SUMMARY OF WINNING ENTRIES 2015
NATIONAL WINNERS
National Primary Winner and Australian Capital Territory Primary Winner:
Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School
The students at Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School engaged in a variety of activities to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings over a one week period.
Each morning at assembly, parents who are current serving members of the Australian Defence
Force (ADF), assisted by students, recalled the deeds of relatives who served during the First World
War. The names of family members were called on a ‘Roll of Honour’ and the descendant child
received a cross with a poppy and the relative’s name on it. The crosses were then ‘planted’ in the
school’s ‘Garden of Remembrance’. Names of family members who have served in any capacity
were also acknowledged on a ‘Wall of Remembrance’. Following each assembly, the serving ADF
members visited classrooms to talk with the children. The judges felt that the participation of current
serving ADF parents was particularly engaging, and provided a real link between service and the
school community.
Two adjacent classrooms were transformed into a mini war memorial. One room contained
memorabilia from the First World War loaned from a collector, staff and students. These included a
helmet, barbed wire from Gallipoli, photos, records, stories etc. The second room was a ‘discovery
room’ where students could try on uniforms, crawl into a trench, look over a parapet with a
periscope, sit in a tent and taste some bully beef on a dry biscuit. The judges felt this creative
activity helped students to empathise with and understand the conditions of the trenches during the
First World War.
Each class had access to a Memorial Box from the Australian War Memorial for a lesson, which was
filled with real, and replica uniforms, equipment and artefacts. All students were read the story,
Lone Pine, and the school acquired a Lone Pine seedling which was planted in the school grounds
and marked by a plaque. The tree was planted by the oldest and youngest students in the school.
A group of students and teachers visited the Australian War Memorial where they had their photo
taken under the Lone Pine.
The week concluded with a commemorative service where parents, students and visitors were
invited to bring a poppy forward to remember family members lost in war. A current serving
member of the Army played the Last Post.
The judges were especially impressed with the variety of learning activities undertaken by the
students. The innovative ‘hands-on’ activities allowed students to imagine life on the front during
the First World War and to develop empathy with those who served. Overall, the students
developed an excellent understanding of the significance of commemoration.
National Secondary Winner and Queensland Secondary Winner:
William Ross State High School
William Ross State High School is situated in the Townsville suburb of Annandale which is home to
a number of defence families.
This school’s entry encouraged participation by all students across the school, with each year level
being offered an activity to contribute to the commemoration of the Centenary of Anzac.
Year 7 students were invited to form a choir to lead the singing of the Australian and New Zealand
national anthems at the school’s commemorative service. Year 8 students baked Anzac biscuits
and gave them to students when they purchased an Anzac badge, the proceeds of which were
donated to the Mates4Mates organization, exemplifying a philosophy of giving.
Year 9 students contributed to the Defence Community Organisation’s ’Hero Tree’ project. The tree
contained the names of all 130 students who have a parent or caregiver in the ADF. The tree was
displayed at the Townsville Civic Theatre for the month of April.
Year 10 students entered a wreath making competition. The three best entries were laid by the
school captains, school ambassador and guest speaker during the school’s commemorative
service.
Senior students took part in a photographic project which took its inspiration from the Australian
cricket team, which re-enacted a photo taken of a cricket match held at Shell Green, Gallipoli in
1915. Each student was asked to find a photograph from the First World War and match it with a
character trait and a quote that showed the spirit of the Anzacs. Students then re-enacted the
photograph in a contemporary setting. During the project, students made several correlations
between the Anzacs and themselves. These included some Anzacs being the same age as the
students when they went to war and the fact that the Anzacs also wore their uniform with pride.
The judges admired the student involvement from each year level in the various activities. The
judges also felt that the outstanding element in this entry was the recreation of First World War
photographs by senior students. The cooperation and planning necessary for this student-led
activity demonstrates Anzac qualities of mateship and discipline.
PRIMARY WINNERS
Australian Capital Territory Primary Winner:
See National Primary Winner
New South Wales Primary Winner:
St John Vianney’s Parish Primary School
St John Vianney’s Parish School’s entry focused on the role of animals in wartime and especially
the horses used by the Australian Light Horse Brigade.
One of the reasons for choosing the Australian Light Horse as a focus for student learning was the
school’s close proximity to the Light Horse Interchange between the M4 and M7 at Eastern Creek in
NSW. At the start of the project, students had no idea what the significance of the sculpture or what
the name meant on this piece of geography so close to their homes.
The Stage 3 students’ journey began in June 2014 when they went to a monologue presented about
a book telling the story of a horse and his rider who fought with the Light Horse. It was a
springboard for what was to come.
The students undertook a wide range of learning activities related to the Light Horse and the judges
were impressed by the level of detail in the projects which were completed. Students displayed
empathy by writing biographical accounts of their time as a soldier riding with the Light Horse
Brigade. The school hired Light Horse uniforms from the Australian War Memorial and students
wrote an A-Z fact file of animals that have served in war.
A host of other related activities included creating a garden in the school grounds and making
poppies to be taken to Gallipoli for Anzac Day 2015. Students from the school created an artwork to
be shared with neighbouring schools and also designed a web page. An Australian soldier who was
a dog handler in Afghanistan visited the school to speak to students.
This was an excellent entry that impressed all of the judges. By focusing on a local feature, the
learning experiences had a personal relevance to the students and the judges are confident that the
knowledge will remain with students of many years to come.
Victoria Primary Winner:
Diamond Creek East Primary School
Diamond Creek East Primary School has a tradition of commemorating Anzac Day with a whole
school assembly. This year, the staff wanted to increase the students’ understanding of the history
behind the annual event. To assist with this aim, teachers developed a unit of work, ‘Australians at
War’, which included a number of community-based projects to raise student awareness of the
Anzac Centenary.
In collaboration with a number of community groups, including the local RSL, Rotary Club, Shire
Council and local businesses, a number of projects were undertaken.
These included:
 The striking of 2,500 Combined Schools of Diamond Creek commemorative Anzac coins
 The creation of an Anzac community garden and the official planting of a Lone Pine
 The creation of an animation on Second World War Victoria Cross recipient Lieutenant
Thomas ‘Diver’ Derrick
 The knitting and crocheting of 3,000 Diamond Creek community poppies as part of the
national 5000 Poppies project
 The Anzac human outline – involving over 2,000 students, teachers and staff forming the
words ANZAC 100 2015. The photo was taken by a portable drone and then displayed at
five Diamond Creek schools on community noticeboards.
 The Diamond Creek East Primary School ‘Memory Box’ extravaganza which involved 145
students dressing up and taking on the role of their selected serviceman or woman.
 The Anzac Day service held at Diamond Creek Community Bank Stadium, attended by in
excess of 2,700 people.
One project in particular was the creation of a special interview documentary, ‘Australians at War’,
made in collaboration with Diamond Valley College. The documentary acknowledges all current
and former members of the defence forces.
The judges were very impressed with this entry. The organisation which enabled the provision of
opportunities, not only for the school but for the wider community is to be commended. The
involvement of veterans will resonate with the students and wider community for many years to
come.
Queensland Primary Winner:
Bloomsbury State School
Bloomsbury State School is a small school located on the Bruce Highway, north of Mackay.
Students from the school studied the novel, The Donkey Who Carried the Wounded, by Jackie
French. After reading the novel, the students branched out to pursue further research and activities.
These included the Years 3-6 classes writing their own stories based on the novel, using historical
data that they had collected.
Another project the students undertook was the making of their own classroom ‘donkey’, built from
materials with the help of craftspeople and a tradesman from the school community.
The students were also inspired to go further after reading original letters written by families during
wartime. They learned about the Comfort Fund and decided to contact a local craft group to teach
the students how to knit. By knitting various items, it gave the students the opportunity to reflect on
what it would have been like to receive these comforts from home.
The school also paid tribute to local veterans listed on their Honour Roll. Through their research,
and with assistance from the local historian, students investigated the wartime efforts of these local
veterans. Students found that local landmarks and some street names were named after these
veterans. Families of those veterans who could be traced were invited to the dedication ceremony
of a new plaque on the school grounds.
Students also focused their investigations on the roles of both men and women during wartime and
the impact that wars have had on Australian society. They dressed in replica uniforms from the 11th
Light Horse Regiment, or as nurses and women at the time, including ‘The Land Army’. They
investigated and performed songs from the time at their local commemorative ceremony.
All of these activities were showcased in a picture book with clear evidence of an engaging learning
experience for all students at the school. The judges were impressed with the initiative of the
students in demonstrating engagement in a range of activities. The judges enjoyed the historical
narratives the students produced and noted the comprehensive examination of both the impacts of
war and links with the local community today. As a result of all these activities, the students were
able to reflect on their thoughts about what they had learned. This demonstrated a greater
understanding and appreciation of wartime efforts.
Tasmania Primary Winner:
Latrobe Primary School
Latrobe is small, rural town approximately 8 km south-east of Devonport in northern Tasmania.
Students from Years 4-6 focused on the recent installation of 880,000 ceramic poppies in London to
commemorate the centenary of the First World War. The students each made large 3D poppies,
also focusing on the significance and symbolism of the poppy in relation to the Anzacs and the First
World War. The poppies were then displayed throughout the school and also formed part of the
Latrobe Community Anzac Day service.
The school’s Anzac Day assembly included students, teachers and special guests, with nearly
every child having the involvement of a relative or senior friend at the assembly. Approximately 400
people attended the assembly, which is an impressively large contingent from such a small
community.
Students researched the journey of the soldiers from Australia and New Zealand from Albany to the
Middle East, Turkey and France, tracing the journey on a globe.
This winning entry proved to the judges that students do not necessarily require access to modern
day technology and that interest and learning can be gained through a variety of class projects.
Northern Territory Primary Winner:
St Joseph’s Catholic College Katherine
At St Joseph’s Catholic College Katherine, all students were involved in an Anzac Day project
where they created their own ‘Flanders field’ on the school grounds.
Senior construction students made wooden crosses and the primary students painted them.
Plaques were made including information about the veterans who were either family members of
students or veterans from the First World War. Information on the plaques included the service
number, date of birth and date of death of the veteran, and which war they served in. Students
conducted research on the National Archives of Australia website to locate this information.
The plaques were attached to the crosses and the construction class had the task of placing the
crosses in the school grounds, using Pythagoras’ theory and string lines.
A special cross symbolising the service and death of Private Scott Palmer, killed during service in
Afghanistan, was also erected in the grounds as his nephew attends the school.
An Anzac assembly was held at the school and included a catafalque party. During the assembly,
students laid wreaths which they had made in class and the service was attended by current serving
members of the ADF and veterans.
Images of the assembly and the ‘Flanders field’ were posted on the schools’ Facebook page and
were very popular with the students and their families.
The judges felt that this was a wonderfully moving commemoration. The connection with family
history was touching, the concept of recreation was unique and the project was a credit to the
school community.
South Australia Primary Winner:
Prospect Primary School
Prospect Primary School is an R-7 school in suburban Adelaide. The whole school was involved in
a range of activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.
The main unit of work was undertaken by the Year 6 class and was entitled ‘Through the eyes of a
Child’. Students ‘became’ a fictional family member of a real soldier that lived in Prospect and
served in First World War. The students kept a journal over a period of six weeks recording their
reactions to a series of events and scenarios which included;
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•
•
•
Letters home from the Front
Receiving a white feather in the mail
A German friend’s father being placed in an internment camp; and
Schooling and children’s war effort.
The students began to think of the soldier as ‘my soldier’ and did not learn the fate of their individual
until the end of the unit of work, which heightened their reactions during the project.
The students engaged in an inquiry around life in the trenches and from this learning they created a
First World War trench in the school library to share their knowledge with the rest of the school
community.
Other activities undertaken by the school community included art work, posters, a short film, making
poppies for the Poppies in Prospect project, writing poetry and taking part in the Anzac Day dawn
service. Guest speakers included a representative of the Prospect Council and a veteran from the
Prospect RSL.
These projects culminated in many displays throughout the school and a whole school Anzac
assembly.
The judges were impressed by the empathic and creative approach to the students’ learning. The
judges were particularly impressed by the level of community engagement which included writing to
current homeowners of the houses where the Prospect soldiers lived and giving them information
on the soldier who lived in their house.
Western Australia Primary Winner:
Byford John Calvin Primary School
Byford John Calvin Primary School is located 45 minutes south of Perth and has 188 students in
Years K-6.
The whole school was involved in learning activities in the lead up to Anzac Day with Kindergarten
students reading and enjoying the story, Anzac Ted by Belinda Lansbury, and learning the art of
making Anzac biscuits.
Pre-Primary students looked at the different forms of transport used during the First World War and
Years 1-2 students made beautiful wreaths, learning about the significance of the poppy.
Year 3 students worked collaboratively on a large-scale project about Simpson and his donkey,
while Year 4 students focused on stories from the First World War.
Students in Year 6 constructed an amazing 3D diorama of a battlefield with excellent attention to
detail. The diorama was showcased, along with examples of the whole school’s work, including
‘Travel Crate’ displays of students’ creations of written and art works.
Byford John Calvin School took part in the Anzac Day Art Expo held at the Byford Community Hall.
Local primary and secondary schools created captivating artworks in the lead up to Anzac Day and
the expo was open to members of the public.
The judges were particularly impressed with the excellent involvement of students across the
school. They were pleased to see a range of activities with appropriate learning for each stage.
The detail, time and effort that went into the activities is a wonderful credit to staff and students.
SECONDARY WINNERS
ACT Secondary Winner:
St Edmund’s College
The students and staff at St Edmund’s College were involved in a wide range of commemorative
and learning activities to mark the Anzac Centenary.
The College was approached by the National Capital Authority (NCA) to create and produce an art
installation of 100 floating poppies to feature in Rond Pond to commemorate the Anzac Centenary.
Over 35 parents, teachers and students, including current serving ADF parents, attended a
workshop to create the poppies. The school has developed the poppies into kit form and it is hoped
that these will be able to be distributed by the NCA to other schools as an awareness and
community project in the lead up to each Anzac Day.
During an ‘Enrichment Week’, History students in Years 7-10 visited the Australian War Memorial,
with an emphasis on the First World War and Gallipoli. An ‘old boy’ of the College (and retired ADF
member) shared the interactive experiences of ‘A Day in the life of a Digger’, giving the Year 9
students an opportunity to understand the experiences of soldiers during the First World War.
Year 10 students, who were studying the Second World War, were asked to create a curatorial
display with many students focusing on the Battle of the Coral Sea and Kokoda Track campaign.
Students researched the battles, made notes and displayed four items linked to their topic, along
with a rationale explaining their choices in the display. The display was open to Middle School
students who were able to explore and further discuss projects of interest with each Year 10
student.
The College’s commemorative assembly reflected on giving ‘Thanks’ to all the men and women who
have served and are currently serving in the ADF. Many parents who are current serving ADF
members were invited to the assembly where they were thanked for their service with a ‘Thank you’
video created by the students.
Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial, delivered an insightful address to the
students, highlighting the importance of preserving our history through the many personal stories of
the Anzacs. The Federation Guard provided the catafalque party and an ‘old boy’ (and ADF
member) read the Ode. He also addressed the Year 11 students about his life as a serving
member of the ADF and his experiences on deployment.
The Queanbeyan RSL Sub branch invited St Edmund’s students to participate in their Anzac Day
march and over 30 students participated.
The judges were impressed with the depth of learning and engagement of students in this entry.
The variety of activities challenged students to engage with the concept of commemoration in
meaningful ways. The involvement of students, parents, and the wider community was
commendable.
New South Wales Secondary Winner:
St Patrick’s College
St Patrick’s College, Campbelltown is a Catholic secondary girls’ school located in south-western
Sydney. The theme of the school’s commemorative learning this year was ‘The Diversity of the
Anzac Experience – Indigenous, Gender, Cultural and Local Perspective’.
A school Anzac committee was formed with students from Years 7 – 12 represented. As a group,
they ran various competitions to create multimedia elements for the school’s Anzac service and the
creation of a Centenary logo. Students produced posters and organised free Anzac biscuits for
students who provided a fact about Gallipoli.
Students also participated in many other activities ranging from writing poems to making paper
poppies and wreaths. Students researched ancestors and veterans from the region and
participated in an Anzac ‘Boot Camp’ obstacle course. The school also established a Gallipoli
Centenary Garden and planted a Lone Pine.
The school invited a variety of special guests to its Anzac commemorative event, including veterans,
current serving ADF members. Over sixty guests attended this commemorative service.
The school also participated in a variety of community events including working with the
Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society to undertake research into diggers’ graves in the area.
Members of the school community and the student choir attended Campbelltown Commemorates
and four students attended Camp Gallipoli – Moore Park. The school’s projects culminated with
students marching in the local Anzac Day service.
The judges were very impressed with the variety of interesting and creative activities and depth of
learning that took place at St Patrick’s. The high level of participation by the students across a
range of curriculum areas was commendable.
Victoria Secondary Winner:
St Joseph’s College Geelong
The Year 9 campus of St Joseph’s College Geelong commemorated Anzac Day with a whole-day
program to engage students. The school invited the Year 9 students from Clonard College to join
them in this significant event. Representatives from neighbouring primary schools were also invited
to participate in the day. The event included some 500 students participating in some form on the
day.
Prior to the major event, students across a range of curriculum areas were involved in meaningful
learning activities related to Australia’s wartime history. Students in integrated English and
Humanities classes researched Australia’s involvement in various conflicts and created an historical
timeline. They also produced a short film on their thoughts related to the Anzac spirit.
Art students created a large-scale artwork which symbolised ‘remembrance’. The artwork
incorporated student handprints, each of which represented five Anzac lives lost at Gallipoli. The
main mural involved 80 students, and was over seven metres long and three metres high. It
featured the Southern Cross, poppies, rosemary and the coastline of Gallipoli.
Food Technology students research food eaten by soldiers during the First World War and Music
students performed the anthems at the Anzac ceremony. Religious Education students explored
the meaning of commemoration and assisted in the staging of the commemorative ceremony. The
Media class interviewed students and filmed the day’s activities. Various displays around the
school focused on different aspects of Australia’s wartime history.
Student leaders were responsible for the planning and delivering of the ceremony, which was
attended by a number of veterans from the local community. On the day, a choice of nineteen
workshops engaged students in a variety of ways. During the afternoon, all students watched a
performance of a play, Lest We Forget. Following the event, students reflected on their
participation.
The judges were impressed with the multiple dimensions of this entry. All students were involved in
participating and responding to the events. The excellent displays and presentations helped to
engage students in addition to the thoughtful Anzac Day Service. There was involvement by
veterans and feedback by the students reflected on what they had delivered.
Queensland Secondary Winner:
See National Secondary Winner
Tasmania Secondary Winner:
Deloraine High School
Deloraine High School is a small secondary school located approximately 50 kms south west of
Launceston. Both students and members of the local community were involved in this year’s
commemorative activities.
Students from Years 9 and 10 researched five veterans from the local community who had served
in the First World War, Second World War or the Vietnam War. They then completed a written
biography and free hand drawing of these veterans.
This artwork was displayed for viewing by the community at a local bank branch in Deloraine. The
students’ completed artwork will eventually be presented to the relevant families of the veterans.
Students and staff worked together to make large, red poppies on stands from second hand
stainless steel sinks, displaying them in the gardens outside the school community complex for the
Anzac assembly, with the possibility of one of the poppies to be wired and used as an eternal flame
at the school in the future.
This entry showed the judges a great deal of originality and creativity as well as evidence of learning
by students in their research of the veterans. They were impressed by the school’s involvement with
the local community.
The school’s commemorative activities culminated with an Anzac Day assembly, attended by 460
people, which also included an original song written by Year 10 students.
Northern Territory Secondary Winner:
Casuarina Senior College
Casuarina Senior College held a whole-college Anzac Day service. With no venue large enough to
hold all the students, the service was held in the school’s gym with Years 10 and 11 students and
streamed live on YouTube to the General Learning Area.
An art and poetry competition was held, with the artwork used as an assessment for the students’
portfolio and the winning poem was read during the Anzac Day service.
A veterans lunch was hosted by the Food and Hospitality students with Darwin RSL members and
serving members from 1st Brigade attending. A drumming solo was provided by a naval cadet.
Drama students performed a short play to all year groups and staff which was about repatriation
and Afghanistan from the students’ perspective.
Home Economic students baked Anzac biscuits and provided them to staff and students.
The judges believed that the participation of the students across various subjects, and the wholecollege approach to commemoration was commendable. The creativity and breadth of activities
was impressive.
South Australia Secondary Winner:
Lock Area School
Lock Area School is in a small town on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. The town was named
after Sergeant Albert Ernest Lock, originally from Bridgewater in SA, who had bought land in the
local area but was killed in Belgium in 1917. This South Australian town is unique in the fact that it
is the only one in the state named after a fallen First World War soldier. Using this connection,
students at the school are taught from a very young age about the importance of remembering and
honouring servicemen and women.
The entry from the school was unique, innovative and showed a creative use of technology. The
entry was best viewed using the app, Aurasma, which created an augmented reality display for
peers, the community and for the judging panel. The app is activated when it detects images of the
display the school created for Anzac Day. Each image of the display is directly linked to a video or
podcast that students had recorded. When the app detects the unique image, it will load the related
media on a smartphone or tablet screen. The use of the app was a quite different approach to
presenting the school’s entry.
The students created a display based on research from their History lessons on the First and
Second World Wars, making connections between the causes, experiences and outcomes of these
wars. A display in the school assembly hall showed the students’ comprehensive research skills
and their knowledge of media and technology.
The school engaged with the Ex-Service community across the Eyre Peninsula with visits to RSLs
and students meeting with veterans, giving them further valuable insights into the motivations for
men and women to enlist.
The judges were impressed with the school’s display and the high level of engagement with the
community. The judging panel felt this entry demonstrated excellent shared learning within the
school community and with the local community of Lock and the broader Eyre Peninsula. There
was very clear evidence of learning, and the research undertaken by the students, with the recorded
podcasts that were viewed using the app. The entry used a thoughtful and creative technological
approach that will allow the school and the community to keep in perpetuity the school’s historical
research and the community’s own personal family stories for future generations to reflect upon.
Western Australia Secondary Winner:
Rossmoyne Senior High School
Rossmoyne Senior High School opened in 1968 and has a student population of over 2,000.
To commemorate the Anzac Centenary, the Humanities and Social Sciences students conducted
research on soldiers from different battalions, focusing particularly on the West Australian
11th Battalion, and then wrote their findings on large poppies which were then ‘planted’ on the
school grounds. The poppies also included the students’ thoughts on the relevance of Anzac Day
today. The students also ‘planted’ 400 wooden crosses as part of the Australian War Memorial’s
Commemorative Crosses project.
The school held an Anzac assembly which was coordinated by the Year 9 History students. Current
serving members of the ADF, veterans, Rotary members and local and foreign dignitaries attended.
Four Year 9 students spoke about their family members who served in the First World War and
another student paid tribute to Indigenous servicemen and women. Other presentations were made
by the Westralian Great War Living History Association, nurses, current serving ADF members and
members of the 10th Light Horse Troop.
The judges were particularly impressed by the joint effort of students and the local community. The
school captured the essence of commemoration with the poppy project and assembly which
involved so many members of the wider community. The judges were impressed with the evidence
of whole-school involvement and unique expression of respect.
PRIMARY RUNNERS-UP
Australian Capital Territory Primary Runner-Up:
Rosary Primary School
At Rosary Primary School, the staff and students wanted to engage the whole community and make
a connection with families in commemorating the Anzac Centenary. They wished to not only
remember those who have served and died in war, but to honour, respect and support those who
are currently serving in the ADF.
The focal point for their commemorations was the ‘Wall of Remembrance’. All families in the school
were invited to contribute a family reflection in the form of a commemorative plaque on the
importance of ‘Anzac’ for their family. Inspired by the responses, each child in Years 3-6 also
created a personal A5 mini poster response as part of their class work. Parishioners from the
Rosary Parish were also invited to create and submit a commemorative plaque. All plaques were
then laminated and attached to a camouflage netting wall with hundreds of ‘poppy pegs’,
painstakingly made by the senior students.
The Anzac Day commemorative service was held outside, where students and families gathered at
the school’s Lone Pine Memorial Tree. Special guests included serving members of the ADF and
government representatives. Each class had made wreaths which were laid during the service.
The senior string ensemble played the national anthem and the Last Post and Rouse were played
by a member of the Canberra City Band.
In the classrooms, students in all year levels were engaged in valuable learning about Anzac:
reading books, making poppies/wreaths, letter writing, discussions, sharing family memorabilia,
story writing, mapping, writing summaries, Anzac-themed spelling lists, creating artworks,
presenting speeches, and designing posters.
The judges were very impressed with the variety of meaningful activities undertaken by students
and the involvement of the wider community. The depth of experiences for students, and the
planning and dedication of teachers, were commendable.
New South Wales Primary Runner-Up:
Bligh Park Primary School
Bligh Park Public School’s entry focused on 100 years of Anzac spirit.
Students engaged with ‘Anzac’ in a variety of ways, including reading books, drawing pictures and
viewing images. From there they created a trench in their Anzac Learning Centre where they taped
large cardboard boxes to the floor and smeared them with mud to make the trench look real.
Sandbags were also filled and hauled to the Centre.
An honour board was built by students, and after research, plaques displaying the names of
Hawkesbury First World War servicemen and women were added. Some students researched
family members who had served and a section of the wall was dedicated to their honour.
Students built a display for their many book resources and created a mountain that looked like the
cliffs of Gallipoli. They also brought memorabilia from home to add to their display. Students wrote
poetry, made paper poppies and Anzac biscuits and produced artwork to reflect their understanding
of the Anzac spirit.
They finalised their program with an Anzac Day service, including serving and ex serving members
of the Defence Force and an open day for visitors at the Anzac Learning Centre.
The judges believed that this was a well structured entry with high student participation and a clear
exploration of the Anzac spirit.
Victoria Primary Runner-Up:
Wilmot Road Primary School
To commemorate the Anzac Centenary, Years 5 and 6 students at Wilmot Road Primary School
created a photobook which recorded the various activities undertaken by students to mark this
significant event.
Students took part in the Australian War Memorial’s Commemorative Crosses program. Having
studied the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ 2015 Anzac Day commemorative poster, the students
constructed landing boats and role played the landing at Gallipoli in the school grounds. Students
participated in the 5000 Poppy project by hand-making knitted poppies.
Using their laptops, students made voice recordings of the names and ages of those servicemen
and women who appear on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) as part of the
Memorial’s Remember Me soundscape. Students also had access to Memorial Boxes from the
AWM.
Students also undertook a variety of activities in Maths, Geography and Art, as well as conducting
research on a local veteran who had served in the First World War. They also designed a poster
which was sent to be displayed at the Dawn Service at Gallipoli on Anzac Day.
The school held an Anzac service which was hosted by student leaders and some students also
attended the local commemorative service hosted by the Shepparton RSL.
The judges were impressed by the excellent use of a wide range of resources. They believed that
the school showed the integration of the topic across curriculum areas, in a very meaningful way.
Queensland Primary Runner-Up:
Eagleby South State School
Eagleby South State School is located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. This year, students
from this school participated in activities surrounding the theme ‘The Anzac Tradition’. Student
activities were created in consultation with teachers to develop learning experiences designed
especially for each particular year level.
A movie was produced in the format of a television news item to assist judges in explaining the
activities and learning opportunities that were provided to students. The news items featured the
middle and senior students participating in an excursion to Fort Lytton and spending time in the
museum looking at many historical items. Students then used this excursion to write about various
items they had seen.
Prep students shared Anzac stories with books from the library and wrote post cards to troops
currently serving overseas. Senior students used books and the internet to research information
about the history of Anzac Day and then created posters designed to share information to others.
Students created many pieces of artwork and created short stories highlighting the experiences of
Anzac soldiers. All classes made wreaths and participated in the school Anzac service, with the
school choir singing Anzac Day-themed songs.
A visit from a local veteran provided an engaging and interactive experience for Years 1 and 2
students as they had the opportunity to ask questions. Parents and grandparents who had served
also shared stories and medals with students.
The judges commented that the audio visual news item presentation and the inclusion of artwork
from all year levels clearly showed a strong connection to the curriculum, evidence of learning,
involvement across all school years and obvious involvement of the broader community.
Tasmania Primary Runner-Up:
St Joseph’s Primary School
St Joseph’s Primary School is a small school located in the rural mining town of Rosebery on the
rugged West Coast of Tasmania. The school has 92 students.
St Joseph’s presented an excellent entry that was submitted by Year 5/6 students. The entry
provided proof of support from the wider Rosebery community through research conducted by
students and their family members, and an invitation from the local Rosebery RSL for students to
participate in the contribution of artwork for public display in a vacant shopfront in the main street of
the town.
The display included artwork and research around the topic, ‘100 years – Lest We Forget’. The
students designed and illustrated their letters. The independent research was completed using the
internet and more importantly talking to both members of their families and the wider Rosebery
community.
Multi media poppies were made by students and displayed as a backdrop for the schools’ Anzac
service. A school excursion was arranged for the students to attend the local hospital where they
met with members of the nursing staff who had arranged a display focused around the role of
nurses in the First and Second World Wars.
On Anzac Day 2015 a large contingent of students marched and laid wreaths at both the local
communities’ ceremonies of Rosebery and Zeehan.
The judges were impressed with the research undertaken by students on members of their families.
They also commended the schools’ engagement with the wider community.
Northern Territory Primary Runner-Up:
Girraween Primary School
Students in Year 6 in 2014 assisted in creating a vision for Girraween Primary School’s very own
cenotaph, and in discussions with a local artist, this came to life. The honour marker created was a
cannon which is a symbol of courage and determination and an Honour Board.
In February 2015, students from Year 5 went on an excursion to the artist’s workshop to assist in
the finishing touches of the cenotaph and honour board. As well as seeing the process of the
creation of the cenotaph, they interviewed the artist on the process, and the excursion was featured
in the school newsletter to keep the school community connected with the project.
All classes explored Anzac Day in their library lessons through literature purchased with a grant by
the school’s teacher librarian. This initiative was deemed very powerful because each cohort of
students had access to a program that raised awareness of the ‘Anzac’ with its human qualities of
courage, mateship and sacrifice.
Classes worked through a line of inquiry linking with the Humanities Learning Area. Each class also
created a canvas art piece around remembering the Anzacs and a wreath to lay at the cenotaph at
the school’s Anzac assembly. This artwork was also on show at the local ceremony and march at
‘The Village Green’ in Humpty Doo.
An assembly was the culmination of the activities and included local politicians, a contemporary
veteran and the unveiling of the cenotaph.
The judges believed that the commemorative honour board will be an historical memorial for the
community.
South Australia Primary Runner-Up:
Virginia Primary School
Virginia Primary School has 320 students and is on the outskirts of suburban Adelaide. The school
was keen for students to have a deep understanding and appreciation of why Australia was
focusing attention on the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.
Students engaged in a range of activities including;
 The study of 40 soldiers from the Virginia district
 A visit to the South Australian National Memorial and other war memorials in the CBD.
 Creation of artwork
 Reading ‘Anzac’ related stories
 Reflective writing; and
 Making Anzac biscuits.
The primary school received funding under the Anzac Centenary Local Grants program to create a
mural commemorating three soldiers from the area who lost their lives in the First World War.
Students assisted in the design and making of the mural with a local artist. A distant relative of one
of the soldiers came and spoke to the students.
Students also listened to talks by various people including veterans and relatives of a First World
War soldier from the area.
They held a whole school Anzac assembly which was attended by the Governor of South Australia,
members of the Virginia RSL, other veterans and members of the community. After the assembly
guests were invited to a morning tea where the students were able to talk to and listen to stories
from members of the local community.
The judges thought the entry was thorough and well-planned. It was multi-modal and thoughtful.
The level of engagement by the students was very evident in the students’ reflective writing and is
commended. The involvement of the local community was also impressive.
Western Australia Primary Runner-Up:
Kingston Primary School
Kingston Primary School is located 156km south of Perth in the Shire of Harvey. The school has a
tradition of commemorating Anzac Day with dignity, respect and a sense of community. The P&C
came together with the students to organise a very dignified dawn service followed by a free
community breakfast. Many hours of work went into making this a memorable event and the crowd
of over 550 made it all worthwhile.
Students created a clay display involving individual poppies surrounding the “Ode of Remembrance”
which is inscribed onto large clay gum leaves with student art work on them. This display will
become the schools permanent monument to commemorate the Anzac Centenary. Large silk
banners provided another example of the students’ artwork as a backdrop to proceedings, each
banner displaying words from the Ode.
The Student Executive ran the service. In a very mature, sincere and respectful way they engaged
the audience and ensured that the solemn occasion was dignified. Cadets who were former
students of Kingston Primary provided a catafalque party. Local politicians attended and the school
was very grateful to have a returned serviceman make the Anzac address. After the service, the
Kingston P&C put on a gunfire breakfast for the crowd, cooking about 550 breakfasts.
The judges commented on the beautiful artwork created by the students. The artwork will be a
lasting legacy for the school. The judges were also impressed with the engagement and
participation of the local community.
SECONDARY RUNNERS-UP
Australian Capital Territory Secondary Runner-Up:
Merici College
Merici College commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli with an
Anzac assembly which included service personnel, community leaders, visiting dignitaries and
political representatives. The event was twelve months in the making and a large and diverse range
of students and teachers were involved in the preparation of the assembly.
On the day of the assembly, students placed poppies, which were made by the students, on the
front lawn of the College as a dedication to all those who have served. Defence students paid their
own tribute by planting a Lone Pine and wild rosemary in the school grounds and discussed the
significance of the Lone Pine.
At the start of the assembly, 104 Defence students and their ADF parents entered the auditorium.
These students had earlier participated in the Australian War Memorial’s Commemorative Crosses
project, and their crosses, with messages of gratitude, were placed alongside a commemorative
candle during the ceremony.
A teacher and wife of a current serving ADF member spoke to the audience about present day
military family life. Invited guest, Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial,
reflected on the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli and joined other dignitaries in
laying wreaths during the ceremony. An all-female catafalque party was a focus of the ceremony.
During the ceremony, members of the Merici Senior band and Choir performed with members of the
RMC Band. The principal spoke and conveyed a message on behalf of the Hon. Tony Abbott MP
and acknowledged the brave sacrifices made by so many Australian servicemen and women.
The judges were particularly impressed with the involvement of current serving ADF members and
the school’s connection with the defence community.
New South Wales Secondary Runner-Up:
Coffs Harbour Christian Community School
To commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli landings, Coffs Harbour Christian Community
School undertook a project entitled ‘No Greater Love’.
The Middle School set out to highlight stories of service and sacrifice through their weekly
assemblies and also themed their end of year presentation night in 2014 to build anticipation for the
Anzac Centenary.
Competitions were held for research and creative writing projects, art and song writing. Students
were also involved in external competitions such as the RSL Anzac Centenary Schools Project.
The school community was encouraged to discover its connection to the First World War and bring
in memorabilia to contribute to the visual record. Their accumulated display included photos,
letters, medals, service records and wartime souvenirs such as postcards and hankies.
The school was decorated with posters and inspirational visuals to focus students on Anzac Day’s
history and purpose. Students were involved in the creation of 8,709 small white crosses to
represent the Australians lost during the Gallipoli campaign. The crosses were placed in rows on
an area of lawn.
A design competition was held for the school’s own permanent Anzac memorial which was unveiled
at a special service. The service was led by an Army Chaplain and involved students and cadets.
This was a fitting end to the commemorative project.
The judges believed this was an engaging presentation that involved the whole school. The broad
range of activities undertaken by students was creative and interesting.
Victoria Secondary Runner-Up:
Mentone Girls’ Secondary College
Mentone Girls’ secondary College was fortunate to be able to use previously unpublished
photographs taken in Egypt between November 1914 and April 1915 by a Mentone AIF volunteer.
The images were used as the basis of a joint exhibition with the Mordialloc and District Hospital
Society. Students from Year 9 researched the images and 25 were collated into a catalogue,
designed by the students themselves.
The students were also given the name of a different soldier from the local area to research and
they used the National Archives of Australia and the Australian War Memorial websites to conduct
the research. The information was then used to create short films, combining images, text and
music to create moving tributes to local servicemen and women. Many of the films were included in
the exhibition.
The exhibition enabled parents and members of the local community to see how the students had
worked with the photographs.
The judges were impressed that this entry takes the more unique step in partnering with the local
historical society to create an exhibition. They particularly liked the engagement with the local
community and the research was sound.
Queensland Secondary Runner-Up:
Tannum Sands State High School
This school is located on the central east coast of Queensland within the Gladstone Region.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli, Tannum Sands State High
School encouraged its students to share the stories of their local ex-servicemen and women by
embarking on a research project entitled, ‘Tannum Sands SHS Remembers’.
This involved students researching a serviceman or woman with a connection to the Gladstone
Region. Some examples of the students’ research work demonstrated a depth of understanding
and links to the local community in exploring Australia’s wartime history.
Another project which the school embarked on was part of the Indigenous Culture unit. Year 7
students created a Black Diggers Bush Tucker Commemorative Anzac Garden. Students worked
with local Indigenous elders and community members to learn about Indigenous soldiers, bush
tucker plants and designed mosaics containing a class totem. An official opening of the garden will
occur at a special breakfast during National Reconciliation Week.
Other projects that the school undertook were:
 Raising money for Mates4Mates by holding a uniform free day where students bring a gold
coin donation.
 Years 10 and 11 visual art students designed banners for the RSL.
 Whole school participation in the school Anzac Day service.
 The school’s marching band and students participating in the community’s official parade.
Another project undertaken which involved the whole school and community was the restoring of
the school grounds. The P&C donated $20,000 towards this renovation. Students were hands on
in working in the garden in preparation for their commemorative service. Donations of plants were
made for the Anzac garden bed. These were planted by the school leaders.
The judges were impressed with all of these student-led activities which showed strong community
involvement. They also commented that the Black Diggers Bush Tucker Commemorative Garden
was a unique and inspiring idea. All activities were student orientated and clearly evident in the
entry.
Tasmania Secondary Runner-Up:
Riverside High School
Riverside High School’s commemoration of the Anzac Centenary consisted an Anzac Day
Assembly and adaptation of the assembly to radio.
The assembly included information on the Gallipoli landings, including the presence of the AE2
submarine in the Dardanelles, obtained from referencing the internet.
The principal of the school gave a moving presentation on a family member that was killed on 25
April 1915.
The second speaker was a former student who spoke about his family’s service to Australia in a
number of wars and one of these family members was his great uncle, Alec Campbell, the last
Anzac.
The judges felt the school reflected in the assembly the learning skills of students. Local community
involvement was shown by adapting the assembly to a radio program that could be heard by the
community as a whole.
Northern Territory Secondary Runner-Up:
Darwin High School
Darwin High School held a commemorative assembly focussing on a lesser known aspect of the
Gallipoli campaign, whilst at the same time maintaining the traditional form of Anzac observance.
The theme was ‘The Silent Service’ and it paid tribute to the Australian Submarine Flotilla and
acknowledged the role played by the people of the Kahlin Aboriginal Compound.
The commemoration focussed on the HMAS AE2 which was lost in action in the Sea of Marmara in
1915. The Assembly was filmed and photographed by students from the Art and Photography
classes and was attended by a large variety of community representatives such as local dignitaries
and many current and ex-service men and women.
Students participated and assisted in a variety of community events include delivering readings at
the Battle of Kapyong Commemoration, program distribution, ushering, poppy dispersal and wreath
laying at the dawn service.
The judges were impressed with the wonderful involvement of the wider community.
South Australia Secondary Runner-Up:
Yankalilla Area School
The ‘Doors of Anzac’ project submitted by Yankalilla Area School demonstrated a whole of school
approach which clearly engaged the local community and aimed to educate the students about the
First World War. The eight- week project was the school’s response to commemorating the 100th
anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.
The project saw the creation of a montage of eight doors and displays behind the doors. The
display was based on the book, Gallipoli by Kerry Greenwood and Annie White, which students
studied. Scenes from the book were rewritten and then recreated to form the display that was
located within the school grounds and in the local town centre.
The montage of eight doors included individual life size displays behind each door. The stories of
four Australian soldiers as they left home, travelled to Egypt for training, fought and were treated in
hospital. Forty mannequins of Anzac soldiers, their families, Turkish soldiers and medical staff were
part of the display. The display was a good way of sharing evidence of research and learning with
the school community.
In putting together the project the students conducted research particular scenes to find out the
background to them. The whole school approach to the project saw students at different levels
getting involved with constructing the mannequins, learning sewing, paper mache, drawing, design
and construction. The judges were impressed with the hands on approach across different year
levels within the school.
The display by the students received much praise from the public and the judging panel also
believed that the project demonstrated lots of imagination, commitment, effort and reflected well on
the students learning outcomes. There was evidence of community involvement which added to the
students’ understanding of war and the sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women at Gallipoli
and subsequent conflicts.
Western Australia Secondary Runner-Up
Comet Bay College
The Comet Bay College Anzac Day service was the culmination of whole-school participation both
on the day and in the lead up through a range of learning activities. These included the creation of
acrylic coasters, a very poignant play performed by students and accompanied musically by very
talented soloist singers. The high quality and thought provoking artwork created by students was
displayed throughout the school.
The College’s Anzac Day service involved the entire school with a guest choir from Secret Harbour
Primary School invited to perform. A unique and fitting piece of the Anzac Day service was the
creation of fabric poppies by the Home Economics class which were presented to invited guests on
the day. Comet Bay College’s Student Catering Services provided a very well received morning tea
and lunch to invited guests. Members of the ADF, ex-serving members and broader community
also attended the ceremony.
The judges were impressed by the obvious thought and attention to detail the students put into the
service. It was a genuine school activity that also embraced the wider veteran community with the
addition of veterans guest speakers and invited guests. The judges believed the breadth and scope
of activities was excellent.
SPECIAL CATEGORY WINNERS
Best Anzac Centenary Learning:
Riverton Primary School (Western Australia)
This year, Riverton Primary School held a dawn service to commemorate Anzac Day.
In the lead up to the event, students studied the effects of the First World War on Australia. During
History classes, students studied the symbols of the First World War and decided on a ‘poppy’
theme for the service. The students then made poppies to display at the service.
Students also discussed what soldiers ate during the First World War, and avoiding bully beef, they
made Anzac biscuits.
Students were on site at 5.45am on the day of the service. Students ran the event which was
attended by local dignitaries and veterans. After the service, all members of the community took
part in a modified version of a ‘Gunfire Breakfast’. Students’ class work was on display for all
members of the community to peruse.
Following the service, senior students watched a play, Anzac G’Day, and the junior students read a
variety of picture books about the Anzacs. An art competition was held where students designed a
stamp to recognize the importance of Anzac Day.
The judges believed it was very evident that the students embraced learning about Anzac and
Australia’s wartime history. They liked that older students buddied with younger students to help
facilitate better learning outcomes. They were particularly impressed with the obvious whole of
school involvement and evidence of student learning.
Best Veteran and Community Involvement:
Yaluma Primary School (Wwestern Australia)
To commemorate the Anzac Centenary, students at Yaluma Primary School sent ‘Flat Stanleys’
(based on the 1964 book by Jeff Brown) to ADF personnel in Australia and overseas. Each class
created their own Flat Stanley and prepared him for his journey, which included writing introductory
letters to his host. The Flat Stanleys were then sent to Units including 1st Armoured Regiment
(Tanks) and 1 Aviation Regiment (Tiger helicopters). Students looked at the history of the Units and
their current role in Defence.
Students received information about where Flat Stanley went, what his hosts did in Defence and
some action shots of his time in the Unit. ADF personnel showed Flat Stanley around his point of
disembarkation and sent pictures to the students. Students prepared a 2-3 minute presentation to
share with the school community at the school’s commemorative ceremony.
The ceremony was prepared by staff and students and was led by the Year 6 students. A veteran
shared his experiences with students. Learning also took place in the classrooms as students
participated in a range of learning activities.
The judges admired the unique way of involving the veteran and community in the school’s learning.
‘Flat Stanley’ certainly gave the students a different perspective of learning through his many and
varied travels around Australia/world. The correspondence from members of the Defence Force
showed their obvious enthusiasm to support the learning outcomes for the students.
Best Innovative Activity:
Haddon Primary School (Victoria)
Haddon Primary School is in a rural community 15 minutes southwest of Ballarat. The school’s
focus for its commemoration of the Anzac Centenary was a simple question, asked by a 7 year old
student: How far is it to Gallipoli?
To explain the concept of distance to the students, the school decided it would run, jog, walk, ride
and skip the total distance from Melbourne to Gallipoli: 14,765 km. What started out as a school
project, extended to include school families, friends and local community groups.
The ‘Run to Gallipoli’ campaign was communicated by an initial announcement at a whole school
assembly, through the school newsletter and on the school website. A visual display of a map of
the world used string to show the distance from Melbourne to Gallipoli and the students’ progress
was marked with an Anzac badge and a large tally chart. Students ran around the oval at recess,
lunchtimes, before and after school. Families were encouraged to take part on weekends and
school holidays.
The judges thought it was interesting to see how a student’s question was developed into a positive
learning experience that extended into the wider community. An innovative idea, indeed!
Best Local History Research:
Evans River K-12 School (New South Wales)
Evans River K-12 School participated in a variety of activities as part of this year’s Anzac Centenary
commemorative events.
The school liaised with veterans from the local RSL and museum. The history class had a variety of
guest speakers who gave talks to the students on various aspects of First World War history and
introduced them to different methods of sourcing information, including accessing local families who
were descendants of First World War veterans and various materials held by the museum.
Students pursued local contacts and visited sites such as cemeteries.
Each student prepared a written history of a veteran and prepared a large poster for display at the
local RSL Club. One student chose to prepare an audio-visual presentation. The poster exhibition
was titled, ‘Our Community Remembers’ and was moved to the local museum to be part of a larger
exhibition.
The judges were impressed by the depth of research undertaken by the students and the quality of
the final presentations.
Best Use of Technology:
Moreland Primary School (Victoria)
In the hall at Moreland Park Primary School, a Roll of Honour lists five hundred former students who
served in the First World War. As part of their learning of Australia’s wartime history, students
undertook research on a selection of names on the Roll. They used the Australian War Memorial
website and the RSL Virtual War Memorial to locate information on their chosen individuals.
The students then combined these biographies into one movie, adding poems and photographs,
including the Ode and Last Post. The movie was presented at the school assembly resulting in
acknowledgement and appreciation of their work.
The judges were impressed with the students’ use of technology to research and present their
biographies. It was clear that the students had completed the bulk of the work themselves, and
produced a polished and meaningful product.
Best Commemorative Art:
Elliot School (Northern Territory)
The students of Elliot School researched ‘Anzac’ and each designed a piece of art related to the
Anzac Centenary. Three designs were chosen from three different classes and community
members were asked to be the judges.
The designs were drawn on to picnic tables in the local park by a local woman who is the mother of
children at the school. Once the designs were drawn, students, in small groups, were asked to
break tiles and glue them on top of the table to turn the design into a mosaic. This process took a
couple of weeks and involved every single student, staff member and several other community
members.
On Anzac Day, the school played a large role in the Anzac day commemorative ceremony,
conducting the official welcome, reading poetry and singing the anthem as the school choir. To
finish the day’s ceremony, the tables were unveiled for the entire community to see. The students
and their efforts were celebrated and people believe that the memorial site is now a much more
inviting and valuable site for locals and tourists to visit.
The judges commended the efforts of the students and local community. The mosaic art tables are
a beautiful and lasting memory of the Centenary of Anzac.