Media Releases

Media release

Local students Gracie Ostapiw from St Brigid's College in Horsham and Kate Maddern from Kaniva College are two of 10 Victorian high school students who will be spending their Term 1 school holidays on an overseas study tour visiting significant military sites at Gallipoli in Turkey, and in Malaysia and Singapore where Australians have served in war.

Premier Ted Baillieu and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Member for Lowan Hugh

Delahunty were at a reception today at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne to

announce the recipients of the 2012 Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize overseas study tour.

“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore in World War II. Gracie and 

Kate, along with the eight other successful prize winners will set off on a trip of a lifetime

visiting significant ex-military sites including Singapore’s Changi Museum, which is dedicated

to those who lived and died in World War II,” Mr Delahunty said.

“They will also have the chance to delve into Australia’s overseas military history by exploring

ex-battlefields and learning about those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who

survived.”

“What better way to encourage young Victorians to gain an insight in to the service of our

veterans; learn more about family members who may have served; discover for themselves

the ANZAC legacy, and better understand Australia’s military history,” Mr Delahunty said.

Gracie and Kate, along with the other eight students on the study tour will receive expert

guidance and history of the battlefields from Professor Bruce Scates, Professor of History and

Australian Studies at Monash University. Professor Scates is the author of several books

including Return to Gallipoli – Walking the Battlefields of the Great War, and the recently 

published history of the Shrine of Remembrance.

Students entering the 2011-2012 competition were asked: “What does the spirit of ANZAC

mean to them?” and “Are the values displayed by the ANZACs at Gallipoli and the Western 

Front still relevant today?”

Gracie Ostapiw submitted a project that compares the ANZAC spirit forged in Gallipoli to

Australian characteristics still evident in today's society, such as the willingness to sacrifice for

a just cause, friendship, loyalty and a sense of humour.

Kate Maddern submitted an essay highlighting the power of the human sprit to rise above

adversity, comparing the qualities of mateship and ANZAC spirit forged in WWI with the same

qualities shown by Australians in overcoming recent tough times including bushfires, floods

and financial crisis.

Mr Delahunty also announced Kate Bedworth from Hamilton and Alexandra College in

Hamilton as one of the 17 Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize regional finalists who will

participate in a Canberra study tour of Parliament House, the National Film and Sound

Archive, the National Portrait Gallery and the Australian War Memorial.

Mr Delahunty said this year was the first time regional finalists also received a trip.

“Through the Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize the Victorian Coalition Government is delighted

to provide even more opportunities for Victorian students to experience Australia’s proud

ANZAC legacy,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The prize is an important way of ensuring future generations of young Australians never

forget the sacrifices that help define us as a nation, especially in the lead-up to the important

centenary of ANZAC commemorations in 2014,” Mr Delahunty said.

Further information on the Premier’s Spirit of ANZAC Prize 2011-12 visit