note. On Thursday 24 April, the College welcomed back one of its own: Major General (Retired) Professor Adam Findlay AO (OGC 1983). With nearly four decades of military service - including operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor and beyond - Major General Findlay is a leader of national and international standing, shaped, in part, by his years at the College.

The day began with the Foundation Lunch, hosted to recognise and thank the generous donors whose support ensures our students have access to the best possible education and opportunities. Guests gathered in the Dining Hall to share a meal and conversation, and to hear Major General Findlay reflect on his career, leadership, and the enduring influence of his school years.

Speaking with humility and insight, he shared stories from his command of

troops in high-risk environments - from counter-terror operations in Southeast Asia to leading coalition special forces during the Battle of Mosul. It was sobering, at times confronting, and deeply moving. And yet, what resonated most was his message about the power of values instilled early in life: responsibility, respect, and the importance of service to others.

Later that afternoon, he addressed around 800 Senior School students and staff at the 110th College Anzac

Service. The message remained clear: that honouring the Anzac legacy is not only about remembering the past, but carrying forward its lessons. In a time when leadership is often loud but not always wise, his calm, considered presence was a reminder that real strength lies in purpose and integrity.

Major General Findlay reflected on the sacrifices of his classmates - five of whom joined the ADF, and many more who have made meaningful contributions across fields as varied as arts, engineering, aviation, architecture, banking, law, agriculture, mining, hospitality, medicine, nursing, business, media, industry, government and beyond. He spoke of the classroom as a place where values are shaped, and of The Geelong College as the first “complex organisation” many students encounter. He credited his time here for building the resilience, curiosity and discipline that sustained him through challenges most of us will never face.

Importantly, he brought it all back to the present. For our students, the Anzac Service wasn’t just about history - it was about examining their own character and willingness to fulfil their potential to become Australia’s next generation of transformational leaders. To inspire ‘followship’ by treating all people with respect and dignity, of ethical decision-making and keeping your honour clean, and striving to be a role model that always leads by example. It was a chance for students to connect the dots between the freedoms they enjoy today, and the generations who had their lives cut short, and had gifted the opportunity for these student to fulfil their potential.

The Junior and Middle Schools also held their own Anzac services, providing age-appropriate and meaningful opportunities for students across all year levels to reflect. These services were marked by respectful silence, student readings, and the playing of the Last Post - performed beautifully at the Senior School service by Year 11 student, Hannah Wilkinson. Throughout the week, the College community engaged in remembrance in its truest form: not as ritual, but as living history. Anzac Day is not only about those who have served in the past - it’s about who we are today and the kind of citizens we aim to become. As Major General Findlay noted, “The obligation of reciprocity - of giving

something back when you have the opportunity - is a lesson I learned here.”

The College thanks Major General Findlay for returning to College to share his story, his wisdom, and his enduring belief in the potential of young people. His visit reminded us that leadership takes many forms, and that service - whether on the front lines, in our communities, or in everyday acts of decency and integrity - remains a defining part of the College’s purpose.

Lest we forget.