Welcome home for Premier’s Anzac Prize winners
6 May 2014 9:00 AMJohn-Paul Langbroek
The five winning students of the 2014 Premier’s Anzac Prize have arrived home after paying tribute to our nation’s soldiers at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
The group, which included two chaperone teachers, flew into Brisbane yesterday and was officially welcomed home by Premier Campbell Newman and Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek.
“It’s important that our young Queenslanders learn about our ANZAC history and its ongoing legacy,” Mr Newman said.
“This once-in-a-lifetime trip to personally trace our military history has also been a great opportunity.
“The Prize delivers on our election commitment to provide students with life-changing educational experiences and it’s wonderful to hear that they enjoyed this year’s tour.”
The five students reflected on their two-week tour of Turkey, Belgium and France at a ‘welcome home’ breakfast reception at Parliament House and encouraged others to apply for next year’s tour, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli.
Minister Langbroek said it was obvious from the students’ journal entries on the Premier’s Anzac Prize website, the YouTube videos and photo gallery that the trip had been an emotional one.
“They’ve not only returned with a deeper understanding of the events at Anzac Cove but also formed memories that would last a lifetime,” Mr Langbroek said.
“I congratulate this year’s students for the bond they shared and the pride they displayed during their involvement with the commemorations.”
Mr Langbroek said next year 70 Queensland students and 10 chaperones would have the privilege of following in their footsteps.
“We made a $1 million commitment at the election to give 50 students the chance to go to Gallipoli, but thanks to an extra allocation of places from the Federal Government, we’re delivering almost double that number,” he said.
“All Year 8 to 11 students can now enter the 2015 competition, which closes on 19 September 2014.
“Students have to submit an original, two to five minute multimedia presentation on how the Anzac tradition shaped our nation, why it is still important and how future generations can keep the spirit alive.”
The five 2014 winners were:
Elizabeth Gardner, Year 10, Clayfield College, Brisbane
Jamal Hammett-Ryan, Year 12, St Andrew’s Catholic College, Redlynch
Pyu San Min, Year 11, Pimlico State High School, Townsville
Mackenzie Plath, Year 11, Tannum Sands State High School, Gladstone
Tiffanie Turnbull, Year 11, Northpine Christian College, Dakabin
The two chaperones were:
Michael Goodwin, Mackay North State High School
Doris Haddock, Clayfield College, Brisbane
Queenslanders can view their journey online and access the reports, photos and footage from past winners at http://education.qld.gov.au/students/grants/scholarships/anzac/index.html