2015 Premier's Spirit of Anzac Prize Winners - Congratulations!

 

Recently the Victorian Premier, the Hon Daniel Andrews announced the 2015 Premier's Spirit of Anzac Prize winners at Parliament House.
The Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize (Prize) was established in 2004 and the first study tour took place in April 2005. The annual competition is aimed at engaging Year 9 and 10 students to better understand veterans’ service through exploring what the ‘Spirit of Anzac’ means to them.

Diggers and nurses enjoy a refreshment at a Lemnos cafe, 1915. AWM

Twenty eight students have been competitively selected from around Victoria and 12 of these students (state recipients) were selected to participate in a study tour which will travel overseas to significant sites in Australia’s service history. The overseas study tour will visit Lemnos (Greece), Gallipoli and the Western Front in the March/April school holidays.

Myrina, 2013. Photo Jim Claven

The remaining 16 students (regional finalists) will be invited to attend the Premier’s ANZAC Day Luncheon and participate in a three day study tour to Canberra visiting the Australian War Memorial and other military and cultural sites in late June 2015.
The number of entries has significantly increased in 2014-15 to over 650 applications, up from the 472 entries received in 2013-14 and 135 in 2011-12.
Two teacher chaperones have been selected to travel with the students on the overseas study tour and a further two teachers will support the three day Canberra study tour. Teacher chaperones were selected through a competitive process, which included panel interviews.

2014-15 Recipients 
The following 2014-15 state recipients and regional finalists selected are as follows:

 

The nurses of the 3rd AGH arrive on Lemnos 1915. AWM

 

The 2015-16 competition
The 2015-16 competition is now open and the new topic is: What does the “Anzac spirit” mean today in a diverse and multicultural Australia? To what extent can your definition be related to the events and people of the Great War? Students are asked to refer to examples of the Anzac spirit from Australia's involvement in wars and conflicts from Gallipoli through to the present day, and relate those experiences to positive values in their community and activities of Australia today.
For more details about the program, click here.


ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli on 25 April 2015
The Prize is separate from the delegation of 80 students and 13 teacher chaperones who will attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli on 25 April 2015. For more details about this program, click here.

Local school children on Lemnos commemorate the Anzacs at East Mudros MC, 2013. Photo Jim Claven

The Committee congratulates all winners as well as those student participants in this important program. for those selected to take part in the overseas program, we know that you will value your tour of Lemnos - gaining an appreciation of its role in the Gallipoli campaign and to visit the graves of the 148 Australians who are buried there.

Graves at East Mudros MC, Lemnos . Photo Jim Claven

Thanks to Ms Jennifer Steadman, Veterans Branch, Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, for this information.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee