Nominations open today for the Premier’s Anzac Prize 2014 and all high school students are encouraged to apply for the once in a life time journey to Gallipoli and the Western Front.
Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett invited State, Catholic and Independent high school students from Years 8 to 11 to prepare multimedia submissions.
“It is important that Australians now and in years to come keep the spirit of the Anzacs alive and appreciate their sacrifices,” Mr Bennett said.
Mr Bennett said students’ submissions needed to address how the Anzac tradition had shaped our nation, why it was still important and how future generations could contribute.
“The five lucky winners will attend ceremonies marking Anzac Day at Gallipoli and across the Western Front,” he said.
“Students have more than two months to prepare their submissions. Entries for the 2014 prize close on 20 September 2013.”
Mr Bennett said the 2014 contingent would be among the 50 students who would enjoy the prize, with five attending overseas ceremonies earlier this year and a further 40 delegates to attend the 2015 centenary commemorations.
Mr Bennett said the journey would be an experience the winning students would remember and talk about for the rest of the lives.
“It gave me great joy to meet up with the inaugural prize winners upon their return in May,” Mr Bennett said.
“I got to listen to their heart-felt stories and hear first-hand the detail of their on the ground, history lesson.
“They recounted a life changing overseas trip and have highly recommended the prize to students considering applying this year”.
The 2012 winners were Elijah Douglas (Spinifex State College, Mount Isa), Emma Kearney (St Andrew’s Catholic College, Cairns), Kristina Madden (Christian Outreach College, Toowoomba), Kyle Walsh (Kirwan State High School), and Jack Graham (Noosa District State High School).
Mr Bennett said the 2014 winners, like last year’s prize winners, would be great ambassadors for Queensland schools, having already demonstrated a keen interest in Australia’s war history by exploring and documenting what Anzac Day meant to them using multimedia.
Eligible Queensland high school teachers can apply to chaperone the group, with two applicants to be chosen to accompany the students on tour.
For more information visit: education.qld.gov.au/students/grants/scholarships/premiers-anzac-prize.html.