The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize Tour group was honoured with a reception at Government House today with Her Excellency, Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM and Mr Richard Warner ahead of next month’s visit to Europe.
The Tour was postponed from the normal time in late April due to the terrorist attacks in Brussels and the Tasmanian Government’s obligations to ensure the safety of the Tour group.
The new Tour itinerary, which runs from October 16-30, will include visits to a number of cemeteries in Belgium and France where the students will present their research about a Tasmanian soldier as part of their ``pilgrimage’’.
The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize is an annual study tour of the Western Front organised by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Education and is named in honour of Frank MacDonald who died in 2003 (at 107 years) as Tasmania’s last World War 1 veteran.
Born in Ulverstone on June 26, 1896, Frank MacDonald was also the last of the 40th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force – the only all-Tasmanian battalion raised in WW1.
He was responsible for repairing signal lines between battalion headquarters and trenches and received the Military Medal for working courageously under heavy fire. He also served in World War 2 and received the Legion of Honour in 1998.
Following Mr MacDonald’s death in 2003, the then Premier Jim Bacon and Tasmanian RSL President Ian Kennett instigated the Prize to provide young Tasmanians with the opportunity to travel to Gallipoli, France and Belgium to gain a greater understanding of Australia’s WW1 soldiers.
The connection with the RSL is to ensure that young people understand the role of Australia’s defence personnel and the important place they hold in Australia’s history.
The Prize is judged on an essay competition open to all Tasmanian Grade 9 students with the successful applicants travelling the following year. The entries are judged each September and shortlisted to 12 by a panel of teachers from the Tasmanian History Association and then reduced to the final group of 6 through interviews and assessment by a panel including a representative from the DoE, Catholic Education Tasmanian, the RSL and the DPaC tour leader.
Regular weekend meetings are then held ahead of the Tour to assist the students with their soldier research, including a day trip to the Australian War Memorial.
The 2016 Tour Group is made up of:
Caitlyn Argent (Devonport High School), Georgia-Alice Bunge (Ogilvie High School), Olivia Eade (St Mary’s College), Amy Hicks (Burnie High School), Sophie Young (Taroona High School), Emma Jenkins and Karen Pape (teachers), Graham Deacon (RSL), Joan Wylie (Tour Leader DPaC), Sam Davis (Deputy Tour Leader DPaC), Sarah Courtney (Parliament of Tasmania). Unfortunately, Charlotte Johnson, from Sacred Heart College, withdrew when the April tour was postponed.
Ms Courtney said: ``It is an incredible honour to be chosen to represent the Parliament of Tasmania on this Tour and to interact with these outstanding young Tasmanians as they explore our history and the sacrifice of our armed services.’’
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