Member for Ripon Louise Stanley presented the award for the Spirit of Anzac Essay Competition to grade five St Augustine’s Primary School student Mia Wallis last week.
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Ms Ripon said the competition, open to grade five and grade six primary school students in Ripon, was intended to engage students in a reflection of Anzac day.
“There has been a significant increase in attention and activity around Anzac day, particularly as we go through the centenary,” she said.
“This competition encouraged students to reflect on what is a defining part of our nation's history.
“Mia’s poem starts by linking herself to her grandfather who fought in Vietnam.
“She ties it through to why we went to war and talks about both Anzac Day and Rememberance Day.
“I like that she brought together the various wars Australia has participated in and how it made her feel personally.”
Competition winner Mia Wallis said she wrote the poem based on what Anzac day means to her.
“A couple of my friends’ relatives went to war like my granddad,” she said.
“It made me think about how hard it would have been to go to war and not see your family for a couple of years.”
“I feel sad, but proud of the soldiers. Even though they might not have had a choice, they stood up for our country.”
St Augustine’s Primary School principal Terry Brennan said Creswick has a long history in remembering and honouring the Anzacs.
“The kids respond accordingly,” he said.
“If the kids don’t carry on what it is to remember, we will lose all this history.”