Four Mid West students selected as part of Premier’s Anzac Tour to Japan next year

Four Mid West students have been selected to be part of the Premier’s Anzac tour to Japan next year. The tour is set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Japan’s significance is through the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where students will be able to reflect on the event and see the reconciliation between nations since then. Out of 10 students chosen for next year’s tour across WA, more than a third are from the Mid West. Kalbarri District High School Year 9 students Dylan McKenzie and Ella Tennant were selected, while Geraldton students Elvira White (Nagle Catholic College, Year 9) and Lilly Moses (Champion Bay Senior High School, Year 10) were also chosen. Premier Roger Cook said the tour provided a chance for the students to experience history. “The Premier’s Anzac Student Tour is an incredible opportunity for young Western Australians to learn more about Australian history and develop an understanding of the Anzac legacy,” he said. “Since 2004, students have toured Belgium, England, France, Greece, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Vietnam and Australia to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Anzac service men and women.” The students were selected after answering an essay question, where they had to examine modes of commemoration honouring those who died in war, and their significance. In total, 266 students have taken part in the program since 2004. Earlier this year, Lilly Moses was recognised as the WA runner-up in the Simpson Prize - an Australia-wide competition for Year 9 and 10 students focusing on Australia’s service in World War I and II. Lilly’s essay was chosen from thousands of entries from 79 schools across the country, and received an award from Federal Education Minister Jason Clare in March at a ceremony in Canberra. The students will head to Japan for 10 days in April next year.