Schools urged to enter Anzac competition
by Anne Tannock
APRIL 2009
Four World War I Light Horse veterans take part in the 51st anniversary Anzac Day march through Melbourne. From left: Major Andrew Crawford, 8th Light Horse Regiment, Captain Hayden Ewart, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Lieutenant James Forrest Holland MC, 14th Light Horse Regiment, Capt Joseph Rex Hall, 15th Light Horse Regiment. All four Victorians served in Gallipoli and later re-enlisted for service in World War II. Photo courtesy of the Australian War Memorial P04474.002.
Bli Bli State School has been selected to represent south-east Queensland at the Anzac Day Commemoration Ceremony for Students in Brisbane on April 23.
Each year the ceremony at Anzac Square is attended by about 3000 students, the Governor of Queensland, the Premier, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane and distinguished military personnel.
Bli Bli State School captain Tom Dutton will deliver an address in reply to the Governor's speech and fellow captain Ali Echenique will read an Anzac poem. Poems will also be read by the school's vice captains, Josh Bugg and Shelby Moncur.
Bli Bli State School principal Des Deighton said he was proud his students had been selected to participate in the commemoration ceremony.
Thousands of schools throughout the state will conduct their own ceremonies and students are being urged to enter the annual Anzac Day Schools' Awards competition run by the Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA).
By entering the contest, schools can highlight the creative and innovative ways they commemorate Anzac Day and win up to $3000.
Last year the national competition attracted nearly 30 entries from Queensland with the Mater Dei Primary School in Toowoomba taking out the state's primary category and the Australian Technical College in North Queensland winning the state's secondary category. They each received $1000 and a plaque.
The national winners from Western Australia and South Australia received an additional $2000 each.
This year DVA Queensland competition coordinator Till Napoli says he expects increased entries following greater promotion and an upgrade to the award website.
'We've provided schools with a more detailed explanation of how they should present their entries,' he said.
'Schools often have wonderful activities but are a little reluctant to detail all the preparatory work involved.'
Queensland state schools have been marking Anzac Day since 1916, the year after the Gallipoli landing.
The Education Queensland website says services over the past 83 years have included "special assemblies, parades, essay competitions, wreath laying, addresses by senior military personnel and the playing of the Last Post".
To help students understand the significance of Anzac Day and plan their school's commemorations, schools have been sent copies of new wartime history resources produced by the DVA.
The secondary school resource, Australian Prisoners of War, has been compiled using interviews from the Australians at War Film Archive.
M is for Mates, an alphabetic book about the contribution of animals during war and peace operations, has been sent to all primary schools.
For more information about the competition and for entry forms visit the DVA website. 
Entries must be submitted by a teacher by Friday, May 22 and winners will be announced by the end of August.
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