The 2021 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards are now open, encouraging students to learn about veteran service and Australian wartime history by asking the question, ‘what does commemoration look like in your community?’
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester said the Awards honoured the service and sacrifice of Australians across a range of conflicts and peacekeeping operations and encouraged students to find out more about Australia’s military history.
“This year students are being asked to look at the importance of commemoration to local communities and how that has changed over time in our society,” Mr Chester said.
“With the cancellation of many Anzac Day services around Australia and overseas last year, we saw the Australian community adapt and commemorate Anzac Day at home — painting poppies and placing them in windows of houses, school children writing letters to our elderly veterans in aged care facilities, music tributes, current serving members calling veterans to check in, and solitary driveway tributes,” he said.
“The Awards encourage the next generation of Australians to study and gain a deeper understanding of Australia’s wartime history — from the First World War to modern day conflicts and peacekeeping operations.”
Mr Chester said initiatives like the Awards helped ensure that young people were able to recognise and respect the sacrifice of those who had served to protect the country and the Australian way of life.
“I encourage all schools across Australia to take part in this competition and I look forward to seeing this year’s entries showcasing how our local communities commemorate the service and sacrifice of our service men and women,” the Minister said.
Further information on the Awards, including how to enter, can be accessed on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ website at this PS News link.
