Last year's tour

The 2019 Premier’s Anzac Prize recipients were farewelled by dignitaries, guests and family members at 1 William Street. Brigadier Michael Bond spoke at the farewell event and inspired the outgoing participants for the journey that lay ahead. Ms Jennifer Howard, the Assistant Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Assistant Minister of State, presented the students with their winning certificates and commemorative pins. A morning tea was served before the students said their goodbyes to their families and prepared for the next leg of their exciting journey.

Diary entry by Annabel Jellett

The descent into Heathrow was as exciting as we all expected. The realisation that we were going to be in London finally hit and we were gearing to get off the plane after a long flight. I held out until the second flight to sleep to get a head start on beating the jet lag, but after the Singapore layover I was so tired I fell asleep at take-off.

Today we explored London seeing some of the famous cultural and historical sites, including the memorial for Prince Albert, which made quite an impression on all of us.

The most moving moment of today for me was visiting the Animals in War Memorial with the message engraved, ‘They had no choice’. I thought about what this means to me a lot today, firstly in the context of animals as they cannot give consent and were sacrificed for ‘human wars’. Then I thought about the impact of conscription during the First World War when Australian men were not given a choice. The sacrifice of these men will forever be etched in Australian history, and their devotion to the ideology of political and social freedom will grant future generations of Australians a choice.

The memorial was decorated with a beautiful arrangement of flowers.

We also visited the Australian War Memorial in London which listed the major conflicts Australians had served in and the hometowns of the soldiers. I felt emotional when I saw my town listed, Jacobs Well, a small region halfway between Gold Coast and Brisbane amongst the cane fields.

The magnitude of the sacrifice of the Anzacs really struck me when I saw it affected peoples’ lives so close to my home and how they are represented all the way in London.

Throughout the day we took strolls exploring the alleys and windy roads of London. I am so grateful to the Anzac Prize for not only allowing me to visit such an amazing location but also to realise the sacrifice of the Anzacs while doing so.

Diary entry by Chontelle Harris and Claudia McPherson

Today we woke up with bags under our eyes, slightly less visible after the amazing (and tiring) 22 hour journey from Brisbane to London. Our good night’s sleep energised us for today’s sightseeing. First up was a tour around the picturesque Westminster and Churchill’s War Rooms. The beauty of the ornate, historic buildings enthralled us as we walked around. We heard some of the amazing history of the area from our guide Naomi. Downing Street and the War Rooms took us back in time to World War II and into the mind of Winston Churchill. We experienced what life was like in the 1940’s and learnt a lot of interesting information.

The Horse Guards’ Parade was next on the agenda and was a great bit of British culture and the Queen’s famous Guards. A favourite was Buckingham Palace where we probably took over 1000 photos. Lunch was at Wesley’s Cafe and afterwards we visited the Imperial War Museum and experienced the intense and emotional exhibitions on World War I and II, in particular the Holocaust. London was beautiful on our Thames river cruise, with commentary by our funny tour guide. After seeing the Tower Bridge from a different angle we headed to ‘Giraffe’ for dinner and drove through the amazing lights of the city to our hotel to end the memorable day.’

Diary entry by Claudia Maher and Ella Magner

Today, our Anzac journey had officially begun. We participated in our first two commemorations. After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we collected our crosses, poppies, wreaths, memorial stones and eulogies on our service people, before making our way to Harefield, just outside London.

St Mary’s Churchyard is home to the graves and memorials of 112 Australian soldiers and nurses. The local area served as a hospital for the Australian troops in World War I and every year on Anzac Day, commemorations are held on their behalf. Upon entering the cemetery, the atmosphere was chilling but peaceful. The abundance of tombstones adorned with wild flowers brought many of us to tears. It was amazing to see the effort and sacrifice the locals had put in to commemorate our brothers.

A total of 7 service people were commemorated at the memorial with their eulogies being shared by 5 students. They shared heartfelt stories of the sacrifice and courage of these soldiers and once again brought us to tears. It was truly spectacular to experience the memorialising of these troops and to get to share that with the group. A number of volunteers met with us at the churchyard and welcomed us into St Mary’s Parish Church. We were greeted with stories and facts about the old church. The experience was very moving and made us really recognise the seriousness of the war. In fact, we found the graves of people only a few years older than us, and some old enough to be our fathers - it was truly heartbreaking.

We then enjoyed a packed lunch in Harefield. We noticed many tokens of Australia’s influence on the small town, which was surprising and much appreciated.

Aboard the HMS Belfast, we completed our second service. Despite being a shorter service, with less people being commemorated, it was as powerful and moving as the first. We laid our wreath in the ship’s chapel, before exploring the decks and cabins of the ship. We found many surprising and interesting areas aboard the ship, giving us an insight into life of the navy soldiers.

After briefly returning to the hotel that afternoon, we toured the streets in the pouring rain, truly experiencing London as a whole. We have now begun preparations for our exciting trip to Paris aboard the Eurostar tomorrow morning. It is upsetting that our time here in London is almost at a close, but we are eager and enthusiastic to see what France and Belgium hold.

Diary entry by Atticus Solomon and Douglas Gemmell

Awakening at 5:30am was a treat on day 6, complementing the dying jet lag. We drove to Kings Cross Station, ready to board the Eurostar. The thought could not escape us that we potentially were walking in the steps of Harry Potter. As a group, we collected our second stamp of the trip as we went through customs, whilst arguing about the origins of the popular band ABBA (Nordic or British?). As we rode through the scenic atmosphere we all gathered our thoughts on the mysterious city of Paris. We were sad to abandon London, but nothing could subdue the excitement of the French city.

Pete arrived in Paris along with the interesting smells of the French station. It was all fun until we discovered that the toilets were ‘pay to poop’ obstructing our basic human rights. We drove with Miguel who was an interesting driver. He taught us that the roads of Paris have no rules, parking in front of a boom gate, causing many buses to be queued (displaying that some French bus drivers are not friendly...). We saw the Ritz, where Diana had her last meal, as well as the Eiffel Tower. In between we observed the Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Cœur, Montmartre, Moulin Rouge, Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Élysées, la Seine, Musee d'Orsay and Notre Dame (from a distance — including building and smoke alike).

A highlight was the Les Catacombes de Paris, which included 5 million deceased humans after the Black Death, a horrifying pandemic. When climbing down, you feel like you are at the centre of the Earth, however, the sign soon corrects you that you are only 21 metres below ground level. We saw the miserable end of many lives. Frightening as it is, Les Catacombes range all under Paris.

Preparing for a new day, we look forward to seeing the Louvre Museum, including the Mona Lisa and hopefully eating some croissants. We all cannot wait!

Diary entry by Maddy Francis

Today we woke up bright and early to head for our first Parisian breakfast. After plentiful croissants and crepes, we were off on our coach headed for the palace of Versailles, accompanied by our guide for the day — Danielle, and driver, Ahmed. The setting of the signing of the Versailles treaty, we were blown away by the gold-leafed intricacy of what we learned was originally a hunting ground, and the residence of King Louis XIV, the infamous Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

After exploring the grounds, we lunched at a local cafe, eclairs and all. Hopping back onto the bus, we made our way back to the capital, to the iconic Louvre Museum. We roamed the galleries at our own pace, taking in thousands of years of French and international Art and Culture. This included a very ‘squished’ viewing of DaVinci’s iconic Mona Lisa. After returning to the hotel, some of us made a short walk to an authentic French bookshop. Dinner was served in the Hotel Restaurant — salmon and vegetables followed by chocolate mousse. We had time to relax after what was a fulfilling day of French culture and history.

Diary entry by Chontelle Harris and Claudia McPherson

Today we woke up early to head to breakfast at 6am. Some of us didn’t set our alarms however, with half the group not showing up until later. We sorted it out though, going up to their rooms and knocking until someone answered. We then met downstairs and filed into our new, flash bus (that even has phone charger outlets!). We then began our 3 hour journey through the European countryside, ogling out the window before beginning our busy day. We visited the Battle of Fromelles Museum, Pheasant Wood Cemetery, Australian Memorial Park, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and the Menin Gate Last Post service, amongst a variety of other exciting places.

We began the day at the Fromelles Museum where we explored the exhibits on display and a few of us managed to pick up souvenirs.

Right next door was the Pheasant Wood Cemetery for Commonwealth soldiers. Our guide, Pete, explained the way in which the brave soldiers of Fromelles were laid to rest and the journey they went to get there. Standing in front of the very men that history is written about, many of us couldn’t help but shed a tear or two. Walking around the cemetery, we were able to read the names and ages of the 250 men buried. As we walked away from the Pheasant Wood Cemetery, with the headstones still in view out the window of the bus, we were left in silence. We were then able to travel a short distance by bus to see the mass grave where the men were buried by German soldiers, positioned behind a green gate, surrounded by lush, green grass and gorgeous European forest. We were forced to ask ourselves, how was this area once the location of such destruction and misery? It’s almost impossible to imagine the men running with guns or from imminent attack. Right near the location of the Australian front line live French civilians and their modern cars parked outside of their red brick houses. A century ago, the flat terrain of Fromelles would have been overrun by Australian soldiers defending the land and serving with bravery on behalf of us.

We then visited the Australian Memorial Park which displays Sergeant Simon Fraser carrying one of the wounded back through No Man’s Land. This memorial is positioned in the place of the German’s front line.

Pete then asked us once we were ready to move onto the next cemetery to begin a short walk. From the Australian Memorial Park, we commenced our walk along the path of ‘No Man’s Land.’ We’re able to walk along the road, passing the sign indicating the place of the German front line.

At the V.C. Corner Cemetery, we stared across the open terrain at the wall surrounding V.C. Corner Cemetery, we stood in the space where men died and the enemy once attacked. The indescribable feeling of knowing that the places where our feet were planted were the same places that the battle of Fromelles was fought flowed through us in waves of shock and disbelief. As Pete told us stories that warmed our hearts and simultaneously broke them, the words of Brigadier Bond, our guest speaker at the farewell event in Brisbane, which seems so long ago from where we are now, come into mind. ‘What is worth living and dying for?’ he posed. We wonder this as we honour those who fell before us and for us, but it also forces us to wonder if the men who sailed to foreign shores had the same thoughts. Those men who lost their lives so that we could live in the world we do today - the men who fought in overseas countries, away from home and familiarity. We read the names of those not yet found — the men who were lost between the Australian front line and the German’s. The men who lay in a state of ‘in between’ as their name and memory lies on the wall of the V.C. Corner memorial. Today we were reminded of the importance to never forget the sacrifice displayed all those years ago.

Soon after, we began the short drive from Fromelles into Belgium. Crossing the indistinctive border that we simply drove through, it was clear immediately that we were no longer in France. The classic Belgian brick houses came into view and cows in paddock were scattered across the land. We then went to the hotel before having an early dinner at a really funky local restaurant that served amazing food. We then proceeded to the Menin Gate, where we watched people file in to watch the last post. We also had the chance to meet a 92-year-old man named Robert, who invited us back to his gorgeous house to meet his wife and to have him tell us about his life in Belgium. It was one of the most rewarding experiences, as we all later agreed, as we were able to see first-hand the good of the world in Robert and his wife of 60+ years.

Diary entry by Annabel Jellett

This morning we went to Polygon Wood and I felt the presence of ominous dark history. The brutality of the war lingers amongst the trees in an everlasting presence. It made me sick in the stomach, I was terrified to acknowledge the misdeeds against humanity that had taken place. We heard a story of Australians who captured a German bunker and forced them to surrender, when the Germans exited one by one they were bayoneted in an act of brutal revenge to a machine gun attack on Australians earlier. At that time the concept of fair play no longer existed, men had in some ways been reduced to savages in war. The other side were no longer human, only the enemy. The presence of death made me feel sick.

Tonight we went to Cobbers Night in Fleurbaix an annual event celebrating the town’s relationship to Australia in the First World War. A town many Australians called home, 101 years later they welcomed us with open arms. Most of the locals did not speak English so I am translating from French but the stories I heard were incredible. A local history professor regaled me with tales of the war and showed me photos of French women and Australian men washing clothes together and laughing happily. I was told stories of love, children born whose parents were Australian soldiers who married local women. Fleurbaix and Australia has been linked in a way that has survived the century.

Amongst the sadness I felt today I felt great joy and connection to the local people and the town of Fleurbaix. Coming home from Cobbers Night once my brain had wired back to English I reviewed all that had been said and done. The kindness we’d been shown and the stories I had heard. As I looked over the dark fields I felt a connection to the Anzacs like we had shared a similar experience of welcoming a century later.

I felt a connection and looking over the dark fields where our men fell an immeasurable sense of loss.

It wasn’t the cemeteries or the museums that had broken me into this realisation. It was the love I felt from the people of Fleurbaix, the open invitations I had received to visit them, how much they do to commemorate our boys. I cried like a small child. The realisation of their sacrifice finally dawned on me. I no longer feel sick from the feeling of death but honoured by their presence. Their stories are not just recounts in a history book, they lived and breathed and loved just as we do and they took their dying breath believing they were fighting for a better future.

Having that connection and realising what they sacrificed is how we keep their spirit alive.

It is indescribable and something I will never forget.

Diary entry by Atticus Solomon

A day away from the extremities of the past few days at the different war fields was what everyone in the group needed. Getting up at 7:30am, we went down for breakfast, although feeling let down due to the lack of Easter decorations and food. However, Peter soon filled this void supplying us chocolate eggs, supposedly, ’for his kids’. With this sugar boost, we rushed out the doors of our beautiful hotel towards our day's adventures in the town of Brugge (Bruges).

The sun shone a different shade upon Brugge, affecting the atmosphere of the medieval town. No minute to lose we went on a canal cruise. It was a tricky walk to the boats, but after myself screaming, 'Group 12’ we made it as a team. Little did we know that on this boat ride we would be seeing more than the gorgeous views thanks to Peter's fireman skills. Putting the beloved Fireman Sam to shame, as we were quietly observing the buildings and the reflection of the water a chicken appeared in the water. Peter quickly reached into the water, scooped the chicken up and threw it back into its pen on the shore. Apart from this, the only other reasons why our jaws dropped were for the spectacular architecture and scenery of the small town.

It was only now dawning on us how many people were visiting the town. Over 400 buses arrived today alone in this tiny village. We were surrounded by tourists and locals alike. Darlene and Pete allowed us to explore the limits of the shops and restaurants for a generous 3 hours. Running off, we were on the hunt of the famous ‘Belgium Waffles’. Spending what felt like hours and dozens of wrong turns, we coincidentally discovered a waffle shop. Six Euros? Felt like a bargain. When I said ‘famous’ earlier, I feel it to be appropriate to change it to ‘infamous’ after the result the sugar had on our stomachs. Even Trooper Jones had some after the guardian dripped ice cream on him. Barely waddling, we went to get a proper lunch of chips and burgers.

The markets went on for miles... in my opinion (don't forget the waffle incident). It ranged from bumper cars to lace shops. All were visited and trialled, it is not every day that you get to spend a day in Brugge. Souvenirs were bought and credit cards were left penniless. Nearing to 2pm, we went towards the tall clock tower. Hopping on the bus 15 minutes later, we drove back to Ypres, for our next visit, the In Flanders Fields Museum. Whilst on the bus, our band was progressed (from which it originated yesterday before Cobbers Night) by naming our new album and songs. We have the lead singers, being myself (Atticus Solomon) and Chontelle Harris, the manager being Ella Magner, backup singers are Claudia Maher and Madeline Francis, keyboard and saxophone player is Claudia McPherson, our dancer is Annabel Jellett, our bouncer and Brodie is Douglas Gemmell and our biggest fans are Darlene and Peter. Ella, Chontelle and I finalised the name to be: ‘Premier'sAnzacPrizeGroup12Elevator1ClubLipbalmClubDodgyBusGroupKermitAndMissPiggy2OfTheEightQueenslandersKellyClarksonTribute’.

At the In Flanders Fields Museum we discovered facts on the brutal battles that occurred. We were brought back to Earth after a fun day, to understand our men and women's hardships. In silence (just like the fallen soldiers) we moved around the museum. The heartache that I and others felt when stories were shared, including a doctor who woke up in the morning for his shift with a note in his hand stating, ‘Hospital blown up, 3 dead’. The result from a Red Cross light being hung up on the hospital. Real life stories gave us all information, but also gave us time to quietly mourn the lives and bodies lost and sacrificed, some of which cannot be found.

After attending another Menin Gate ceremony we saw different rituals from the one which was held the other night. The inclusion of a choir and a band was the first obvious difference. Casually, however, we soon heard the sound of the Bagpipes. Every night is different. Different people, different music, different mourners, different cultures. It feels strange to think of our differences and not the similarities between different nations after such a brutal war. With exhaustion we will all go to bed tonight sleeping peacefully.

A day in the life of a soldier by Annabelle Jellett and Maddy Francis

It was an emotional day for all of us as we put ourselves in the shoes of an Australian soldier on the Western Front. The trenches we walked were clean, well kept and amongst green fields, a far cry from the damp vermin infested holes Anzac's called home. Yet laying in the beds and standing on the duckboards we were still able to gain a semblance of understanding of the confinement in which they lived. The packs we carried (assumedly only a quarter of the weight) and the shoes we wore hurt our backs and feet as we marched the route to Tyne Cot cemetery. We practiced throwing fake grenades and putting on gas masks, a novelty for us but a reality for them. Most importantly, we were all certainly very obedient to our Lieutenant Atticus.

At Tyne Cot Cemetery I gave my first eulogy. Recognising Private Percival James’ name on a headstone triggered a strong emotional response in me, I could feel my voice cutting out while I was reading. Private James was a farmer in the Queensland cane fields and where he lies in Belgium overlooks a charming paddock. Despite this, it saddens me greatly that he is not at rest at home and that he never saw his family or his farm again. It was an honour to visit him and I am comforted that he has the company of his fallen comrades in the beautiful cemetery of Tyne Cot. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to remember him and bring him a piece of home. May Private Percival James rest in peace and be remembered always.

Following Tyne Cot, we made the journey back to Menin Gate and held a commemoration ceremony for all Australians lost in the Flanders region. The eulogies presented echoed throughout the monument and the number of names inscribed on the walls is haunting, considering how much they sacrificed.

So far on the journey we have shared many unforgettable moments, crying and laughing in solidarity. My favourite moment of today was walking out of Tyne Cot cemetery holding hands with many of the girls, feeling so supported and I am so grateful for the kindness and compassion we have shown each other throughout the trip. The Premier's Anzac Prize carries an emotional weight on all of us so I am glad we can all bear it together.

Diary entry by Claudia Maher and Chontelle Harris

So today we woke up (some of us after breakfast) and packed our things ready to travel to France. We all had such an amazing time in Belgium with so many memories made but it was time to say goodbye to Ypres. We hopped on the coach and headed to the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Our tour guide Pete is a fountain of knowledge and along the way taught us so much about the local battles fields and positions of the German and Allied front lines. We then went to Bailleul Cemetery and noticed how cemeteries are built differently with sometimes two 2 soldiers commemorated on one 1 gravestone and learnt about how people from different religions remember the soldiers. Island of Ireland Peace Park is where we stopped for lunch, reading the insightful World War I poems to give us a true understanding of what it was like to be within that atmosphere. While here we discovered some of the history of the Irish in the War. We spoke about conscription and how some battalions were kept separate due to religious differences.

At the Bullecourt Digger Memorial, after holding our special commemorative service, Pete gave us a great understanding of the Battles of Bullecourt and the equipment our Australian soldiers used to carry. We then all found a few wartime souvenirs like belt buckles, shrapnel and German bullets in a nearby field after searching for them. We all found it amazing how even over 100 years later remnants can still be found of the war. Next stop was the Slouch Hat Memorial where we saw a French Church rebuilt after it was devastated in the war. Today was a big day about discovering what took place on the battlefields we are travelling through and gaining an understanding about the experience of our soldiers. That concluded our day of touring as we checked into our hotel and went for dinner at a local pub. But of course first we all had to play a game of Uno before going to bed.

Diary Entry by Ella Magner and Claudia Maher

Our day began with another bus ride, sadly without our usual Uno game, we were headed to the Victoria School. The Victoria School was and still is still heavily influenced by Australia. It was amazing to see the Indigenous artwork around the school and the various Australian tokens. It was almost unbelievable that our country had had such a big impact on this school and that we shared such a big connection with people we had never met. Sadly, we were unable to visit the students as they were not at school. Nevertheless, we visited the Franco-Australian Museum of Villers-Bretonneux, just opposite the school. Once again, it was full of Australian artefacts from the First World War. We were able to see medals once belonging to Australian troops, letters they had sent home, and photographs they had taken. There was even a gift shop, where we emptied our pockets once again at the thought of souvenirs.

We then made our way back to the bus before heading to Naours. Naours Caves is a man-made series of caves, dating back to medieval times and where soldiers from Word Wars 1 and 2 carved their names into its walls. Here, we held our commemoration service for both mine and Darlene’s soldiers. It was a very emotional experience, yet again. We had grown so attached to our soldiers and to see them being commemorated here, with the group, it almost felt as if we had finally immortalised them.

After a quick lunch at a cafe in Naours, we headed back down into the caves for a proper tour. Here we found names upon names etched into the caves walls. Soldiers’ names, service numbers, addresses and drawings lay carved into the rock. As we glanced at the names, it was almost as if we were a part of their stories, a part of their lives. We wondered what these people had endured, when they had served and what had become of them, hoping that they had come out alive. Sadly that was not the case for some. I made a mental note to remember the names, even took photos of some, so I could research what had happened to these men, and to share their stories with others.

Before we knew it, we were off again, this time to Vignacourt Museum. We were shown a number of original photographs of Australian, and other Imperial soldiers, taken by a local couple in the midst of the Great War. They were only discovered recently and were then sent by the thousands to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, a generous donation by the small village. It was unbelievable to see the faces of these Australian soldiers that had fought not far from where we were standing. I ran my eyes over every photo, trying to imprint them into my mind, as to not forget their faces or identities.

Claudia and I were interviewed by Jason, the cameraman with us for a few days of the tour. We were asked questions about our experiences, our emotional connections with the soldiers, and what we had done so far. It was a great experience to reflect on our thoughts and feelings, and having the opportunity to share them with an audience.

Sadly, today has come to an end, we are both slightly nervous and excited to see what tomorrow will hold. We have a very early start tomorrow morning for our Anzac Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux, the highlight of our tour. We are now beginning preparations for our Welcome Home event when we return to Australia in a few days’ time.

Anzac Day by Douglas Gemmell

On this fateful day, 25 April, 101 years ago, Australian men and women pioneered the boundaries of war where the Anzac Legend that holds true to all Australians was embodied by the fleeting yells of hopefulness amid terror on the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula and the Western Front. This morning the Premier’s Anzac Prize recipients of 2019 began the once in a lifetime pilgrimage to the village of Villers-Bretonneux on the vast Western Front battlefields of France.

The morning dawned mistily and cold, as it did for my great great uncle, Gordon Gemmell, 101 years ago when starting their advance on enemy positions near Lihons, where he was killed. Tasked with the objective of a 2:30am wake up, ready for a 3:15am departure we slept with excitement and anticipation on our consciences, as we would soon experience a once in a lifetime Anzac Day ceremony at the Australian National War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. Finally the moment that we had been preparing for months on end was finally upon us.

At 2:30am the alarms started beeping and simultaneously Atticus and I sprung out of bed, spurred on with the excitement of what lay ahead. At our arrival in the lobby, tour-guide Pete (after his second coffee) noticed that it was chirpiest he had seen us all trip, and it was 3:10 in the morning! As we stepped outside for the first time, I began rethinking my decision in not bringing an extra jacket for the service. As we drove through the country roads leading to Villers-Bretonneux we could clearly see the light radiating from the memorial site.

Wreath in hand, we walk atop the ridge on which the Australian National War Memorial gazes over the vast landscape. It was at this moment that I realised the significance of the occasion and that I may never experience anything like this again.

When the ceremony commenced, a shiver went down my spine (and no it wasn’t from the cold!), I had finally found a visual connection with the losses of Australian soldiers, and the grief that their families must have endured after receiving the news of their lost son or daughter, husband or wife. The ceremony was a truly moving experience that made me reflect on the words that Brigadier Bond spoke at our departure, 'what is worth living for, and what is worth dying for?' I believe that the young men and women that served in WWI should always be a part of Australia’s history for generations to come.

Thank you for your sacrifice.

Lest We Forget

Diary entry by Madeline Francis

Despite being the day after Anzac Day, today’s activities were not overshadowed as we returned once again to the iconic Villers-Bretonneux. We took our time in taking in the rows of headstones, especially the Stone of Remembrance and main tower, which glistened in the sun - a fair change to yesterday’s weather. Walking past a carpet of fresh wreaths, we made our way to the lookout point at the top of the tower, which featured views stretching from Amiens to Pozières.

Six eulogies were read, ranging from relatives, to locals, and soldiers as young as ourselves, who sadly remain lost in the landscape of the Western Front. A highlight of our day was the year-old Sir John Monash Centre, which lies just beneath the Villers-Bretonneux memorial. Standing out in particular were some of the visual displays of war, taking place in the form of stills, re-enactments, interactive displays, and an immersive surround-sound theatre illustrating the action taken on and leading up to 4 July 1918 (The Battle of Hamel). Lunch was packed and eaten at the Australian Imperial Force Memorial at Hamel. The memorial itself stands out as the dark stone contrasts the majority of what we have seen thus far, as well the paddocks surrounding it. A very touching quote from the Prime Minister of France read:
‘When the Australian Army came to France, the French people expected a great deal of you …We knew you would fight a real fight, but we did not know that from the very beginning you would astonish the whole continent with your valour. I have come here for the simple purpose of seeing the Australians and telling them this. I shall go back tomorrow and say to my countrymen; ”I have seen the Australians; I have looked into their eyes. I know that they, men who have fought great battles in the cause of freedom, will fight on alongside us, till the freedom for which we are all fighting is guaranteed for us and our children”.’ - George Clemenceau, 7 July 1918.

Afterwards we visited Adelaide Cemetery, where the remains of the Australian Unknown Soldier were excavated in 1993. Sitting next to a main road, it has an odd atmosphere as many of the thousands that drive by each day are unlikely to know or appreciate the nature of the site.

Finally, we visited Lochnagar Crater, whose sheer size surprised us to say the least.

Dinner was at the local Hygge Restaurant, where outside the fire brigade was practising on the local church, drawing a crowd, which we were ourselves a part of. We even shook hands with a local Member of Parliament.

Diary entry by Claudia McPherson and Chontelle Harr

Today, I woke up extra early to get ready for the day so that we could conduct a super-secret project. Today was Claudia’s 16th birthday and we’d organised that when she went for a shower some of us would sneak in, spread balloons everywhere and hang tassels. With great success, we managed to do it unheard and when Claudia came out of the shower, she was completely shocked. We then all got ready and headed downstairs for the usual breakfast.

First up today was the First Australian Division Memorial at Pozieres. We stood in the icy air as Pete, our wonderful historian and tour guide, shared the history of the battle. We learnt that it was one of the most horrific battles in the First World War, where 23,000 lives were lost in just 2 weeks. Right next to it was the Gibraltar Bunker, a German offensive blockhouse used in the First World War, which has sadly deteriorated over the years. We then boarded the coach again and made our way to the Tank Corps Memorial in Pozieres. We were able to look at and observe four different types of tanks and the progression of the tanks throughout the war. Across the road was the location where the Pozieres windmill once stood. The windmill was once where the German’s gained a vantage point from. Over the flat plains of Northern France, the top of the windmill would have allowed a 360-view of the Allies for miles and miles.

We then visited Mont Saint-Quentin, where in 1918, Australia fought to gain the German line. It was a success and the Germans were pushed back. Next up was the Historical de la Grande Guerre Museum where we were given time to explore the displays and exhibitions and shop at the gift shop, where many of us picked up some great WW1 history books.

Aside from these places, today marked the last commemoration we would conduct as a group and the last cemetery and memorial we would visit as a group. At the realisation, I believe everyone felt just as I did. We are all sad for this journey to be coming to an end and truthfully, we wish we could stay longer. It has been an incredible trip - a trip of a lifetime. We’ve all learnt so much and we’ve been introduced to so many historical sites. We’ve laughed, and we’ve cried. Most importantly, we’ve formed a family. It’s hard to believe that we will go our separate ways in a few days because we’ve all spent just shy of 2 weeks stuck to each other’s sides, and I couldn’t imagine it any other way. All day, we tried to spend as much time as we could with each other, playing Uno on the bus and listening to music. It was a great end to such an amazing experience.

I hope that one day I come and tour the battlefields again, and maybe we’ll be able to do it together as a group.

On Sunday and Monday the group travelled back to Australia. The 2019 Premier’s Anzac Prize participants were welcomed home by Mr Tony Cook, Director-General (DG), Department of Education, at a function held at 1 William Street, Brisbane. The students and their chaperones gave presentations sharing their experiences from the tour. Attendees consisted of a mixture of friends, family, VIPs and special guests.

Participants were presented with their commemorative plaques and a book by the DG and Brigadier Michael Bond, Commander of the 5th Brigade.

In the lead-up to the tour all participants organised a fundraiser through their schools for the benefit of the Mates4Mates organisation. Well over $2,400 was raised by the students and the chaperones and a ceremonial cheque was presented to Captain Andrew Craig (Retired), Chair Queensland Advisory Committee for the Commemoration of the Anzac Centenary, on behalf of Mates4Mates.

Like the previous 2 years the group collated artefacts and memorabilia from the tour, which were placed in a time capsule, which was presented to Ms Linda Barron, Director, Visitor and Information Services for safekeeping at the State Library of Queensland.

The memories and experiences they have shared on tour will be with them for a lifetime.