Students to walk in footsteps of the Anzacs

NSW Premier Mike Baird today opened the 2016 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship and encouraged students currently in Year 9 and 10 to apply for the opportunity to travel to key historic battlefields in which Australians have fought.

The Premier also announced that the focus of the Scholarship program for the next three years will be for students to visit sites on the Western Front to commemorate the Centenary of Anzac.

“It is important that Australian service men and women are remembered in their communities,” Mr Baird said.

“The scholars’ pilgrimage to the Western Front will enable the stories of sacrifice and courage by the Anzacs to be passed on to our younger generations.”

The Premier said that up to 20 scholarships will be offered to enable scholars to travel to visit key battlefields, memorial sites and ceremonies with significance to the Centenary of Anzac in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

In July 2016 students will be visiting France and Belgium to commemorate the Anzacs who fought on the Western Front during World War One.

Scholars have visited a range of significant battlefields and memorial sites in the past. Previous tour destinations have included South Korea, Turkey, the Western Front, Vietnam and Singapore.

Applications for students to travel to key battlefields and memorial sites on the Western Front in 2016 will be assessed by a committee including Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Education and the NSW RSL.

To apply, please visit Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship or contact Veterans’ Affairs on (02) 9228 4710.