Wonthaggi’s Chloe Lawson to lead thousands of students at Shrine of Remembrance
A teenager who’s seen the toll of hidden wounds on our veterans is calling on young Aussies to look beyond the parades and understand why Anzac Day still matters.
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Chloe Lawson knows first-hand that all too often it’s the hidden injuries and mental wounds that cause so much suffering among the men and women who proudly served our nation.
And she also knows only to well that veterans group Legacy has been there to lend a hand to veterans and their families
The Wonthaggi 17-year-old, whose stepfather served in the army and later suffered two major heart attacks, will lead more than 3000 students in honouring Australia’s fallen at Victoria’s largest school commemoration later this month.
In doing so, she’s urging her fellow Generation Z peers to keep the Anzac spirit alive.
Chloe will carry the ceremonial torch at Melbourne Legacy club’s Anzac Day school service at the Shrine of Remembrance on April 28.
Chloe said her mission was to encourage young Australians to engage meaningfully with Anzac Day and those who have served.
“They gave their lives for our freedom, honouring that is the least we can do,” she said.
Her stepfather Daniel Lucas enlisted in 1993 and served in the army as a recovery mechanic before transferring to the military police and later finished his service as a storeman.
Chloe said though she “struggled to adjust to life” with a veteran in the household, it gave her “deeper understanding of sacrifice”.
“(Anzac Day) is not just a tradition, It’s a responsibility and I believe we owe it to those who came before us to keep their stories alive,” she said.
“When I carry that torch, I’ll be thinking of my stepdad, the women who stayed behind during the war, and the young people like me who may have been affected by family members serving.”
After her stepdad suffered two major heart attacks in 2022 and 2023, her family relied heavily on the support of Legacy.
Chloe said she was passionate about volunteering at Legacy because her family knew first-hand about being at “the receiving end” in the “toughest times”.
“I know what it means when someone shows up for you. If I didn’t grow up knowing what Dan went through, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” she said.
“It’s now our turn to carry the torch. The Anzac legacy doesn’t belong to the past, it belongs to all of us, right now and if our generation doesn’t take it forward, it fades.”
RSL Victoria president Rob Webster said the organisation encouraged all ages to attend dawn services and marches around the state.
“When you attend, you’ll see that while there are old blokes like me, there’s also men and women in their 20s that have served or are currently serving. These are the younger generation’s peers and they deserve our support and thanks.”
Originally published as Wonthaggi’s Chloe Lawson to lead thousands of students at Shrine of Remembrance
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