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Durack School in the Northern Territory and Devonport High School in Tasmania have taken out national honours for primary school and secondary school categories in this year’s Anzac Day Schools’ Awards.
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Twenty-four schools overall were recognised in the awards program, which Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said encourages schools to explore Australia's military history to gain a strong understanding of the significance of Anzac Day, the importance of commemoration, and the role Australians have played in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations from the First World War to current conflicts.
"The winning primary school entry from Durack School was an interview with two Indigenous soldiers from NORFORCE, giving a unique perspective on their local history that isn't often explored – students learnt about and paid tribute to Northern Territory soldiers from the First World War until present in a project entitled 'Discovering our Heroes'," Minister Chester said.
"Devonport High School took home the award for the secondary schools category with their whole-of-school and community Anzac-themed assembly, 'It Touched us All', featuring songs, poetry, storytelling and the laying of the wreath. This culminated in a student sharing a reading then proudly inviting her grandmother to the stage to share her story of code-breaking in the Vietnam War as a young 17-year-old."
Entries for the Anzac Day Schools' Awards are open to all Australian primary and secondary schools, with each school eligible to submit one entry.
National winners are selected from the eight state and territory winners and are awarded a $3,000 prize, a plaque and certificate to display in their school, with "particular attention paid to the quality of commemorative and learning activities undertaken by the students".
"I congratulate all the schools that entered this year, the winners and runner-ups. These awards are an important way in which we educate the next generation on our military history, and the creativity on show and passion for our military history in this year's entries was outstanding and all schools should be proud of their efforts," Minister Chester said.
