SPIRIT OF anzac STUDY TOUR

 

1.    In June 2004 the former Premier, The Hon. Steve Bracks, announced the establishment of an annual schools competition where Year Nine students could submit entries ranging from poems to essays that explore what the “Spirit of ANZAC” means to young people and communities today.  Student winners then travel on an international Study Tour to sites of significance to Australian service men and women.  The inaugural Study Tour was conducted in April 2005 and travelled to sites in Western Europe, which were expanded upon in 2007, and in 2006 the group visited South East Asia.  This year, the Study Tour will visit sites in Greece, Singapore and Malaysia.  

 

2.    In June 2007, the Victorian Spirit of ANZAC Prize was promoted to all government, independent and catholic secondary schools throughout Victoria.  A total of 183 entries were received for the 2007-08 Competition.  Nine regional panels, established in each of the DEECD regions, were responsible for short listing the 27 finalists to be interviewed by the Central Selection Panel which determines the students to take part in the 2008 Study Tour. 

 

3.    Following extensive deliberations, the Central Selection Panel selected the ten students to travel on the 2008 Study Tour.  In summary there are 8 female and 2 male students, from 5 metropolitan and 5 regional locations, representing 4 Government, 3 independent and 3 catholic schools.

 

4.    The Premier of Victoria, Mr John Brumby announced the winners of the Spirit of Anzac award at a ceremony on Friday 14 March 2008. The Premiers speech at this event is attached.  The relevant media release can be found at http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/premier-announces-winners-of-2008-victorian-spirit-of-anzac-study-tour.html )

 

5.    The Study Tour Group will comprise:

 

The 10 Students :

·                     Logan Edwards

·                     Norah Finn

·                     Penelope Hicks

·                     Eliza Jackson

·                     Becky King

·                     Caitlin Latter

·                     Jamalodin Mozafari

·                     Madeline Revell

·                     Chloe Sinclair

·                     Isabel Tickle

 

Accompanying Representatives :

·                     Mr Matt Viney - MP, Member for Eastern Victoria (representing the Premier of Victoria) – copy of CV attached.

·                     Ms Dina Guest, Department of Early Education and Childhood Development (Veterans representative and member of the Central Selection Panel)

·                     Mr John Taylor, Chairman Shrine of Remembrance Trustees

·                     Mr Garrie Hutchinson, Veterans Unit, Department of Planning and Community Development (Tour Administrator);

·                     Ms Jane Ezard, Principal Rushworth P-12 College (Teacher Chaperone); and

·                     Mr Steve Pinner, Viewbank College (Teacher Chaperone).

 

6.    An outline of the Study Tour’s itinerary is as follows :

 

17 - 18 April     :           Depart Australia/Arrive Athens

19 - 20 April     :           Athens and Southern Greece

21 April            :           Larissa, Vergina (arrive Thessaloniki early evening)

22 April           :           Thessaloniki (depart for Heraklion at 2005)

23-27 April       :           Crete (Anzac Day at Australian memorial in Rethymo)

28 April-1 May            :           Singapore

2 May              :           Arrive Melbourne

 

 

7.    The students were provided with a briefing on the Melbourne – Thessaloniki Sister City relationship by Iakovos Garivaldis and Paul Mavroudis from the Thessaloniki Association here in Melbourne.

 

by Sue Clerk
International Advisor

City of Melbourne