Winners of Anzac Day Schools' Awards

The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) congratulates everyone who entered the 2025 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards. The theme was ‘Remembering Gallipoli: 110 years’.

Each year, this national competition encourages students, with their teachers and schools, to connect with veterans and current serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to learn about Australia’s military history.

Thank you to all the amazing schools for entering. The entries were diverse, capturing the different ways schools are honouring veterans in innovative and meaningful ways.

We hope to see you all again. The Anzac Day Schools' Awards theme for 2026 is ‘Women in Service’.

2025 winners

National winner: Nagle College, Vic

Year 9 students from Nagle College began their journey of discovery following an inspirational visit from a World War II veteran. Students used primary sources to explore the unique experiences of local Gallipoli veterans. The veterans' stories were at the heart of the student learning activities. Students showcased their new knowledge through creative writing. They retold the veterans' stories in a variety of creative and meaningful ways. Detailed diaries, letters, journals, biographies and notebooks were used to honour and commemorate their local Gallipoli veterans. Great care was taken to plan, design and publish these stories. The students' work was proudly displayed for the whole school. Bringing these stories to others ensures that they are not forgotten. Congratulations to Nagle College.

A collection of letters, diaries, notebooks, journals and biographies written by Year 9 students from Nagle College.

Screenshot of a presentation page titled, East Gippsland Anzacs who served at Gallipoli. Images of student work; diaries, maps and journals with medals. — Nagle College collated their work in a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation effectively shared their learning.

Photograph of glass display cabinet with student work showcasing tea stained writing (letters, journals and notebooks) with images of soldiers. — Student work on display at the front office of Nagle College.

State and Territory winners

ACT winner: Blue Gum Community School

Years 4 and 5 students from Blue Gum Community School created a video, highlighting their ‘Remembering Gallipoli: 110 years’ learning journey. The video summarised the students’ learning effectively. The video allowed the judges to sample their experiences. This included a visit to the Australian War Memorial, baking Anzac biscuits and a student-led performance about the Gallipoli Campaign. The judging panel were impressed with the detailed Gallipoli trench dioramas and informational posters. A selection of poetry, interviews with family members and student learning reflections allowed the judges to see their rich learning. Well done to Blue Gum Community School.

Photograph of student work of a diorama of a trench. Paddle pop sticks line one trench wall with hanging walnut shells representing the soldier's helmets. A ladder leans against the other wall. — Creative dioramas by Candlebark students from Blue Gum Community School replicated Gallipoli trenches. Walnut shells were used to represent the soldier’s helmets and paddle pop sticks to create the wood panelling

A student's illustrated poem, titled Gallipoli. The poem reads, 'The boat hit the sand, "sploosh." Soldiers hurried out of the boat as the sand crunched underfoot. The first gunshot rang out, "pow!""Uarrhg," said people as their lives were tragically lost barely any survivors remained. — One example of the Gallipoli poetry from Year 4/5 students.

NSW winner: St James' Primary School

Stage 3 students from St James’ Primary School embraced the Awards' theme, ‘Remembering Gallipoli: 110 years’, in a meaningful and respectful way. The entry connected the head (learning) with the heart (feeling) successfully. The presentation was a compilation of the students’ learning experiences. It included images of students examining World War I artefacts and researching veteran stories. The judging panel commended the use of ‘process drama’ techniques to engage students. The video reflections were an honest record of the students’ feelings and thoughts on the campaign. Students researched local Gallipoli veterans and applied their knowledge in letters written to loved ones back home. An impressive entry. Well done St James’ Primary School.

Three examples of feeling cards. Students use colour and words to describe how they felt. The first poster reads, Before: excited, energetic, impatient, proud, fearless, ready, relaxed, happy. — Examples of Years 5 and 6 ‘feeling cards.’ This activity allowed students to reflect on and connect with the experiences of Australian soldiers during the Gallipoli Campaign.

Five students photographed in a dramatic pose. Three students with hunched shoulders, cup their hands over their face. Two other students rest their hands on an other students' back. — Stage 3 St James’ Primary School students pose in a ‘freeze frame’ stance. Students used freeze frames to empathetically connect to veterans’ experiences in Gallipoli and their families back home in Australia.

NT winner: Rosebery Primary School

With the support of their Defence School Mentor and teachers, all students at Rosebery Primary School were involved in their ADSA entry. The students’ learning was collated and presented in a special Anzac Day edition of the Turtle Times school newsletter. The judging panel commends Rosebery Primary School for engaging their whole school community and inviting veterans to the school. The newsletter was a celebration of student achievement. It successfully captured their engagement in learning about Gallipoli. The acrostic poem with images from the Gallipoli Campaign allowed students to connect with the historic events and use the images to recreate their own illustrations. Congratulations to the team at Rosebery Primary School.

A photograph of a timeline showing the main events of the Gallipoli Campaign. Information cards, images and a map are arranged with decorative commemorative poppies on a poster. — Years 1 and 2 students reconstructed a timeline of Gallipoli events. Students decorated the timeline with commemorative poppies, and brown paper to represent the rugged Gallipoli hills.

The first 4 pages of an acrostic poem titled, 'Gallipoli.' The poem is illustrated with student artwork. — Years 3 and 4 students illustrated an acrostic poem, ‘Gallipoli.’ Students read the poem during the whole school Anzac Commemoration assembly.

QLD winner: North Shore State School

North Shore State School (NSSS) delved into the theme, ‘Remembering Gallipoli: 110 years’, by implementing a whole school approach. The presentation used photographs effectively to showcase the students’ learning across the school. The judges were impressed with the interactive Gallipoli learning wall. The panel liked how other grade levels used the wall to learn about the campaign. NSSS incorporated commemorative elements throughout the entry. During their Anzac Day service, veteran images were displayed as students placed memorial lanterns. The veteran-inspired portraits honour the service and sacrifice of veterans. A committed effort. Well done to NSSS.

Screenshot of presentation slide titled, Medals earnt during World War I. Four photos show war medals decorated by students. Ribbons, paper, colouring and sequins adorn the medals. — Prep and Year 1 students share their learning. A Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest decoration for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.

Screenshot of presentation slide titled, Interactive Gallipoli learning wall. Four students stand in front of a display. Laminated information cards with images of people, maps and QR codes line the wall. Commemorative poppies are placed throughout the display. — Students in Year 4 created an interactive Gallipoli learning wall. Other students used the wall to learn about the Gallipoli Campaign and the people involved.

SA winner: Truro Primary School

During Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) lessons, students from Reception to Year 6 learned about Gallipoli. The PowerPoint presentation effectively showcased the students’ work. Their work showed ownership of their learning. The judges noted the different ways students presented their work. For example, a timeline of events and informational texts on nurses and the ‘drip’ rifle. Students shared their new knowledge and interesting facts with their peers. Creating 110 poppies to go with the students’ artwork was symbolic and meaningful. A committed effort. Congratulations to Truro Primary School.

Student soldier silhouette artwork with watercolour background. The number 110 is created out of poppies. — Students from Truro Primary School, created 110 poppies to mark 110 years since the Gallipoli Campaign.

Screen shot of student work. Dot points outline some of the key Gallipoli events. — An example of student work, outlining some of the key Gallipoli events.

TAS winner: Riana Primary School

Riana Primary School used a PowerPoint presentation to exhibit student learning from a multi-age class of Years 1, 2 and 3 students. The judging panel noted the different ways learning about Gallipoli was incorporated. An impressive range of activities was undertaken. This included poetry, art, a veteran interview, videos and honour roll research. The students prepared questions for Vietnam veteran Steve York. These questions showed empathy and an interest in hearing about his experiences. Students shared their learning during a whole school assembly. They showcased their work that included impressive artworks. Well done to Riana Primary School.

VIC winner: Nunawading Christian College

Members from Nunawading Christian College’s History Club created a website dedicated to ‘Remembering Gallipoli: 110 years’. The club spent 10 weeks planning, researching and creating material. The judging panel commented on the impressive design of the website. It was easy to navigate, and the content was organised clearly. The site contained informational text, providing an overview of the campaign. The veteran interviews were strongly connected to the theme. The judges commend the students on reflecting on this experience and what they learnt from engaging with veterans. The artworks and poetry were captivating. Congratulations to Nunawading Christian College’s History Club.

WA winner: Rosalie Primary School

Rosalie Primary School’s entry was a celebration of a 10-week learning journey. A PowerPoint presentation showcased the rich and varied learning activities. The students' learning reflections impressed the judges. The work outlined what they had learned, including the soldiers’ experiences. Students created individual websites about the Gallipoli Campaign. Extensive research allowed them to write about various aspects of the campaign, such as conditions, weapons, significant battles, Victoria Cross recipients and the evacuation. Students presented their websites to peers. During the learning journey, some Year 6 students conducted interviews with veterans. Students asked questions to learn about their personal experiences and perspectives. Well done to Rosalie Primary School.

A person standing in front of a large screen. — Rosalie Primary students created websites about the Gallipoli Campaign. Students presented their work.

A partial screenshot of a website home page titled, Gallipoli. Nine square tiles act as links to other pages. They are titled, Overview, Campaign, Inventions, Maps, Daily life, WWI Songs, Local Stories, an Australian flag and VC Winners. — Year 6 student, Gabriella’s Gallipoli website home page.

Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO Award for Veteran Involvement: Comet Bay College, WA

Year 10 photography students engaged with veterans through their ‘Portrait of a Veteran’ exhibition. These beautiful veteran photographs were framed and displayed for the community. Students created a Gallipoli display at the local shopping centre. Members of the community were invited to write gratitude cards to veterans and current-serving Australian Defence Force members. Year 9 students wrote letters from the battlefield to loved ones at home. The judges were impressed with the student monologues that shared the stories and experiences of 5 extraordinary individuals who served in many different wars.

Nine photos of uniformed service people border the slide. The centre is a photo displaying the students' work with poppies resting on hessian filled bags, 2 floral wreaths and a lantern. — Comet Bay College’s Year 9 ‘Letters Home’ display.

Innovative Idea Award: Greta Valley Primary School, VIC

Greta Valley Primary School students embraced the theme, ‘Remembering Gallipoli: 110 years’, by honouring veterans buried in their local cemetery. The judging panellists were moved by the touching tributes placed by individual students at the grave sites. A red poppy, a flag and a written biography were carefully arranged and placed on the veterans’ graves. On Anzac Day, students led members of the community on a commemorative walk through the cemetery. The students have honoured the lives of these veterans through recognition, respect and community connection. Due to their actions, these veteran stories live on through the students of Greta Valley Primary School.

An Australian flag, poppy and poster placed beside a grave.

Creative Use of Technology: Knox Park Primary School, VIC

An enthusiastic and dedicated team of Year 6 Knox Park Primary School students integrated meaningful commemoration through technology and nature. The students created a memorial garden and placed laminated QR codes throughout the garden beds. The codes allowed peers and the wider community to access the students' digital presentations about the Gallipoli Campaign, Anzac Day and veteran stories. The judging panellists noted the potential for the garden to be an ongoing place of commemoration and learning and a special place to honour veterans' service and sacrifice.

Remote Schools Award: Bourke Public School, NSW

Years 1 and 2 students from Bourke Public School created a beautiful picture book titled, Stories Across the Sand. The judging panel appreciated how the book retold the students’ month-long learning journey. The story began with students leaving the red dirt of Bourke for the steep hills of Gallipoli. Students’ work was interwoven into the story. Information included the outline of the campaign, commemorative symbols, medals and letters to soldier Jack. Examples of Anzac acrostic poems were shared. The judges commend Bourke Public School on connecting the students’ lived experiences and learning about First Nations Australian service people in World War I.

Front cover of book titled, Stories Across the Sand. Watercolour illustrations of gum trees, red sand, beach and rocky hills. — Front cover of class book titled, ‘Stories Across the Sand,' written by Year 1 and 2 students.

Specialist Educational Settings Award: Redcliffe Special School, QLD

The judges commend Redcliffe Special School for its whole-school approach to learning about the Anzac experience and commemorating Anzac Day. Students engaged in a variety of activities. The PowerPoint presentation effectively showcased the 4-week learning journey. The images of students visiting the Redcliffe RSL memorabilia gallery, baking Anzac biscuits, the poppy garden and creating artworks were wonderful to see. Students connected with the theme, ‘Remember Gallipoli:110 years’, through exploring service and commemoration. Students shared photos of serving family members. This allowed the school community to remember and honour them.

Certificate of Excellence winners

ACT

Palmerston District Primary School

NSW

Cooma School for Early Learning

Frank Partridge VC Public School

John Edmondson High School

NT

St Joseph's Catholic College

QLD

Loreto College

St Patrick's College, Townsville

Townsville Community Learning Centre

SA

Renmark West Primary School

VIC

Camberwell Girls Grammar School

Donvale Christian College

Middle Kinglake Primary School

Mount Beauty Secondary College

WA

Anzac Terrace Primary School

Our Lady of Fatima Primary School