Living the spirit of Anzac

THREE Ballarat Grammar students have been awarded the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize, receiving opportunities to experience study tours within and outside Australia.

Megan Willey and Hamish Hall will travel to Singapore and Vietnam in April, and Tom McKenzie will head to Canberra in July, where they will all gain a deeper understanding of the international conflicts Australian people have been involved in.

Tom said the chance to go to places with war history and experience it first hand was important.

“The beauty of it is that everyone that goes there are people that want to find out more about it, want to engage in it and understand,” he said.

Having studied the Anzac spirit last year, the now year 10 students were encouraged by Ballarat Grammar staff to apply for the prize, using their own unique techniques of storytelling to commemorate people and events of wartime.

Megan created an apron, recognising the women and nurses important to the Anzac legend, Hamish crafted a wallet filled with personal items that troops would have held dear and Tom wrote a series of poems based on stories he had researched.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said the prize brings opportunity for young people to develop a sense of empathy for the Anzacs and stand in their shoes.

Ballarat Grammar’s head of middle school, Chris Beechey is looking forward to the return of the students so they can communicate their learning and experiences to the school and Ballarat community.

There are 42 students who have been awarded this year’s prize across the state. Ms Addison encourages others to apply for the next round of prizes and study tours at dpc.vic.gov.au/index.php/veterans/premiers-spirit-of-anzac-prize.