ANZAC AWARDS: Students urged to remember nation’s war history

School students are being urged to take part in self reflection and ask questions of the importance of Anzac Day, as part of a national awards aimed at learning about veteran service and Australian wartime history.

• Townsville kiwi volunteer knows the drill
• THUNDERSTORM: Townsville smashed in jaw dropping lightshow

SCHOOL students are being urged to take part in self reflection and ask questions of the importance of Anzac Day, as part of a national awards aimed at learning about veteran service and Australian wartime history.

The 2021 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards are now open, with this year’s Awards asking, ‘What does commemoration look like in your community?

With that in mind, students are asked to submit their creative entry with a focus on their local community.

The national winner’s school will receive $5,000, a trophy and a certificate, while state and territory winners pocket $3,000 and a certificate. Winners in the special categories will receive $2,000 and a certificate.

MORE IN DEFENCE

How soldiers helped Pacific Islands rebuild villages after horror storms

Lambie goes back to drawing board to keep pace in veterans’ fight

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester said the awards looked to honour the service and sacrifice of Australians across a range of conflicts and peacekeeping operations and encouraged students to find out more about our military history.

“This year students are being asked to look at the importance of commemoration to local communities and how that has changed over time in our society,” Mr Chester said.

“With the cancellation of many Anzac Day services around Australia and overseas last year, we saw the Australian community adapt and commemorate Anzac Day at home — painting poppies and placing them in windows of houses, school children writing letters to our elderly veterans in aged care facilities, music tributes, current serving members calling veterans to check in, and solitary driveway tributes.

“The awards encourage the next generation of Australians to study and gain a deeper understanding of Australia’s wartime history — from the First World War to modern day conflicts and peacekeeping operations.”

Entries close Wednesday, 30 June 2021. For more information, including about award categories, judging, criteria and how to apply, visit the Anzac Portal website.

Originally published as ANZAC AWARDS: Students urged to remember nation’s war history