I was very pleased to today wish 'bon voyage' to six young Tasmanians who are embarking on a once in a lifetime experience.
As recipients of the 2013-14 Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize, the high school students will participate in a two week study tour of the Western Front in France and Belgium and will attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers Bretonneux.
The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize aims to promote and preserve the meaning of the ANZAC spirit in the Tasmanian community.
The Prize honours Frank MacDonald MM as a representative of Tasmania's World War One veterans and the broader community of veterans.
Since being announced as recipients in October, the students have each undertaken research on a Tasmanian soldier who fought on the Western Front. While on the tour, each student will visit their soldier's gravesites and share the soldier's story with the group.
As we approach the Centenary of the Gallipoli landings in 2015, we must work hard to ensure the stories of our soldiers and the sacrifices they made are not lost.
The research completed by the students contributes to a greater understanding of the role of Tasmanians in World War One and is of significant value to all Tasmanians, ensuring the knowledge of our war history is passed down through the generations.
The 2013-14 Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize recipients are:
Supporting the students on the study tour will be teachers Jan Hunt and Leif Shea, both from Ogilvie High School; Mr Robert Dick, State President of the RSL; and the Hon Craig Farrell MLC, who will be representing the Tasmanian Parliament. Two officers from the Department of Premier and Cabinet will be acting as tour leaders for the group.
As well as laying a wreath at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service, the group will participate in the ANZAC Day Service held in Villers Bretonneux; the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ieper, Belgium; and the La Flame Ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. There will also be visits to significant Australian World War One sites such as Fromelles, Pozieres and Le Hamel.
The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize provides an incredible opportunity for young Tasmanians to walk in the footsteps of Tasmanian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice almost 100 years ago.
The Tasmanian Government is proud to continue to support and fund this worthwhile initiative.
I congratulate the students and wish them all the best for their journey to the Western Front.