Twenty two South Australian students have won the opportunity to travel to Gallipoli in April
this year to attend the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing at Anzac Cove.

The students will embark on their 10-day-trip as part of the Premier’s Anzac Spirit School
Prize, which encourages students to learn about the service men and women who put their
lives at risk for Australia in 1915.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Martin Hamilton-Smith said the lucky students are among
400 across Australia chosen to make the trip, while only 10,000 Australians in total have the
opportunity to make the journey to the centenary event.

“In April the students will travel to Istanbul and visit cultural sites including Canakkale, a hub of
ancient mythology, before they head to Anzac Cove in Gallipoli for the Dawn Service,” Mr
Hamilton-Smith said.

“Attending the Dawn Service will truly be an experience of a lifetime, one they will never forget.
“Not many people get to experience going to Anzac Cove, let alone on this milestone
occasion.”

The Minister for Education Susan Close said the successful Premier’s Anzac Spirit School
Prize winners were chosen after doing a research project on a South Australian man or woman
who served in Gallipoli in 1915, and an interview process.

“Students researched the life, service and fate of their chosen service man or woman, giving
them an insight into the daily struggles they faced,” Ms Close said.

“One student researched his great, great, grandfather who survived the war and returned to Mt
Gambier to start a family and a business.

“Several other students chose to look into the brief but heroic tale of Norwood and State
footballer, Lance Corporal Philip de Quetteville Robin, who died on the first day at Gallipoli.

“We hope these students realise how fortunate they are to be able to travel to Gallipoli for such
a significant day in the history of our great nation.

“Only 10,000 Australians are making the journey after entering a ballot, so for these students
to be chosen to make the trip based on their research and interview skills, they should be very
proud of themselves.

“Congratulations to the 22 students that have won this special opportunity and will no doubt be fantastic ambassadors of South Australia when they travel to Gallipoli next year.”

Since the inception of the Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize in 2007, 60 students have had the opportunity to travel overseas to sites of remembrance for the fallen service men and women.

Former SAS Colonel Mr Hamilton Smith will today present each student with their passport and commemoration packs, before hosting a military history tour at Keswick Army Barracks.

Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize winners:

• Blake McCallum (Booleroo Centre District School)
• Alice Kerr (Kildare College)
• Amy Vogelsang (Booleroo Centre District School)
• Annabel Collins (Loxton High School)
• Annabel Lane (Loreto College)
• April Burdon (Loxton High School)
• Ben Francis (Scotch College)
• Lachlan Bruce (Aberfoyle Park High School)
• Emily Hicks (Nuriootpa High School)
• Emma Wintulich (Tyndale Christian School)
• Erin Stubbs (Charles Campbell College)
• Jordan Hefferan (Reynella East College)
• Lauren Hutchinson (Charles Campbell College)
• Marlee George (Loxton High School)
• Matthew Wallace (Aberfoyle Park High School)
• Maxwell Spurling (Sacred Heart College Middle School)
• Nikki Brennan (St Peters Girls School)
• Olivia Habel (St Peters Girls School)
• Phoebe Spurrier (Scotch College)
• Tharun Rameshbabu (Aberfoyle Park High School)
• Viki Ntafillis (Unley High School)
• William Pincombe (Glenunga International High School)