Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch is urging young people on the Central Coast to apply for the 2025 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship before entries close this Sunday, March 9.
The scholarship gives NSW Year 10 and 11 history students the opportunity to travel on a study tour, visiting significant historical sites to learn about and commemorate the service of Australian men and women in the World Wars and other conflicts.
This year, successful students will be travelling to the Republic of Korea and Singapore to visit significant military history sites.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for some of our best and brightest to get hands-on learning experiences that complement and reflect the NSW history syllabus they are learning at school,” Tesch said.
“It is so important that our future generations are given the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of our nation’s military history.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our NSW students to learn about the sacrifices made by Australian men and women in serving their country.”
Accompanied by a military and social historian, students will meet and learn from professionals working in history and heritage, with opportunities to enrich their learning with primary sources from historically significant collections.
“Educational tours such as these are incredibly beneficial to developing young academic minds, and I’m sure every student who is lucky enough to be selected will go on to achieve great things,” Tesch said.
Last year, Central Coast student Lily Arendse was one of 20 students awarded the NSW Government scholarship.
She travelled to Japan in September to learn more about our nation’s involvement in World War II, visiting sites including a former Australian POW Camp in Naoetsu and the Hiroshima Peace Park and Memorial.
“The Premier’s Anzac Memorial scholarship was a profound experience that changed and challenged my views about history,” she said.
“My favourite experience was being granted the opportunity to reflect and commemorate the service of both Australian and Japanese soldiers.
“It’s not black and white, villain and victim, Australia vs Japan.
“It’s the personal stories about millions of people who never came home, regardless of who they were.
“I came back to school a new history student, more engaged and invigorated.
“I have given talks about my experience and it has formed the basis of my history extension project.
“I was also lucky enough to form lifelong friendships with other avid history buffs just like myself.”
More information about the Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship is available at Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship (PAMS) · Office for Veterans Affairs
