Two students from Tuggerah Lakes College Berkeley Vale Campus have received prizes in the RSL and Schools Remember Anzac Art competition.
The secondary winner was Year 9 student Charli Biram and Year 8 student Alisha Sawatske was highly commended.
Charli said her piece, Our Unsung Heroes, highlighted the work of Australian nurses on the frontline in World War II and paid tribute to Olga Marcella Anderson, who enlisted in the Australian Military Forces in December 1941 and served until January 1947.
“My mother is a nurse and seeing her work during the pandemic made me reflect on the work and service of our medical professionals and unsung heroes,” Charli said.
Alisha said her artwork, Service Dogs, which features a puppy wearing medals, showed the bravery, courage and service of the dogs “in the most tumultuous times in history”.
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Berkeley Vale Campus Principal Carlie Wells said Charli and Alisha were “incredible students with exceptional talent”.
“All staff at Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College are proud of their achievements and the girls are celebrated by our entire school community,” she said.
Another finalist, Dharug student Sianna Foster-Ryan, submitted her artwork, Fate, when she was in Year 6 last year at Warnervale Public School.
She is now in Year 7 at Wadalba Community School.
“I know some of my ancestors were a part of World War II, but I’ve never seen any Aboriginal artworks about the war,” she said.
“My painting is called Fate because my pop, Mark, always told me to believe in myself and my fate.
“His pop believed in his fate and wished to come back home to all of his family, safe and sound.”
The RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Art Exhibition is on display at the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney, from April 3-30 and entry is free.
Terry Collins