A symbolic tree planting ceremony at a Melbourne primary school has allowed students to make a deeper connection with the meaning of Anzac Day.
A descendent of the Lone Pine tree in Gallipoli has found a new home at the school, planted by the Turkish Consul General Aydin Nurhan.
For the 280 students from 35 countries at Meadows Primary, the planting has provided a rare opportunity to engage with a piece of history and reflect on its significance.
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"It's really important to me...just to have a piece of history in the school ," said student Grace Walsh.
The students have also been invited to play on the Melbourne Cricket Ground at half time in the Anzac Day AFL match between Collingwood and Essendon.
And the parallel between the competitive nature of sport and the conflict between two parties in war has not been lost on the students.
"Anzac Day footy, it's not just about the footy," said student Anthony Naddaf.
"It's about celebrating two teams that have battled but at the end they have made up as friends."
