A song written and performed by a Kaitaia College student won last year's inaugural Kaitaia War Memorial Committee Anzac tribute competition, and this year has seen a repeat.
Vietnam veterans and committee members David Russell, Arthur Simeon and Richie Taaffe attended a Year 10 assembly at the college on Tuesday to present the senior prize to Saphire Florian and Griffin Parlour, both 14, who were then invited to perform the song, We Gave Our Today, at Kaitaia's Anzac service at Te Ahu on Saturday (11am).
Principal Jack Saxon heaped praise on Saphire, Griffin and collaborators Fin Carson, Maddy Leaga and Callum Greenall, saying he had listened to the song before he left his previous posting in Picton, where his Year 12-13 students had judged it as outstanding.
Mr Russell agreed, saying the competition judges had singled it out from a mass of entries in their first "sweep" through the contenders, and all had agreed that it should win the senior prize.
Mr Saxon added that the song was an example of the excellence that he expected every student to achieve in different fields.
