OXLEY ELECTORATE SPIRIT OF ANZAC AWARD WINNER

After receiving entries from far and wide throughout the Oxley electorate, I’m pleased to announce that Sam Wallace from Centenary State High School was selected by a panel of RSL Sub Branch representatives as the recipient of the inaugural Oxley Spirit of Anzac Award.

Federal Member for Oxley Milton Dick MP said the entries were of very high calibre and paid tribute to the spirit of the Anzacs.

“It was fantastic to see students and schools embrace the award and submit entries on what the Anzac spirit means to them” said Mr Dick.

“We received some outstanding entries that included essays, poems and even a piece of artwork that recognised the tremendous sacrifice the Anzacs made for our country.

Sam will receive flights and accommodation with a parent/guardian to visit the Australian War Memorial and Parliament House in Canberra later this year.

His essay entitled ‘Anzac Spirit’ was chosen as the most worthy recipient from the entries received.

The selection panel also awarded five other highly commended entries to Paris Knapp, Royston Peterson and Mimi Dang from Forest Lake State High School and Mohamed Adam Mohamud and Fatema Noor from the Australian International Islamic College.

As part of his trip to the Australian War Memorial later this year, Sam will meet with war memorial Director Dr Brendan Nelson and participate by laying a wreath in the evening Last Post Ceremony.

The ceremony is the time each evening when the war memorial tells the story of one of the more than 102,000 men and women who have given their lives in war and on operations for more than a century.