THE Minister for Veterans' Affairs Michael Ronaldson recently congratulated schools from the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia that have been awarded top honours in this year's Anzac Day Schools' Awards.
"I am pleased to announce that Melba Copland Secon dary School, ACT, and Binnu Primary School, WA, have taken out their respective state and national categories in this year's Anzac Day Schools' Awards," Senator Ronaldson said.
"Both schools have demonstrated their commitment to appropriately commemorating and learning about the service and sacrifice of Australians during wartime and, in doing so, are ensuring the Anzac spirit lives on for future generations."
This year's National and ACT Secondary Winner, Melba Copland Secondary School, is commended for undertaking a wide variety of Anzac related learning activities, and encouraging students to research and think critically about Australia's military service.
The school also extensively involved their local community by inviting veterans to talk to students and inviting current serving members of the Australian Defence Force and other local schools to participate in their Anzac Day service.
This year's National and WA Primary Winning entry came from Binnu Primary School. The school conducted a special project where students grew 100 seedlings from their established Lone Pine tree.
They will gift the seedlings to other schools across the state in a gesture of sharing the Anzac spirit.
It is planned the seedlings will be planted on Anzac Day in 2015.
Senator Ronaldson visited two schools in Wangaratta to congratulate students on their efforts.
"With the Anzac centenary almost upon us, now is the time to reflect, as these schools have done, on the contribution of the men and women who left our shores bound for the First World War, and all those who have followed in their footsteps in the hundred years since," Senator Ronaldson said.
"An understanding of service and sacrifice will live on in future generations of Aust ralians thanks to the commitment of these primary and secondary schools.
"The Anzac Day Schools' Awards competition recognises the exceptional innovative learning that is occurring in our schools and the importance of commemorating our wartime history."
For more information on the Anzac Day Schools' Awards go to www.dva.gov. au/schoolsawards
