The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize Tour is now underway in Belgium and France and plays a vital role in ensuring young Tasmanians remember the stories of our veterans and preserve the meaning of the ANZAC spirit.
Named after Tasmania's last surviving World War 1 veteran, six Year 10 students from across Tasmania are participating in the Prize Tour from their entry in the essay-based competition.
''The group will be walking in the footsteps of our ANZACS and commenced with a tour around Ypres learning about the history of the Menin Gate, the Ramparts, and St George's Chapel,'' Acting Minister Ellis said.
''This week they will also visit the nationally significant Flanders Field Museum which is dedicated to the study of World War One.
''The Museum reflects upon the futility of war in the West Flanders Region with period pieces on the hardships the Australian Diggers faced in a time of World conflict.
''Thousands of Tasmanian students have entered the competition over the years and have discovered more about Tasmania's military history and the spirit of those who left our shores for the war effort to protect those they were leaving behind,'' Acting Minister Ellis said.
The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize is a study tour for approximately 14 days and comprises six students, two teachers, a parliamentary representative, a member of RSL Tasmania and a Tasmanian Government tour leader.
The six student recipients of this year's Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize are:
- Amy Willey, Tasman District School
- Harry Lillywhite, Scotch Oakburn College
- Jacob Rittman, Penguin District School
- Jacob Watt, Bayview Secondary College
- Sarah Brewer, Ulverstone Secondary College
- Xander Power, Marist Regional College
Students also undertake research into individual soldiers as part of the preparation for the Study Tour to better understand the contribution to our community's freedom.
Minister Guy Barnett is attending the Tour, as the Tasmanian Parliamentary representative, and said the Tour has started on a very sombre note, reflecting on the difficulties faced by the Australian Servicemen and Women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.
''The Tour will this week move through the historic World War One battlefields with a particular emphasis on the locations where Australians were heavily involved,'' Minister Barnett said.
''Next Tuesday, on Anzac Day, the Tour will attend the Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux where members of the group will lay wreaths and I will proudly lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Tasmania,'' Minister Barnett said.
The Tour will also witness the start of the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay, which marks 100 years of Legacy this year. The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay will depart from Pozieres in France travelling to London and then onto Australia. Legacy provides caring and compassionate service to assist widows, widowers, children, dependents of veterans and the wider veterans' community.
Lest we forget
