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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-11-11 Daily Xml
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PREMIER'S ANZAC SPIRIT SCHOOL PRIZE

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:27): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier tell members about the 2011 ANZAC Spirit School Prize recipients?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:27): I would like to thank the honourable member for Reynell for her question. I would also like to commend those members of parliament who attended ceremonies today commemorating the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, which, of course, was the time when—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Newland will be quiet.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It is interesting when I am talking about Remembrance Day to hear the inane interjections from members opposite.

I wanted to acknowledge that, at the start. We decided some years ago to set up the ANZAC School Prize, which was about having a competition and then sending our young people to the other side of the world so that they could experience the Western Front. They could see the sacrifice that was given on their behalf and for future generations.

The ANZAC Spirit School Prize aims to encourage young South Australians to recognise, connect with and maintain the ANZAC spirit. Now in its fifth year, the tour provides the students with a historical, cultural and social perspective of Australia's involvement in the World War I campaigns in Europe. It also provides the students with a personal insight into the impact of this war on the troops in Europe and the Australian families waiting for their return.

I am delighted to advise the house today, on Remembrance Day, that the students for 2011 have now been chosen. These students will travel to the site of the Western Front and other important sites as part of a two-week study tour to Europe to commemorate ANZAC Day next year. I am aware that last year they visited the Churchill Museum, the underground cabinet rooms in London, the Imperial War Museum, and other sites in Britain, as well as in Belgium and France.

The students this year are: Cassandra Roccisano, a year 9 student from Charles Campbell Secondary School, and year 10 students, Maggie Rutjens from St. Mark's College and Nick Falcinella and Edward James from Loxton High School, Joseph Chu from Glenunga International High School, Alison Wilson from Pembroke School, Monique Champion from Immanuel College, and Jade Pass and Clair Coat from Loreto College.

To enter the competition students had to tell the story of a South Australian who served on the Western Front and discuss what the experience means to them today, almost 100 years later. The reality is that some of the students are not that different in age from the brave men and women who fought and in some cases sacrificed their lives over successive conflicts.

On previous occasions, the student participants were required to research the personal story of a World War I fallen South Australian; however, for the first time, students were given the opportunity to research a digger who had returned safely home. Interviews will be held on 19 November to select two teachers to accompany the students to Europe. They will be joined by a representative from the RSL and a staff member from my protocol department.

I congratulate all students awarded the 2011 ANZAC Spirit School Prize and commend them for the respect they have shown to our brave men and women who risked their lives and in some cases paid the ultimate price to ensure that we can all remain free.

After each of these visits, and, of course, attending an ANZAC Day on the Western Front at places like Fromelles, they have come back to the parliament and made presentations to members and ministers. On a number of occasions I can say that they have been some of the most moving ceremonies that I have ever experienced in the almost 25 years that I have been in this parliament: young people who go away and find the grave of a young South Australian who died, conduct a service and ceremony there, research their story, and then come back and find, if possible, their relatives and tell the story back to people generations on. I think it absolutely changes the lives of these young people, as each of their letters have testified.

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