Student Achievements

ANZAC Spirit School Prize

Study Tour of Darwin

In November 2022, I had the privilege of being a winner in the Premier’s ANZAC Sprit School Prize. Along with nineteen other passionate historians, I had earned my place on a government-funded study tour of Darwin.

This was my first trip to Darwin and the Top End, and so it was an amazing opportunity to learn more about the bombing of the city during WWII. We visited a number of museums, including the Darwin Military Museum, the Darwin Museum, and Aviation Museum. The next two days brought about many unique experiences, from seeing an Oil Storage Tunnel tour to a tour of Goyder Park.

We departed lively Darwin to explore other destinations, such as the Adelaide River War Cemetery. We were introduced to the beauty of

Katherine and Kakadu, and their many exhilarating hikes and falls. We were also treated to a traditional Indigenous arts and craft session, which was kindly hosted by the Indigenous elders at Warradjan Culture Centre.

We headed back to Darwin on 24 April, in time to prepare for ANZAC Day. It was an early morning on 25 April; and that morning I was also told that the teachers had chosen both myself and another student to place a wreath during the service, on behalf of our study tour group. I felt extremely honoured to have represented our study tour on this occasion. It is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Reflecting on this entire experience, I cannot fathom how quickly it has all passed! Throughout the tour, I made some incredible friendships that I will hold onto forever, quiz nights I will not forget and special experiences that I was privileged enough to take part in, with nineteen other passionate historians. Unquestionably, this is an ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience that not only teaches you about the consequences of conflict, but the ANZAC Spirit that continues to live on today, through our recollection of past historical events, veterans who speak of experience, and those men and women who actively serve to protect our country today.

To any young historians at Endeavour contemplating whether they should submit an entry in the Premier’s ANZAC Sprit School Prize, I offer the following advice: “Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.”

Vinka Lakic

Year 11

Royal Australian Air Force

Eleanore Tibble Scholarship Award

In October 2022, I was honoured to be awarded the Royal Australian Air Force’s Cadet Sergeant Eleanore Tibble Scholarship Award, in honour of a former Australian Air Force Cadet. This award saw me travel with one other selected cadet to Canberra and New Zealand, to commemorate ANZAC Day 2023. On this trip, I was privileged to explore the Australian War Memorial’s Main Halls and Annex, have a meeting and presentation with the Chief of Air Force, and participate as a wreath layer at the National ANZAC Service in Wellington, New Zealand.

After arriving in Canberra, we were treated with a VIP visit to the Australian War Memorial’s Annex in Mitchell. As only 2% of the AWM’s collection is ever in its main halls, I was lucky to see items that had only been seen by few people, or past displays. Some highlights include being able to see inside and be within arm’s reach of the ‘G For George’ Lancaster Bomber, see the most intact V2 rocket and Meillerwagen, several F-18 Classic Hornets, a former USAF OV-10 Bronco which was used by the USAF in the Vietnam war, and several helicopters.

After this, I had lunch with the Director-General of Cadets Branch, Air Commodore Craig Heap AM, CSC, followed by a meeting and presentation with Chief of Air Force (CAF), Air Marshal Robert Chipman, AM, CSC, Warrant Officer of the Air Force, Warrant Officer Ralph Clifton, and Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz AM, CSC, DSM (Deputy Chief of Air Force). After being shown around CAF’s office, we sat down and discussed our personal lives and our journeys to our achievements. It was a fantastic, motivating and inspiring experience to be immersed with such senior leadership personnel. Following a presentation ceremony and being formally presented with the award and the first Chief of Air Force’s Challenge Coin, I travelled to the AWM’s main halls. Here, we were immersed in Australia’s history regarding various conflicts. It was a very moving experience, especially seeing the thousands and thousands of names of deceased service personnel engraved on the Roll of Honour.

I then travelled to New Zealand where on 23 April I spent a day exploring Wellington as a tourist. Of note, I explored the Gallipoli exhibit at Te Papa National Museum. With larger-than-life sized figures with incredible detail, I was extremely moved by the stories and experiences of our brave ANZAC’s. This further educated me and provided me with a more significant and personal meaning for ANZAC Day. I took part in numerous rehearsals on 24 April, which prepared me for ANZAC Day.

On ANZAC Day, I first attended a Dawn Service March at Upper Hutt. I had feelings of pride and honour. I am so grateful for the service personnel who fought and made sacrifices for me to be able to stand peacefully while waiting for dawn to come, unlike those on the battlefield at ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915.

The most memorable part of the visit was certainly New Zealand’s National Service, held in Wellington. I was fortunate to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior on behalf of Australian Defence Force Cadets, alongside a New Zealand Defence Force Cadet. I was also lucky enough to sit with the official party, containing the NZ Prime Minister, Governor-General and Willie Apiata VC. To represent these organisations at such a large ceremony is certainly the highlight of my cadet career so far. This pilgrimage was a very powerful and moving experience. This was a particularly important aspect of the trip as we honoured and remembered CSGT Eleanore Tibble, as well as those who served for us, those who sacrificed for us, and those who died for us.

We then also travelled to the Atatürk Memorial for a service attended by the Turkish ambassador to New Zealand, Her Excellency Mrs Ömür Ünsay. Atatürk Memorial Park was established in 1985 as a result of a reciprocal arrangement between New Zealand, Australia and the Republic of Turkey to mark the 70th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign.

I also fondly enjoyed the opportunity to travel internationally and experience a country that I had not yet been to. I found it valuable to be immersed in New Zealand’s rich culture and meet its extremely friendly and caring people. It was interesting to see how a different defence force operates and the minute similarities and differences between Australia and our friends ‘across the ditch’.

I would like to thank the Australian Defence Force, the New Zealand Defence Force and their Cadets, the Australian Air Force Cadets, and Ms Tibble’s family for the opportunity to travel abroad in honour of Cadet Sergeant Eleanore Tibble. This truly has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I greatly appreciate the efforts of those who aided in planning and executing this unforgettable activity.

In all, I have hugely enjoyed this experience, as I have travelled and explored abroad, remembered those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, networked with senior Defence personnel, experienced a National Service unlike any other cadet my age, met and bonded with some incredible people, and of course, honoured a fallen cadet, Cadet Sergeant Eleanore Tibble.

The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) is a youth-oriented organisation that is administered and actively supported by the Royal Australian Air Force. The AAFC will teach you valuable life skills and will help you develop qualities including leadership, self reliance, confidence, teamwork and communication.

https://www.airforcecadets.gov.au/how-to-join