2019 Premier’s Anzac Prize tour winners announced

Eight students from across Queensland will undertake a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Western Front battlefields in Belgium and France after being selected for the 2019 Premier’s Anzac Prize tour.

The successful students and two teacher chaperones will experience the Anzac tradition first hand by travelling to the Western Front region and attending the Anzac Day dawn service at the Australian War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux in France during the 16-day tour.

The 2019 Premier's Anzac Prize winners are: 

• Annabel Jellett                  Queensland Academy for Health Sciences, Southport
• Atticus Solomon                Ambrose Treacy College (Indooroopilly)
• Chontelle Harris                Pimlico State High School
• Claudia Maher                  Brigidine College (Indooroopilly)
• Claudia McPherson            Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Buderim
• Douglas Gemmell              Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Noosaville
• Ella Magner                      Pimlico State High School
• Madeline Francis               Tamborine Mountain State High School 

 Teacher chaperones:

• Darlene Hill                      Head of Department, Kepnock State High School
• Peter Townsend                Principal, Mundubbera State School

Ms Palaszczuk said the Premier’s Anzac Prize engages the younger generation in understanding the Anzac tradition and how the Anzac spirit has helped shape our Australian way of life.

“As Queensland marks the centenary of the Armistice that ended the First World War, there is no better way to keep the memory of the fallen alive than by giving young Queenslanders an opportunity to visit the battlefields," the Premier said.

“These students will now have the opportunity to honour the Anzac tradition in a way that’s very personal and moving by researching and writing about service people from their local area, or those who may have enlisted at the same age as them."

Education Minister Grace Grace said since the inception of The Premier’s Anzac Prize in 2013, it had provided more than 100 Queensland high school students a life-changing experience.

“The program has had a profound influence on its participants and the wider community,” Ms Grace said.

“I thank all members of the judging panel for their time and expertise and the two teacher chaperones for the part they will play in leading the students overseas

“I’m sure these teachers will also learn many things from such a unique experience, which they can pass on to the next generation for years to come.”

On returning from the trip last year, 2018 prize winner Jack Frey of St Teresa's Catholic College in Noosaville explained the impact the experience had on the group.

“As we go back to our everyday life we are able to appreciate everything we have, the schools we go to, the opportunities we are given and most importantly the place we live: Australia,” he said.

Jack’s sentiments were echoed by fellow 2018 prize winner, Lillian Ward, of Tannum Sands State High School.

“We as young Australians felt a strong connection and feel extremely lucky,” she said.

The judging panel for this year’s prize included representatives of the Australian Defence Force, the University of Queensland, Returned and Services League, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, history teachers and the Department of Education.

For further information including video and photo galleries of past tours, visit www.qld.gov.au/anzacprize.

Media contact: Geoff Breusch 0417 272 875