The Department of Veterans' Affairs would like to congratulate everyone who contributed an entry to the 2024 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards. The theme for the competition was 'Discover the stories of veterans in your local community'.
The awards encourage schools to connect with veterans and current members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), providing students with a personal and meaningful understanding of Australia’s wartime history. This was evident in the many outstanding submissions.
We would like to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and creativity shown by all the schools, students and teacher coordinators that submitted an entry.
2024 winners
National winner and also Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO Award for Veteran Involvement – joint winner
St Patrick’s College for Girls in Campbelltown, NSW
Students in the History Club created a detailed website about local veterans, from the First World War to those serving today. They did a lot of research and showed a deep understanding of the veterans' experiences. A Year 10 student took photos that showed how much the students cared about the veterans. The website will help future students at the school learn about Australia’s military history.
This image of the front page of a website is from the entry of the National School Winner and the joint winner of the Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO award for veteran involvement in the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, St Patrick’s College for Girls, Campbelltown, NSW.
ACT winner
St Thomas More's Primary School
The judges were impressed with how the entry connected to the school's three sporting houses: Legacy, Honour, and Valour. Students learnt about how the veterans linked to these houses. This gave them a better understanding of both past and current military personnel in their community. The entry connected the experiences of veterans with the school creed.
NSW winner – joint
John Edmondson High School
For their entry students from Year 7 to Year 11 developed a comprehensive website. The judging panel liked the variety of ways in which students shared their learning. The website included veteran interviews, research, poetry, artwork and images. Students provided personal reflections. These reflections showed a deep connection between the students and veterans.
NSW winner – joint
Gosford High School
Students looked into local veterans and wrote about their lives and experiences. The judging panel commented on the creative range of activities. These included sharing the veterans' stories through artwork, poetry, dioramas, and crochet. This combined the students' skills and passions when learning about veterans. Their written reflections showed both empathy and understanding.
This artwork is from the entry of the joint NSW Winner in the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Gosford High School, NSW.
This artwork is from the entry of the joint NSW Winner in the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Gosford High School, NSW.
NT winner
Larrakeyah Primary School
The school had 4 veterans visit 6 classes to help students learn about the stories of local veterans. During the visits, the veterans engaged the students with Anzac-themed crafts. The veterans also shared information about their medals, hats and a ceremonial sabre. The lawn display, called ‘Our Special Anzacs,’ was a great way to learn about and honour the service of family members.
This image is from the entry of the NT Winner in the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Larrakeyah Primary School, NT.
Qld winner and also Award for Innovative Commemoration – joint winner
Southern Cross Catholic College
Students did many activities to connect with local veterans. Younger students explored military vehicles, met servicemen and made postcards for veterans. They created an Anzac display about Sir John Lavarack, and decorated classroom doors with veterans' stories. Year 10 students made an escape room about the Second World War and local veterans. Year 12 students filmed an interview with 4 local veterans who shared their military experiences.
This image is from the entry of the Qld Winner and the joint winner of the Award for Innovative Commemoration in the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Southern Cross Catholic College, Qld.
This image is from the entry of the Qld Winner and the joint winner of the Award for Innovative Commemoration in the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Southern Cross Catholic College, Qld.
Vic winner – joint
Guthridge Primary School
The school welcomed Squadron Leader Steve (Sparky) Parker and Squadron Leader Dave Hughes for a visit. They talked about their service and showed their medals, uniforms, and quilts to the school's Defence students. After the visit, the students made a newspaper called the 'Guthridge ANZAC Gazette'. The newspaper had photos, drawings, and reflections by student reporters, showing their care and respect for the veterans.
This image of the 'Guthridge ANZAC Gazette' is from the entry of the joint Vic Winner in the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Guthridge Primary School, Vic.
Vic winner – joint
Prahran High School
Year 9 students worked on a 5-week project about the First World War. In the end, they created a memorial wall. Each student made something to honour a local First World War veteran – a comic, poem or profile of the veteran. Members of the judging panel commented on the respectful student reflections that demonstrated both empathy and understanding about this time in our nation’s history.
This image is from the entry of the joint Vic Winner of the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Prahran High School, Vic.
WA winner
Woodbridge Primary School
The judging panel commends Woodbridge Primary School for offering a range of activities for students to learn about local veterans. The judges were also impressed by the whole school's participation. Students interviewed veterans and researched people who won the Victoria Cross. They learnt about commemoration and conducting interviews. For Anzac Day, they held a ceremony to honour 9 veterans and 2 active ADF members.
Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO Award for Veteran Involvement – joint winner
Wendouree Primary School (Vic)
Senior students learnt about veterans by joining the Brothers and Books Readathon. They researched a former student who served at Gallipoli - Henry Troon. They spent a month creating and setting up a memorial garden to honour him. Seeing the garden become the central location for their Remembrance Day service was wonderful. The judging panel remarked on the positive veteran engagement.
This image is from the entry of the joint winner of the Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO award for veteran involvement in the 2024 Anzac Day Schools' Awards, Wendouree Primary School, Vic.
Award for Innovative Commemoration – joint winner
Kulnura Public School (NSW)
Students grew flowers to make special wreaths to honour veterans. They turned their library into a dining room to host a lunch for the visiting veterans. They researched local veterans, wrote poems, and made artwork to pay tribute to their service. To end the project, Captain David Myers and members of a national service re-enactment unit visited. They shared their stories and answered students' questions.
Award for Creative Use of Technology
Anzac Terrace Primary School (WA)
Year 6 students made a news report with roving reporters to show the school's activities honouring veterans. They created documentaries about veterans and met a service dog. Local veterans from Bassendean RSL brought photos of themselves in uniform so students could draw them. They also spoke about why Anzac Day is important to them.
Certificate of Excellence winners
NSW
Corrimal East Public School
Dapto High School
St John the Evangelist Catholic High School
St Joseph's College Lochinvar
Qld
Biloela State School
North Shore State School
Pallara State School
Vic
Irymple Secondary College
Mackellar Primary School
St Aloysius College
Wodonga South Primary School
WA
Aubin Grove Primary School
Ellenbrook Secondary College
Poynter Primary School
2023 winners
National winner
John Edmondson High School, Horningsea Park, NSW
ACT winner
Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School
NSW winner
St Patrick’s College for Girls, Campbelltown
NT winner
Ludmilla Primary School
Qld winner
Pallara State School
SA winner
Cornerstone College, Mount Barker
Tas winner
Mountain Heights School, Queenstown
Vic winner
Baranduda Primary School
WA winner
Woodbridge Primary School
Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO Award for Veteran Involvement
Moorooka State School, Qld
Award for Innovative Commemoration
Heatherwood School, Vic
Award for Creative Use of Technology
Kulnura Public School, NSW
Remote Schools Award
Mount Magnet District High School, WA
Specialist Educational Setting Award
Cleveland Education and Training Centre, Qld
Certificate of Excellence winners
NSW
Barooga Public School
Edmund Rice College, Wollongong
Forbes North Public School
Kingswood High School
Lucas Gardens School
Narrabri Public School
Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School
Passfield Park School
Pottsville Beach Public School
St Brigid's, Gwynneville
St John the Evangelist Catholic High School
St Joseph's College, Lochinvar
Sydney Technical High School
Wattle Grove Public School
NT
Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School
Rosebery Primary School
Qld
Mount Mee State School
North Shore State School
Southern Cross Catholic College
Vic
Alfredton Primary School
Guthridge Primary School
Mount Waverley Secondary College
Notre Dame College
WA
Gwynne Park Education Support Centre
Mandurah Catholic College