Queensland bids ‘adieu’ to Anzac Prize winners

Eight Queensland students are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime to the Western Front to commemorate the Anzac legacy. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this year’s Premier’s Anzac Prize winners would lay wreaths at an Anzac Day dawn service in France to mark the 100^th anniversary of the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux.

“These Premier’s Anzac Prize recipients will have a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to learn about the Anzac tradition firsthand,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“It’s important for our students to reflect on the Anzac legacy more than a century since the First World War and I am so pleased our Government supports this initiative.

“Students taking part in this year’s tour will be wonderful ambassadors for our state and help to keep the Anzac spirit alive in their schools and communities on their return.”

Minister for Education Grace Grace said the students had demonstrated their passion for continuing the Anzac legacy in their multimedia entries for the Premier’s Anzac Prize.

“The students’ inspiring entries showed how the values cherished by modern day Australians were exemplified by the Anzacs on the battlefield,” Ms Grace said.

“The Premier’s Anzac Prize winners will tour memorial sites and museums in London and the Western Front with two teacher chaperones.

“They will also lay wreaths at the historic centenary commemorative dawn service on Anzac Day at the Australian War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux in France.”

Assistant Minister for Veterans' Affairs Jennifer Howard, who represented the Premier and Minister Grace at the farewell ceremony today, said the students would be some of the first visitors to the Sir John Monash Centre established at Villers-Bretonneux.

“The students will attend services at Le Hamel in France and at Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium,” Ms Howard said.

“They have also researched servicemen and women prior to their departure and will visit their cemeteries while overseas to pay their respects.

“During their travels, the students will prepare an audio visual presentation about their experience.
 
“This year, the students will also collect and contribute items for a time capsule which will be housed as a Contemporary Collection at the State Library of Queensland.”

A list of the 2018 Premier’s Anzac Prize winners and teacher chaperones can be found below.

For further information including video and photo galleries of past tours, visit www.education.qld.gov.au/anzac-prize

Media contact: Minister Grace’s office – 0439 578 472

List of student winners of Premier’s Anzac Prize: 

• Shana Coyle                St Monica’s College, Cairns
• Tyla Craven-Griffith     Kirwan State High School
• Jack Frey                    St Teresa’s Catholic College, Noosaville
• Isabelle Jardine           Clayfield College
• Isaac Mabo-Edwards    Pimlico State High School
• Fenlan Miller               All Saints Anglican School, Merrimac
• Harry Packwood          Shalom College, Bundaberg
• Lillian Ward                 Tannum Sands State High School

 Teacher chaperones: 

• Jodi Pallett                 Tannum Sands State High School
• Tim McMahon             Christian Outreach College, Toowoomba