Anzac Spirit Study Tour

About the Anzac Spirit Study Tour

The annual Chief Minister's Anzac Spirit Study Tour promotes the importance of Anzac Day, Australia's involvement in various conflicts since, and the importance of peacekeeping missions today.

What the tour involves

It provides an opportunity for three year 9 or 10 students, accompanied by two chaperones, to visit battlefields of significance to Australia and the Anzacs.

The Northern Territory Government will provide support for travel and accommodation costs.


How students enter the Anzac Spirit Study Tour

The Chief Minister's Anzac Spirit Study Tour is open to all Northern Territory students in years 9 and 10.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the 2020 Chief Minister’s Anzac Spirit Study Tour is postponed.

The resumption of the study tour will be determined based on advice from relevant authorities.

For more information

Call 08 8999 7520 or email defencent@nt.gov.au.


How teachers apply for the Anzac Spirit Study Tour

Teachers working in Northern Territory government and non-government schools can apply to participate in the Chief Minister's Anzac Spirit Study Tour as a chaperone.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the 2020 Chief Minister’s Anzac Spirit Study Tour is postponed.

The resumption of the study tour will be determined based on advice from relevant authorities.

For more information

Call 08 8999 7520 or email defencent@nt.gov.au.


Previous winners of the Anzac Spirit Study Tour

This page has the previous winners of the Anzac Spirit Study Tour and you can also see their winning entries.

Winners of the 2018 tour

Akiesha Brown

Akiesha Brown from Casuarina Senior College researched the connection between Australia and Villers-Bretonneux through interviews with two key people:

  • a video interview with the Royal Australian Army's Commander Northern Command and Commander of 1st Brigade, Brigadier Ben James AM, DSM
  • a telephone interview with Strathewen Primary School principal Jane Hayward.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Akiesha's entry.

Faiza Choudhury

Faiza Choudhury from Darwin High School submitted an essay that explores the relationship between Australians and the people of Villers-Bretonneux. Faiza's essay looks at how the relationship is expressed through the town's continuous efforts to remember the Anzacs, proving that the distance of thousands of miles and a century will always be closed with the undying and abiding Anzac spirit.

Read Faiza's entry DOCX (39.2 KB)
Read Faiza's entry PDF (126.4 KB)

Angus Gurry

Angus Gurry from Darwin Middle School wrote an essay titled Before Dawn which outlines the ongoing relationship between Australia and Villers-Bretonneux, concluding that the relationship reflects the true Anzac spirit.

Read Angus's entry DOCX (19.5 KB)
Read Angus's entry  PDF (34.1 KB)

Jayna McCallum

Jayna McCallum from Dripstone Middle School wrote a song titled Never Forget Australia. The song focuses on the experiences of the Australian soldiers during and after the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux.

Read Jayna's entry DOCX (14.8 KB)
Read Jayna's entry PDF (107.6 KB)
Listen to Jayna's entry M4A (6.8 MB)

Arianna Baldieri

Arianna Baldieri from Good Shepherd Lutheran College submitted a video blog entry which transports the viewer back to 1918 where she takes on the personas of Australia and Germany to communicate how the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux unfolded.

She also discusses the formation of the ongoing relationship between France and Australia.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Arianna's entry.

Ellen Archibald

Ellen Archibald from Good Shepherd Lutheran College submitted an essay outlining the history of the Anzac spirit encompassed by the relationship between Australia and Villers-Bretonneux.

Ellen concludes that the Anzac spirit is represented by the kind assistance both countries have provided each other in times of conflict and hardship.

Read Ellen's entry DOCX (332.2 KB)
Read Ellen's entry PDF (3.3 MB)

Stephanie Scott

Stephanie Scott from Kormilda College wrote an essay focusing on the forging of the Anzac Spirit and outlined how the Anzac Spirit lives on in the wonderful friendship and mutual assistance given by the Australian and French people to each other.

Read Stephanie's entry DOCX (723.6 KB)
Read Stephanie's entry PDF (782.8 KB)

Crisostomo Remulla

Crisostomo Remulla from Katherine High School submitted an essay that discussed the courage and bravery shown by soldiers in the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux as well as the generosity which has forged a lasting bond between Australia and Villers-Bretonneux.

Read Crisostomo's entry DOCX (31.0 KB)
Read Crisostomo's entry PDF (147.9 KB)

Joseph Haritos

Joseph Haritos from Nightcliff Middle School focused his essay on the bonds forged in a time of strife which bought the people from two different sides of the world together and how this relationship continues to thrive today.

Read Joseph's entry DOCX (421.3 KB)
Read Joseph's entry  PDF (409.6 KB)

Adine Reedman

Adine Reedman from O'Loughlin Catholic College submitted a video in a modern format outlining how Australian soldiers fought to make Australia the safe, secure and free country it is today.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Adine's entry.

Telita Kellner

Telita Kellner from O'Loughlin Catholic College wrote an essay that draws comparisons between the people of Australia and Villers-Bretonneux, past and present. She concludes that the Anzac spirit is a powerful force which defines us as a nation.

Read Telita's entry DOCX (933.6 KB)
Read Telita's entry PDF (353.2 KB)

Sarah Muller

Sarah Muller from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College submitted an essay discussing the relationship between Australia and Villers-Bretonneux in times of war and peace.

Read Sarah's entry DOCX (445.7 KB)
Read Sarah's entry PDF (182.5 KB)

Luke Secrett

Luke Secrett from Palmerston Christian School made a video discussing how the people of Villers-Bretonneux are grateful to the Australians who saved their town in 1918 and how the Anzac spirit continues to live on in Villers-Bretonneux and Australia.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Luke's entry.

Jasinda Bourke

Jasinda Bourke from Palmerston Senior College made a video based on a collection of fictional diary entries, letters and emails between French and Australian residents and soldiers, set both in 1918 and the modern era.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Jasinda's entry.

Darcy Holmes

Darcy Holmes from St John's Catholic College submitted a video which draws on his own family’s history of the First World War.

Jack Elliott, who was killed in France near Villers-Bretonneux, is Darcy’s great, great uncle, and material produced by Jack is utilised to give depth and context to this entry.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Darcy's entry.

Danica Jenner

Danica Jenner from Good Shepherd Lutheran College submitted a video presentation combining images from the First World War with an engaging narrative. In the video Danica explores the Anzacs of Gallipoli and the ways in which the Anzac Spirit is kept alive today, drawing on her family’s experience.

Go to the Youtube website to watch Danica's entry. Go to the Youtube website to watch Danica's video and hear her talk about her experience on the tour.

Braeden Parnell

Braeden Parnell from St John’s Catholic College submitted an essay reflecting on how the Anzacs are remembered for their sacrifice and devotion to their country. Braeden’s essay reflects on ways that Australians continue to commemorate and remember the Anzacs, passing on the Anzac Spirit to the leaders of tomorrow.

Read Braeden's entry PDF (559.4 KB).

Go to the Youtube website to watch Braeden's video and hear him talk about his experience on the tour.

Lovina Koch

Lovina Koch from Palmerston Senior College submitted a moving song titled The Story of the Spirit. Lovina’s song links the Anzac Spirit from the First World War to the Australian men and women of today, beautifully expressing how the spirit lives on in everyone.

Listen to Lovina's entry.

Go to the Youtube website to watch Lovina's video and hear her talk about her experience on the tour.

Ava Wilmore

Ava, from Darwin Middle School submitted a video presentation combining powerful and thought provoking images with interviews conveying the views of current serving Defence personnel. The video demonstrates how the Anzac Spirit was forged upon the shores of Gallipoli over one hundred years ago and lives on in the hearts of all Defence Force members and civilians today.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Ava's entry.

Albert Boeck

Albert from St John's Catholic College submitted a video demonstrating how the Anzac Spirit is kept alive today. The video uses images from World War One, World War Two and Afghanistan, to show the camaraderie and mateship between the soldiers and how the Anzac Spirit, then and now, is still part of our culture and society.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Alber's entry.

Maitane Oakford

Maitane from Nhulunbuy High School submitted a poem depicting a soldier's experience at Fromelles during World War One. The moving poem draws on her family history, war's toll on youth and a belief that to forget is to risk so much again.

Read Maitane's entry .

Amy Chittick

Amy, from Darwin High School submitted a poem depicting the experience of a young man saying goodbye to his Mother as he leaves his country behind and heads for war, only for the young soldier to perish far from our shores. The poem describes the playing of the last post and its part in keeping the Anzac Spirit alive in soldiers and members of the public in commemorations of today.

Read Amy's entry .

Juliette Parsons

Juliette, from Darwin Middle School submitted a video presentation combining moving imagery with a spoken narrative connecting the history of the Anzacs with her own desire to explore her heritage and the actions which have shaped Australia. Juliette believes this desire to connect Australia's past to the present contributes to keeping the Anzac spirit alive.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Juliette's entry.

Stevie Pocock

Stevie, from Taminmin College submitted an essay describing the Anzac Spirit as a well-known inherent essence of Australians. The essay reflects on examples of the Anzac Spirit which are visible in our laws and values today. The essay provides examples of how the Anzac Spirit is kept alive today in times of hardship such as bushfires and the desire to help one another during these times.

Read Stevie's entry.

Jack Lake

Jack, from Palmerston Senior College submitted a video presentation of images and narration focussing on the war time experiences of a young man named James Martin.

The essay explores the somewhat unbelievable concept of a 14-year-old boy heading to war and asks questions of what James Martin must have thought and felt as he gazed upon the Turkish terrain. The essay describes the Anzac Spirit being present today in our representation as people who will not give up.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Jack's entry.

Shannon Hunt

Shannon, from Darwin High School, submitted a video presentation describing how the Anzacs inspire the youth of today to be proud of their country and how important it is to be patriotic as this was ultimately the motivation for the Anzacs while they were fighting overseas.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Shannon's entry.

Tamara West

Tamara, from Kormilda College submitted an essay linking the Anzac spirit born from the hardship of the soldiers in World War I to today's soldiers who continue to display the Anzac spirit in acts of bravery, mateship and perseverance, and how this spirit can be seen in the youth of today.

View Tamara's entry DOC (1.5 MB)
View Tamara's entry PDF (110.7 KB)

Lauren Northcote

Lauren, from Dripstone Middle School, submitted an essay describing how the Anzacs inspire the youth of today to be proud of their country and how important it is to be patriotic as this was ultimately  the motivation for the Anzacs while they were fighting overseas.

View Lauren's entry DOC (1.4 MB)
View Lauren's entry PDF (235.1 KB)

Luciana Sustanto

Luciana, from Palmerston Senior College, submitted a video presentation. Luciana chose this format as she wanted to connect more effectively with the opinions of the fellow students she interviewed.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Luciana's video

Tayler Cosentino

Tayler attended Kormilda College at the time of entry. She submitted an essay which featured examples of today's young people who clearly demonstrate the spirit of the Anzacs in achieving their goals.

View Tayler's entry DOC (49.5 KB)
View Tayler's entry PDF (316.7 KB)

Matthew Humphreys

Matthew, who attended Dripstone Middle School at the time of entry, submitted an essay on how the youth of today can draw inspiration and strength from the legend of the Anzacs to cope with today's problems.

View Matthew's entry DOC (53.0 KB)
View Matthew's entry PDF (345.0 KB)

Haylea Gusling

At the time of submitting her entry Haylea was a year 10 student at Palmerston High School. Haylea drew inspiration for her entry from a wide range of research including interviews, books, DVDs and the internet. Haylea's presentation aimed to reflect the bias of her generation.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Haylea's video.

Henry Boeck

Henry, a year 9 student at St Johns College, used interviews with four individuals to learn about the Anzac spirit and how it inspires people today. Henry has a personal connection with the Anzac spirit as his father is in the Australian Army and was deployed overseas at the time of him winning a place on the study tour.

Go to the YouTube website to watch part one of Henry's video.

Go to the YouTube website to watch part two of Henry's video.

Rebecca Smith

Rebecca, a year 9 student at Darwin Middle School at the time of submitting her entry, chose a poem as the format for her entry as she found it an easy way to communicate her emotions and express her message simply. To assist her with her submission Rebecca interviewed fellow students which showed her that we are proud of our past and are still inspired by the Anzac soldiers of then and now.

View Rebecca's entry DOC (38.0 KB)
View Rebecca's entry PDF (40.5 KB)


Winners of the 2019 Anzac Spirit Study Tour

The successful students travelled to the Western Front in France and Belgium during April 2019 for a 10-day tour as part of the Anzac Spirit Study Tour.

Their names and details of their entries are listed below.

Peter Susanto

Peter Susanto from Haileybury Rendall School created a video featuring diary entries to explore the heroic role of Australian women and the medals and accolades they received during World War I.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Peter’s entry.

Hannah McCarthy-Morgan

Hannah McCarthy-Morgan from Casuarina Senior College wrote a poem with a focus on the role of Australian women in the forming of the Anzac spirit.

Read Hannah’s entry DOCX (17.3 KB)
Read Hannah's entry  PDF (128.6 KB)

Jessica Porter

Jessica Porter from Good Shepherd Lutheran College created a video that explores the changing roles of Australian women during and after World War I.

Go to the YouTube website to watch Jessica’s entry.

Read Jessica’s entry DOCX (22.4 KB)
Read Jessica's entry  PDF (90.8 KB)