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The Australian Girls Choir at the Australian National Memorial

The singers and flag-bearers gathered at the foot of the memorial

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Posted on 14 October 2026

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On Thursday 24 September, the Sir John Monash Centre welcomed the Australian Girls Choir. Visiting Villers-Bretonneux as part of a European tour, the young singers gave a musical performance alongside students from Collège Jacques Brel in Villers-Bretonneux, at the foot of the Australian National Memorial, performing a composition created by the French students for the 2026 Sadlier Stokes Prize.

The choir members gathered in front of the memorial
The choir members gathered in front of the memorial, with the flag bearers at the front.
The choir gathered in front of the tower of the Australian National Memorial.
The flag bearers standing with their backs to the memorial
Local flag bearers stood vigil at the Memorial.
One of the flag bearers present at the performance
Pupils from Jacques Brel Middle School arriving at the performance venue
Pupils from Jacques Brel Middle School meet the singers from the Australian Girls’ Choir
The Australian Girls Choir was joined by students from the Collège Jacques Brel middle school, who composed the song “Collège Jacques Brel Won’t Forget”.
One of the singers from the Australian Girls’ Choir reciting the Ode during the ceremony
The musical performance was preceded by a wreath-laying service, the Last Post and a minute’s silence.
Two choir members laying a poppy wreath at the foot of the memorial
The choir and pupils from Jacques Brel Middle School singing
The choir members observing a minute’s silence
The director of the SJMC and the choir director greeting the flag-bearers
At the conclusion of the performance, the Choir’s Director, Ms Libby Franke, and the Director of the Sir John Monash Centre, Mr Benjamin Daetwyler, thanked and greeted the flag bearers who were present.
The choir director, Mrs Libby Franke greeting a flag-bearer
The choir members gathered at the foot of the memorial
The singers and flag-bearers gathered at the foot of the memorial
The gathering concluded with a moment of friendship and camaraderie between the students.

Watch this moving performance in video:

 

 

The wreath laid after the ceremony

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