Darwin Middle School: Patrick Chen, Nabeeha Qasim receive Simpson Prize 2023

Two Darwin Middle School students have been awarded a prestigious award for their analysis of Australian military history.

Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling OAM congratulates the 2023 Northern Territory Simpson Prize Winner and Runner Up at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Supplied.

The NT’s 2023 Simpson Prize winners have been revealed, with one school outshining the rest in the national history competition.

Darwin Middle School students Patrick Chen and Nabeeha Qasim were named winner and runner-up respectively in this year’s competition.

Ms Qasim said she was thrilled to have won the prestigious prize after she had previously held no interest in history.

Entrants must focus their projects on Australian World War I veterans in order to be eligible for the prize.

Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling OAM congratulates the 2023 Northern Territory Simpson Prize Winner and Runner Up at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Supplied.

Miss Qasim said she really enjoyed the chance to travel to Canberra for the ceremony – and a three-day program of events at Government House, the Australian War Memorial and other cultural institutions – where she “made a lot of new friends from interstate”.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling said the national competition played an important role in encouraging history education, particularly Australia’s involvement in WWI.

“As Territorians, acknowledging our history – including our military history – is very important,” he said.

“As the Northern Territory winner, Patrick will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel with winners from other states and territories to Singapore next month where they will visit historic sites and attend an Anzac Day commemoration service.

“I am sure he will be a wonderful ambassador for Darwin Middle School and the Northern Territory.”