This year’s program

During a 3-day workshop delivered by the State Library of Queensland, students and chaperones explored the rich tapestry of stories of Australia’s service personnel. With exclusive behind-the-scenes access, students worked alongside expert librarians, uncovering research techniques and strategies to deepen their understanding of the service persons they had chosen to explore.

Dignitaries were invited to the White Gloves experience for recipients to showcase their research. Students and chaperones met with the Honourable Sam O’Connor MP, Acting Minister for Education, Major General (MAJGEN) Stephen Day DSC AM, RSL Queensland State President and Vicki McDonald, State Librarian and CEO of State Library of Queensland. Donning white gloves to preserve the records, they viewed and handled precious World War I artefacts and first-hand accounts such as journals, trench art and letters.

Chaperone Dane Ponting and student Allegra Bradley showing World War I artefacts to Susan Brook, Acting Director Global Engagement, Department of Education International.

2025 recipients with Trooper Jones, the Light Horse Bear.

Prize recipient Dustin McGuire articulated the ongoing relevance of the Anzac legacy to young people today. Speaking on behalf of the students, he said ‘The Anzac Spirit—courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice—is not confined to history books. It is alive in the values we uphold today, inspiring us to persevere in our challenges and unite in the face of adversity. As Paul Keating once said in his eulogy to the Unknown Australian Soldier, “He is all of them. And he is one of us.” These words remind us of our shared responsibility to honour their sacrifice and ensure their legacy endures.’

Diary entry by Dane (chaperone).

We travelled from Brisbane, landing at Heathrow nice and early at 5.45am on the 13th. Most of us got a decent amount of sleep on the final stretch and Singapore Airways were fantastic to fly with. The group were both a little exhausted from the travel and super excited to be here! We met Jo, our tour guide, at the airport and took a quick side trip for some breakfast and coffee.

Next, we met Harvey, our coach driver for the day, and took a trip around London to see some of the sights. Personally, I was blown away by walking in the cellar of the All Hallows by the Tower Church, established in 675 CE, and the oldest church in London. In the basement, there is a piece of pavement from the Roman era, dating back to the 2nd century. We met Father John, who told us the history and how the church links to Talbot House in Poperinge, Belgium, during WWI. We will get to experience this more in person a bit later in the tour. We covered a lot of ground today, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, The Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square, Fleet Street, The Tower Hill Memorial, The Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.

A very significant highlight for me personally was seeing the Tower of London up close. I have read so much about the history of the Tower, built by William the Conqueror over 1,000 years ago, and to be standing in front of it was just surreal. I enjoyed every second of it. Jo, our tour guide, has been very welcoming and super knowledgeable. It's been a very successful and enjoyable first day, however, we are all very keen for a long sleep tonight! Tomorrow, we go to the Animals in War Memorial for our first ceremony.

St Paul's Cathedral

Diary entry by Allegra.

Today was our first full day in London. We began early again, with breakfast at the hotel before getting ready for the day ahead. By 9am, we jumped in our tour bus and headed to the Imperial War Museum where we were treated to many historic artefacts teaching us stories of the past. We started on the second floor, which was the Holocaust exhibit. The story of the Second World War was told to us from the very beginning, from Hitler's first acts in forming the Nazi Party, to the stories of survivors of the Holocaust. We were moved by the stories of past: the articles of clothing worn by prisoners of Auschwitz and the photos of the true horrors that occurred. Many of us were close to tears by the confronting nature of the exhibit. We then explored the First and Second World War exhibits, immersing ourselves in the interactive experiences to understand and learn more about the war and its impacts on allied soils and soldiers.

Next, we went to the Animals in War Memorial to honour the sacrifice of those animals who had no choice but to serve for our countries but did so bravely, and we honour and remember their sacrifice. Our tour guide, Jo, showed us authentic bomb shelters from WWII and American memorials in Grosvenor Square to honour Theodore Roosevelt and the eagle squad. We also saw a few squirrels, much to everyone's joy. After that, we had lunch and played cards to spend time getting to know each other. After lunch, we went to Covent Garden to watch street performers, visit shops and spend time at the local markets to really explore and enjoy the beauty of London. That afternoon, we walked to the London Eye and visited some souvenir shops before our Thames River cruise. The cruise was enlightening and we learned the history of the river and its famous landmarks such as the London Tower Bridge, London Tower itself and the National Theatre. We ended the day with dinner by the docks watching the sun slowly going down.

Animals in War Memorial

Tower Bridge

Diary entry by Karen.

Today was a special and meaningful day. We started by visiting Mary's Church at Harefield, where 112 Australian soldiers are buried. We met the church warden, Rowena, who guided us around and shared some touching stories about the soldiers and their sacrifices during WWI. Hearing about their bravery helped us understand just how much they gave for others.

After a long trip back, we visited HMS Belfast, which is one of the biggest and coolest ships I've ever seen. It was amazing to walk through the different parts of the ship and imagine what life must have been like for the people who served on it. We laid a wreath and had a service in the private chapel on board to remember and honour those who fought. We also saw the Admiral's Deck and got the chance to practice steering the ship in a simulation. Finally, we headed off to dinner at a genuine English pub after a long but important day. It was full of learning, respect and remembrance that I won’t forget any time soon.

Anzac Cemetery Harefield

Aboard HMS Belfast

Diary entry by Morgan (chaperone).

After only meeting each other a few days ago to start this adventure, the students are really starting to come together as a group and are enjoying the experiences being provided to them. We relished a busy day in Paris. We spent the morning undertaking a sightseeing bus tour, stopping at some of Paris's key tourist destinations including the Cathedral of Saint-Louis-de-Invalides where Napoleon is buried, the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe, a very short stop outside Notre Dame Cathedral, Champs-Elysees, the Louvre district... the list goes on. There were way too many to name (and try to spell!). The students were very interested to see a flag positioned in the centre of the road in one location; we were told this indicated the above ground position of the place below in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel where Princess Diana was killed following a car crash in 1997.

All our students have decided they will never drive in Paris! The roundabout near the Arc was insane with 12 entries! Apparently, cars entering have right of way and those trying to get off just need to keep circling until there is a possible opportunity—no thanks! Following our bus tour, we boarded a cruise along the Seine River where we were able to observe many buildings and the culture of Paris. The students thoroughly enjoyed this hour-long experience.

Following a 3-course lunch, we headed to the Louvre Museum. The students spent nearly 2 hours in the Louvre exploring many exhibits, some getting up close and personal with Mona Lisa herself. Each student had a different highlight of the Louvre and spoke of these at dinner at a local restaurant.

Eiffel Tower

Gardens of Versailles

Louvre Museum

Diary entry by Allegra.

Au revoir, Paris! Today, we depart the city of love for beautiful Belgium. Along the journey between the neighbouring countries, we stopped at Fromelles to explore the museum and the history of the Australians who fought in one of the largest battles of the Western Front. We had lunch at Pheasant Wood cemetery while our tour guide, Nigel, told us about how the cemetery initially only had unmarked graves, but research over time has identified most of the soldiers. A few of us had an emotional moment as we read the headstones that had names from our hometowns and mentioned fallen soldiers with similar ages to those we love. It truly begged the question, what age do we deem acceptable for death? We moved on to our service in front of the Cobber's Memorial down the road, which was just behind German Frontlines.

There were ruins of German bunkers that surrounded the memorial. We began our service and commemorated the sacrifice of many young Australians. We then moved to VC Cemetery which is a mass burial plot with no headstones and a memorial wall with the names of all who were missing or killed in action. It was another very emotional experience as those with names on the wall lay just beneath our feet. There was no personalisation, they were commemorated as one. We then took a brief detour to Armentieres War Cemetery so that Saxon, one of my fellow prize recipients, could give the first eulogy of the trip to F.A. Manders. It was a very emotional experience for all of us, as the people we have been researching for 6 months were right in front of us and we were finally able to commemorate them. I had an emotional moment when Saxon delivered his eulogy, as next to F.A. Manders' grave there was a beautiful set of flowers growing up from the ground. It was a beautifully tragic moment, because how can such loss also provide such beauty? The complexity of the moment was heartbreaking.

We then moved onto Ypres, arriving at our hotel. After quickly dropping off our bags, we headed for dinner where we were treated with pizza and Belgian waffles. After dinner, we made our way to Menin Gate for the nightly service as hosted by the last post association. A soldier I had researched is commemorated on the Menin Gate and after a quick look, it was amazing to see a familiar name on the wall. Amelia, Charlie and I had the honour of being part of the service and laying a wreath, which was a very surreal experience.

While at the service, we met students from William Clarke College in New South Wales as well as recipients of the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize from Tasmania, which provided comfort and a reminder of home. After the service, we headed back to the hotel. As it was Good Friday, we heard some music outside of our windows and sitting on the ledge, we listened to the service being held at a nearby church. Today was a beautiful day in many aspects and definitely one none of us will forget.

Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery, Fromelles

Flags at Fromelles

Diary entry by Saxon.

Today was definitely one of the more emotional days in the trip for me and many others. In the morning, we drove to the Polygon Wood Cemetery; it was so very silent and beautiful, quite a juxtaposition from the chaos and horror seen in those woods over 100 years ago. It reminded me how much has changed in that time, but also how little in a sense, as wars of smaller scale, but arguably equal tragedy are still happening today. It was lovely to see how much care and attention the cemetery receives, particularly as they were unable to be buried in Australia.

In the afternoon, we went to Tyne Cot Cemetery, where Dustin, Morgan, Allegra and Amelia shared some heartfelt and down-to-earth eulogies.

Later that day, we visited the incredible Passchendaele Museum, with long trench line recreations portraying the conditions soldiers endured. We also visited the Brothers-In-Arms Memorial, which commemorated a truly heartbreaking story. In the afternoon, we undertook our Polygon Wood orienteering mission which took us through the forest and to some of the German bunkers remaining in the woods. It was surreal working in the fields and forests of our ancestors, but it makes this prize even more special to me and my fellow recipients. Today is yet another day on this trip that I will never forget.

Polygon Wood Cemetery, Belgium

Orienteering at Polygon Wood

Diary entry by Amelia.

Today, we visited the Flanders Museum and the WWI exhibit, which was deeply moving. I felt these locations were portraying that the events weren't about numbers or battles, they are all about people. The letters, photos and everyday objects made their stories feel personal and real. One letter from a young soldier to his mother really stuck with me. You could feel his fear reading between the lines, even though he tried to sound brave. Small things like a worn photo or a diary entry reminded me how human this war was, in terms of love, loss and quiet strength. Being at the location where it all happened made it even more powerful. It wasn't just history, it felt personal.

Lest we forget

Diary entry by Dane (chaperone).

Today started out with sad news, as our tour guide for the past 5 days, Nigel, has come down sick and unfortunately can't continue with us. He has been a wonderful guide and we will certainly miss his expertise! After a team breakfast, we headed down to Menin Road South Military Cemetery, where Charlie eulogised Walter Henry Lergessner in a moving speech. From here, we boarded the bus for the hour-long trip to Bruges. What can we say about Bruges? Known as the 'Venice of the North', it’s such a beautiful and historic city. Founded by the Vikings in the 10th and 11th Century, the gothic architecture is stunning. We hightailed it to make our 10am canal cruise, which was a highlight for everyone. Afterwards, we visited the Church of Our Lady and got the chance to see firsthand the famous Michelangelo statue: Madonna and Child. It was the only statue that left Italy during Michelangelo's lifetime and was famously stolen by both Napoleon and Hitler.

We had lunch and did some shopping in the picturesque Markt and walked back through the beautiful winding streets to our bus. Jimmy, our driver, drove us to Langemarck German War Cemetery, where we walked amongst the many graves of German soldiers from WWI. Langemarck contains the remains of 44,000 soldiers, with 24,000 of them remaining unknown. It was sobering for us all to see a different perspective on the war.

On the way home to the hotel in Ypres, Jimmy pointed out his beautiful cottage home in the fields between Langemarck and Ypres; I always love seeing how people in other cultures live. When we got back, I left on an ill-fated trip with the group's dirty washing to the local laundromat. It rained a bucket and the several kilogram bundle of laundry seemed to weigh a tonne on the long walk! The change machine was broken and I couldn’t find any washing powder. Thoroughly defeated, I walked back to the hotel, we will try again in Amiens!

Morgan and Charlie took the group to the Menin Gate Ramparts, where they conducted 2 moving eulogies for our brave fallen diggers. Tomorrow, we leave Belgium (such a beautiful country) and journey to Amiens and begin our commemorations that will take place on the Somme, which I am very much looking forward to.

Bruges

Provincial Court, Bruges

Diary entry by Estera.

Today, we left Belgium to continue our tour of the Western Front. We were greeted by our new tour guide, Rob, before heading to Messines Ridge and the New Zealand Cemetery for a heart moving explanation of trench warfare and the art of tunnelling.

We then stopped beside the field of the Christmas Truce, a place holding many memories and so much hope in such a dark time. I know I speak for everyone when I say that this was beautiful but heartbreaking to see. We continued to the famous Canadian National Vimy Memorial. The beautiful maple trees add to the picture that the soldiers who gave their lives in WWI are truly at home although they lie in foreign soil. A moving part of this memorial was seeing the surrounding area which still bears the shell holes and scars of the conflict. To this day, people are not allowed to walk in this area due to the danger of possible undischarged explosives.

We had lunch before heading to the Bullecourt Memorial, where Karen and Dane gave personal commemorations for soldiers they had researched. Bullecourt was a memorable experience for us all as it is so closely related to most of our soldiers who fought on the Somme. We then headed to Pozieres British Cemetery where Lucy and I gave eulogies. Seeing recognisable names on graves thousands of kilometres from home is so surreal. I did not know the soldier I researched; I was not related to him but standing in that cemetery I felt as though I was at home kneeling in front of his grave. He was 15 years old when he was killed. I cannot describe how the grief intertwined with love, thankfulness and appreciation painted the most beautiful picture. I believe it is summed up on the engraving aside his grave, 'Dearly loved, sadly missed'. Giving that eulogy is a moment I will never forget and I will forever be thankful for that opportunity.

We next travelled to Lochnagar, a giant crater home to the only memorial for women on the Western Front. I think we were all humbled at the site of so much destruction and of the reality of the weaponry and explosives that were available in the First World War.

We travelled to Dernancourt Cemetery for Karen to give his second eulogy. On the way to our hotel in Amiens, we stopped at Ribecourt British Cemetery for Morgan to place flags on the grave of 1 of 4 First Nations people from her area who did not return home. At the cemetery, we saw a commemorative cross from a previous year of the Premier's Anzac Prize, reminding us of the opportunity we have been given. After checking into our hotel in Amiens, we headed to dinner and then to bed for a well-deserved rest. This day will stay with us forever.

Bullecourt Memorial commemoration

Pozieres

Diary entry by Lucy.

This morning began with a lot of rain and everyone feeling freezing! It did, however, create a sombre, reflective mood that felt appropriate for the journey ahead. It was a quiet start to what would be a deeply moving day. Our first stop was the Notre Dame Cathedral. Towering and majestic, it stood as a timeless symbol of faith and endurance. Inside were stunning stained-glass windows, elegant statues and an impressive organ.

From there, we made our way to the Adelaide Cemetery, a peaceful site surrounded by open fields. Here, we stood before the Grave of the Unknown Soldier. It made us all think about the countless individuals who gave everything, yet remain unnamed and unknown. Our heroes.

Next, we visited the Franco-Australian Museum, housed in a school rebuilt by Australians after WWI. The museum told stories of sacrifice, memory and friendship between the French and Australians. The displays of letters, uniforms and photographs brought a human face to the history. Seeing the artifacts made the war feel more immediate, more personal.

After that, we continued to the Sir John Monash Centre, a modern and immersive museum that delves deeply into the experiences of Australian soldiers during the First World War. Through audio guides, video installations and interactive displays, we were able to step into the shoes of those who served on the Western Front. It wasn't just facts and dates, it was emotion, memory and legacy. The centre doesn’t just teach history; it helps people to feel it. My favourite moment was sitting in the cinema room and really feeling like WWI was unfolding around me, with the lights, loud sounds and screens surrounding me, bringing the history alive.

In the afternoon, we visited the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery. Set atop a gentle slope, the cemetery overlooks the quiet fields that were once battlegrounds. The rows of white headstones stretched out before us in perfect symmetry, each one a tribute to a life lost far from home. The sun came out, perhaps a symbol of the calmness and peace that is spread through the cemetery. Saxon, Dane, Estera and I were proud to conduct our eulogies today and many of us laid crosses on behalf of our local schools.

Today has been both humbling and emotional. It's one thing to learn about war in a classroom or a textbook, but it's entirely different to stand where it happened, to read the names of those involved and to feel the weight of the stories told in stone and silence. This is a day I won't forget. We then headed back to the hotel to meet our new guide, Jules, before heading to dinner!

Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

Laying crosses

Estera conducting a eulogy at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery

Diary entry by Dustin.

Today, we were able to have a sleep in with a later breakfast, leaving at 9.30am. We first headed to the Naours Underground. It was a highly immersive experience that went far beyond our expectations. The cave being several hundred years old gave us an insight into European life prior to WWI. We also got to see the names of thousands of soldiers who visited the underground city during time off from the front lines. We all had the opportunity to search for the names of relatives or researched persons carved into the rock.

After Naours, we headed to Vignacourt. We got to see many old photos of soldiers who had commissioned portraits and antique photographs during their days off. They had an incredible archive of French newspapers from 1914–1918 and do an excellent job at preserving the information. We were there at the same time as the Tasmanian Frank McDonald Memorial Prize group and got to share the experience with them.

We then departed for Crouy British Cemetery and listened to Amelia give a heartfelt eulogy for one her ancestors. The cemetery was beautiful, in the middle of a foggy valley amidst many more silver stones and a fallen soldier, awarded the Victoria Cross. We went back to the hotel, not long after visiting the cemetery. A pizza dinner at the hotel was excellent. Before bed, Karen, Lucy and I went to iron our pants and met a member of the Catafalque party due to attend the Villers-Bretonneux Dawn Service in the morning.

Naours Underground

Diary entry by Allegra.

From the moment I woke up, I knew today would be an extremely special day. The early 2.00am start had all of us exhausted, but some fresh hot chocolate and adrenaline from the excitement was enough to wake us up. As we arrived at Villers-Bretonneux, it was unimaginably cold, even wearing 3 layers, I was freezing. It was a beautiful sight seeing the Australian National Memorial lit up in remembrance. We took our seats and admired the beauty of the service. There was some weeping as we honoured and remembered not only the soldiers we had researched, but all soldiers who had hopes, dreams and aspirations; whose lives were cut short by the tragedy of war. I shed a few tears watching the projections of those who had fallen, their names, ages and stories, all alight on this beautiful day. It made me think more about one of my soldiers and all he had seen before he too lost his life. We then were invited to lay our wreath on behalf of Queensland; it was a moment I will forever cherish. Walking together as a team, watching Karen and Estera lay the wreath, taking a moment to reflect on how grateful we are and how far we have come to reach this moment. It was a moment like no other. After the service, we headed into the small town of Le Hamel, who embraced us as though we were their own. We had breakfast with them, spoke with the local school children and truly understood the capacity of respect and friendship the French and Australian people have for one another. Today was unforgettable.

Anzac Day Dawn Service

Commemorating our fallen soldiers

Estera and Karen laying a wreath