Digger gives lesson in living history

KOOWEERUP students had a history lesson last week from a man who made it.

World War II veteran Alan Kanga Moore was principal for a day at the secondary college.

Mr Moore was a member of the Australian Armys famous 39th Battalion, which covered itself in glory fighting the Japanese on the notorious Kokoda Trail.

Dodging bullets is not quite the same as learning to use a computer, but both have left their mark on Mr Moore.

School had changed significantly from his days as a student, he said.

The kids obviously have a lot more freedom than we ever had. We didnt have computers back then, Mr Moore said.

We didnt have heated classrooms and we didnt have carpets either.

We had to take turns cleaning the blackboard. It was different altogether.

Mr Moore spent last Thursday in class as a guest speaker and observer and shared lunch with principal Geoff Pledge, teachers and a group of students from years seven to 10.

Mr Moores visit to Kooweerup came a day after the 39th Battalion was reborn in a ceremony at the Shrine of Rembrance that returned the volunteer unit to the armys order of battle.

High command disbanded the 39th Battalion in 1943 after months of savage fighting had reduced the 650man unit to 42 fit men.

Mr Moore and his comrades have had a close association with Kooweerup Secondary College since the schools band accompanied them during the Anzac Day march five years ago.

Since then, the 39th diggers have insisted on having the band with them when they march, and Mr Moore and others have visited the school several times.

Mr Moore, who lives at Mt Eliza, said he was delighted to learn that many of the students enjoyed reading books but was concerned Australias military history was rarely taught in schools.

He said his message to the students was that leadership was important and they were the next generation of leaders.

Asked how he would make people under his leadership do something they didnt want to do, Mr Moore said the answer was simple.

You never ask someone to do something you wouldnt do yourself, he said.

You didnt send 10 men out into the jungle and say you go and do it you took nine and said We will go and do it.

And computers? Mr Moore, who is in his 80s, simply smiled.

I cant work the damn things properly, he said.