Premier’s Anzac Prize winners announced

Premier Campbell Newman today announced the five Queensland school students that will travel to Gallipoli and the Western Front as winners of the 2014 Premier’s Anzac Prize.

Mr Newman congratulated the students, who will mark Anzac Day at Gallipoli and travel to the First World War battlefields of Turkey, France and Belgium as part of a two-week trip.

“The five students selected for the 2014 trip will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the spirit of Anzac and see first-hand the places where the sacrifice of so many young Australians forged a formidable and enduring character for our nation,” Mr Newman said.

“As the son of a war veteran myself and former member of the Australian Army, I’m passionate about students being given the opportunity to learn more about our history.

“Queensland can be proud to have young people so informed about one of our nation’s most important milestones, and so eager to learn more.

“I congratulate the five winning students, both on their success in the competition and on the high quality of the entries they submitted.”

Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek also wished the winners well for their trip.

“The Premier’s Anzac Prize is a great example of how we are delivering on our election commitments and providing students with life-changing educational experiences,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Congratulations to these five fine, young people. I’m sure their trip will be an extraordinary experience, and I’m confident they will prove outstanding ambassadors for their schools, our great state and our nation.

“For their entries students were asked to show the Anzac spirit from Australia's involvement in wars and conflicts from Gallipoli through to the present day, and to relate those experiences to positive values and activities in everyday life.

“The time and effort put into all entries was impressive, and the submissions from the five winners were outstanding.

“I look forward to the students sharing their experiences through their blog reports, videos and photos.”

The students who will travel to Gallipoli and the Western Front next April and May are:

• Elizabeth Gardner, Year 9, Clayfield College, Brisbane
• Jamal Hammett-Ryan, Year 11, St Andrew’s Catholic College, Redlynch 
• Pyu San Min, Year 10, Pimlico State High School, Townsville
• Mackenzie Plath, Year 10, Tannum Sands State High School
• Tiffanie Turnbull, Year 10, Northpine Christian College, Dakabin

Teacher chaperones are: 

• Michael Goodwin, Mackay North State High School
• Doris Haddock, Clayfield College

The 2014 trip will be the second of three Premier’s Anzac Prize competitions being conducted by the Newman Government. The third, in 2015, will coincide with Anzac Day commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign.

The judging panel was made up of two high-ranking representatives of the Australian Defence Force, two from the Returned and Services League and one each from Australian Cadets and the Department of Education, Training and Employment,

[ENDS] 12 November 2013                                     

Media contact:           Premier’s Office – 3719 7000

Minister’s Office – Danita Goodwin 0439 886 652