SYDNEY: Students at Galstaun College celebrated both Armenian traditions of Paregentan and Vartanantz with a family picnic, traditional songs, a concert and a helicopter landing.

On Sunday 6^th March, around 400 students from Reception to Year 12, teachers, families and friends of the College gathered for an afternoon of celebration.  Members of the Parents and Friends Association provided the food and the infants students, mostly dressed in medieval garb, entertained the audience with a series of traditional songs.

Halfway through the afternoon, a former College parent flew overhead to take photographs of the students forming a massive 25 to signify the start of the College’s 25^th Anniversary celebrations. As the younger students waved flags in red, blue and orange, the senior students moved across the crowd with a large Armenian flag which became the symbol of the day.

The helicopter proved a great source of excitement for both children and adults who clamoured for a close-up inspection.

The afternoon concluded with a series of presentations, traditional Armenian songs and recitals commemorating the battle of Avarayr and the bravery of General Vartan and his soldiers in defending the Christian faith of the Armenians in face of overwhelming adversity.

Head of Armenian Studies at Galstaun College, Asadour Shoukayan said: "The spirit of Vartanantz is with us today as our students and their families celebrate their ancient Armenian traditions."