Media Release
The Hon Dan Tehan MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of
ANZAC
24 August 2016
Students honour Australian Vietnam
veterans
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Dan Tehan, today
congratulated the winners of the Honouring
Australian Vietnam Veterans secondary schools’
competition.
Mr Tehan said the competition encouraged students in years 9 to 11 to
investigate the contribution of Australians who served
in the Vietnam War and reflect on the importance of
commemorating their service and sacrifice.
Mr Tehan said the competition aimed at improving the
education and awareness in younger Australians about our
military history, specifically the Vietnam War.
“Entries were received from across Australia, with
the winners submitting a variety of projects including
essays, poems, websites, artworks and other multimedia,”
Mr Tehan said.
“The entries reflected different aspects of the
Vietnam War, including veterans’ stories, Indigenous
service, family heritage, nursing, as well as the role
of dogs and the relationship with their handlers.”
“Some 60,000 servicemen and women were deployed
overseas during the Vietnam War, and the students who
entered this competition have learned about the bravery,
resourcefulness and determination of our Vietnam
veterans, as well as the difficulties many endured when
they returned from service.”
The winners visited cultural institutions and
attended the national commemorative service marking
Vietnam Veterans Day and the 50th Anniversary of the
Battle of Long Tan as part of a three-day visit to
Canberra.
List of Winning Students Schools by State or
Territory
|
Australian Capital Territory |
Electorate |
Entry |
|
Radford College |
Fenner * |
The
winning student produced an original and
refreshing creative response, a watercolour
artwork, which explored the trust and loyalty
between dogs and their handlers during the
Vietnam War. The student used several techniques
to demonstrate the emotional attachment between
dogs and their handlers. |
|
Canberra High School |
Fenner * |
The
winning student produced an evocative poem on
the service of 5RAR and war photographer, Mike
Coleridge. The judges were impressed with the
high quality of the student’s research. |
|
Total ACT: 2 |
* Only electorate with two
winners
|
New South Wales |
Electorate |
Entry |
|
Normanhurst Boys High School |
Berowra |
The
winning student wrote an essay and produced a
YouTube clip for his entry in the competition
which looked at dog handlers and their dogs and
the role of engineers during the Vietnam War.
The judges remarked that the entry was of good
quality. |
|
Woolooware High School |
Cook |
The
winning student created an excellent artwork on
nurse, Barbara Black and dog handler, Peter
Haran and his dog . The student’s work was
carefully crafted and melded visual images and
text. |
|
Keira High School |
Cunningham |
The
winning student submitted an artwork and
rationale of the role of medical teams and dog
handlers during the Vietnam War. The judges were
impressed with the attractiveness of the
watercolours, and their muted simplicity. |
Karabar High School |
Eden-Monaro |
The
winning student created a website that looked at
the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam and
the Royal Australian Regiment. The content was
well-expressed and visually appealing. |
|
Hillston Central School |
Farrer |
The
winning student produced an outstanding artwork
and original poem on the Royal Australian Air
Force experience in Operation Babylift. The
works are about both pilots and nurses. |
|
Bonnyrigg High School |
Fowler |
The
winning student created a PowerPoint
presentation with a voiceover focussing on the
Royal Australian Regiment and Royal Australian
Engineers. The judges were impressed with the
quality of the student’s research, expression,
and the historical accuracy of his entry. |
|
St Patrick’s College, Sutherland |
Hughes |
The
winning student produced a YouTube clip
illustrating a number of service roles and
contribution by the Royal Australian Regiment
and the Royal Australian Nursing Corps. The
student’s entry was well-worded and historically
accurate. |
|
Hindle Home Education |
Hume |
The
winning student wrote an outstanding essay on
the role of Indigenous and non-Indigenous
servicemen during the Vietnam War. The student’s
essay discussion was maturely handled. |
|
St Patrick’s College, Campbelltown |
Macarthur |
The
winning student wrote an excellent essay that
considered the role of the Australian Army
Training Team Vietnam and the 6th
Royal Australian Regiment. The student drew on
diverse resources and demonstrated careful
analysis and construction in her essay. |
|
Bossley Park High School |
McMahon |
The
winning student wrote a well-worded essay on the
experiences of the Royal Australian Regiment and
the Royal Australian Air Force in the Vietnam
War. The student included the physical and
psychological effects of service in her essay. |
|
Scone Grammar School |
New England |
The
winning student produced a video exploring the
roles of the Royal Australian Air Force and
wartime correspondents during the Vietnam War.
The judges commented that some of the footage
included was captivating. |
|
Alstonville High School |
Page |
The
winning student’s essay focussed on Barry
Petersen and the Royal Australian Regiment in
Vietnam. The judges found the essay was
well-expressed and consistent in voice and
conviction. |
|
Coonabarabran High School |
Parkes |
The
winning student wrote a very good essay in terms
of structure and in the way that the synthesised
historical content was put into the student’s
own words. The student focussed on the 9th
Royal Australian Regiment and the Royal
Australian Army Medical Corps in the essay. |
|
Our Lady of Mercy College |
Parramatta |
The
winning student submitted a video on Vance
Drummond, and the Royal Australian Air Force.
The student demonstrated skill in synthesising
the research of others. |
|
Hunter Valley Grammar School |
Patterson |
The
winning student submitted an artwork and
accompanying rationale as her entry to the
competition. The student makes some good points
in her rationale. |
|
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School |
Richmond |
The
winning student wrote an essay about the stories
of David Thompson and Linton Allen. The student
made valid and interesting points in her essay. |
|
Bowral High School |
Whitlam |
The
student submitted a drawing of dog handler Bob
Pearson and his dog Julian. The student gave an
excellent overview of their experiences in her
rationale. |
|
Total NSW: 17 |
Queensland |
Electorate |
Entry |
|
West Moreton Anglican College |
Blair |
The
winning student’s entry was an essay where she
researched the experiences of Warrant Officer
Rayene Simpson and Captain Barry Petersen. The
judges were impressed with the student’s concise
research and fluent expression. |
|
Annandale Christian College |
Dawson |
The
winning student produced an artwork about the
roles of nurses and the Royal Australian Air
Force in providing medical care. The student’s
image of a woman awaiting news of her loved one
was evocative. |
|
Albany Creek State High School |
Dickson |
The
winning student researched the stories of two
Indigenous servicemen, Lance Corporal John
Walker and Private Frank Clarke. The student
accessed a wide array of sources to help her
present her research. |
|
Pimpama State Secondary College |
Fadden |
The
winning student researched the roles of various
Royal Australian Air Force squadrons in the
Vietnam War and provided interesting information
in a PowerPoint presentation and supporting
video clips. |
|
Coolum State High School |
Fisher |
The
winning student produced a video about the Royal
Australian Navy and Special Air Service
Regiment. The film clips he used were overlaid
with his commentary and aptly used. |
|
Malanda State High School |
Kennedy |
The
winning student researched the role of her
grandfather, and role of dogs during the Vietnam
War. Her research was interwoven and of sound
quality. |
|
Dalby Christian College |
Maranoa |
The
winning student’s entry was a video presentation
on Australia’s role in the Vietnam War including
the
1st Australian Task Force and the
Special Air Service Regiment. The judges were
impressed with the student’s choice of images,
lyrics and poetry which reinforced his
interpretation. |
|
Palm Beach Currumbin State High School |
McPherson |
The
winning student produced a well-researched,
informative and interesting multimedia response
with a riveting introduction of images from the
dedication of the Australian Vietnam Forces
National Memorial in Canberra. |
|
Westside Christian College |
Oxley |
The
winning student wrote an interesting and
articulate essay about medical personnel in
Vietnam. The judges were particularly impressed
with the student’s research process and his
sophisticated grasp of structure. |
|
Urangan State High School |
Wide Bay |
In her
essay, the winning student included stories of a
nurse and a veteran of Long Tan. She also
discussed the significance of 18 August and the
importance of commemoration. The student
accessed a wide range of sources to support her
analysis. |
|
Boonah State High School |
Wright |
The
winning student wrote a poem and additional
textual information on two veterans, Warrant
Officer Class 2 Stephen Reid, and Lieutenant
Philip Cooper. The judges were impressed with
the student’s thoughtful and sensitive responses
to the competition questions. |
|
Total QLD: 11
|
South Australia
|
Electorate |
Entry |
|
Wilderness School |
Adelaide |
The
winning student wrote an essay on the roles of
Kevin Wheatley of the Australian Army Training
Team Vietnam and Colleen Thurgar, a nurse with 8
Field Ambulance during the Vietnam War. She gave
good overviews of service and specific incidents
in her essay. |
|
Faith Lutheran College |
Barker |
The
winning student wrote an essay about the
1st Armoured Personnel Carrier
Squadron and the Australian Army Training Team
Vietnam. The student gave considerable detail in
his essay. |
|
Streaky Bay Area School |
Grey |
The
winning student wrote an essay on the service of
Nurse Nell Espie and the Special Air Service
Regiment. The judges were impressed with the
engaging quality of the student’s essay. |
|
Torrens Valley Christian School |
Makin |
The
winning student wrote an essay and letter as his
entry to the competition. He wrote about the
Royal Australian Air Force and 35 Squadron and
gave specific examples of service. The student
demonstrated creativity in his letter from a
serviceman. |
|
Victor Harbor High School |
Mayo |
The
winning student produced a video focussing on
the service of two National Servicemen: Bob
Walter of
2 Royal Australian Regiment, and Malcolm Dunn,
of
17 Construction Squadron Royal Australian
Engineers. In the course of producing her video,
the student developed historical literacy and
analytical skills, and had the opportunity to
conduct background research. |
|
Loreto College |
Sturt |
The
winning student wrote an essay on engineers and
dog handlers in the Vietnam War. The judges
remarked on her use of quotes, inclusion of
factual information and personal anecdotes in
her essay. |
|
Total SA: 6 |
|
Tasmania |
Electorate |
Entry |
|
St Patrick’s College |
Bass |
The
winning student wrote an essay on the role of
the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam and
Forward Air Controllers during the Vietnam War.
The judges were impressed with the quality of
the student’s writing in his essay. |
|
Reece High School |
Braddon |
The
winning student created a Wix presentation which
looked at the service of Kevin Raymond who
served in the Royal Australian Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers, and Dal Abbott who served
with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian
Regiment. The student’s Wix presentation was
visually appealing and easy to navigate and she
put forward a clear conclusion. |
|
Deloraine High School |
Lyons |
The
winning student wrote an essay discussing the
role of Kevin Wheatley, of the Australian Army
Training Team Vietnam, and Neil Davis, the
photojournalist. The student’s essay was
well-written, balanced and comprehensive. |
|
Total TAS: 3
|
|
Victoria |
Electorate |
Entry |
|
Ballarat High School |
Ballarat |
The
winning student wrote an essay on the Australian
Army Training Team Vietnam and Australian Navy
Clearance Diving Team Three. Her essay was
well-written and she provided clear descriptors
of roles and experiences, comparing and
contrasting both. |
|
Mazenod College |
Bruce |
The
winning student produced a video, “When Duty
Calls” on 6 Royal Australian Regiment and the
Special Air Service Regiment. The student
produced a comprehensive response to the
competition questions. |
|
Lilydale High School |
Casey |
The
winning student produced a video as her entry to
the competition. It included an interview with
John Ockwell, a signaller/driver in the Armoured
Corps. Her video also included research she
conducted on a nurse, Barbara Black of the Royal
Australian Army Nursing Corps. The judges were
impressed with the comprehensive set of
questions the student posed to John Ockwell in
her interview. |
|
Mount Waverley Secondary College |
Chisholm |
The
winning student wrote an essay about the service
of Australian nurses and the Australian Army
Training Team Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Her essay was interesting and informative. |
|
Sacred Heart College, Geelong |
Corio |
The
winning student wrote an essay about Mike
Coleridge, a photographer with the Royal
Australian Army Education, and medical staff who
served in the Vietnam War. She gave a detailed
account of
Mike Coleridge’s life and service. |
|
Viewbank College |
Jagajaga |
The
winning student wrote on essay on the ‘tunnel
rats’ and David Wright of the 1st
Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers. He
provided an engaging essay in terms of
biographical information and a descriptor of
David Wright’s role based on a personal
interview. |
|
Kyabram P-12 College |
Murray |
The
winning student submitted an artwork and
rationale on the role of dog handlers and 9
Squadron Royal Australian Air Force during the
Vietnam War. The artwork of a newspaper collage
included wartime articles from different part of
the world which expressed how people felt about
wars at the time. |
|
Total VIC: 7 |
|
Western Australia |
Electorate |
Entry |
|
John Calvin Christian College |
Canning |
The
winning student produced two poems, exploring
the roles of the Royal Australian Air Force and
nurses during the Vietnam War. The judges were
impressed with the way in which she captured the
dilemmas faced by these two groups, and the
subtlety of her reflections. |
|
Girrahwheen Senior High School |
Cowan |
The
winning student wrote an essay on the role of
the Royal Australian Air Force and dogs and
tracker teams during the Vietnam War. His essay
was well-written and logically sequenced. |
|
Presbyterian Ladies College |
Curtin |
The
winning student produced a video about two
servicemen, Major Brenton Mowbray and Private
Peter Hansen, and the role of memorials in the
community. The judges were impressed with the
student’s excellent commentary. |
|
Geraldton Grammar School |
Durack |
The
winning student submitted an excellent essay
with an overview of the Vietnam War and focus on
the experiences of two Australian nurses,
Colleen Thurgar and Patricia Ferguson. The
judges were impressed with the way the student
interwove her opinions and research throughout
the essay. |
|
La Salle College |
Hasluck |
The
winning student submitted a MP4 video, using
time lapse drawings overlaid with a commentary
exploring the roles of the 9th
Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and 9
Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force
during the Vietnam War. The judges were
impressed with the talent and perception of the
student’s presentation. |
|
St Mark’s Anglican Community School |
Moore |
The
winning student produced several art works
depicting the life of Major Harry Smith who
served in the Battle of Long Tan. The judges
were impressed with the student’s use of colour
and her interesting rationale. |
|
Irene McCormack Catholic College |
Pearce |
The
winning student’s entry was a well-written essay
about the Special Air Service Regiment and the
Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. The
student gave a balanced view and interesting
insights in her essay. |
|
Carine Senior High School |
Stirling |
The
winning student wrote a well-crafted essay about
the Royal Australian Air Force and Special Air
Service Regiment. The judges were impressed with
the insight and perception in the student’s
essay. |
|
Aquinas College |
Swan |
The
winning student wrote an essay on war
photographers. The student had an original
perspective, placing the Vietnam War in the
television era. |
|
Rossmoyne Senior High School |
Tangney |
The
winning student created a website which looked
at the roles of Keith Payne and the 2nd
Defence and Employment Platoon. The judges were
impressed with the simplicity and effectiveness
of the presentation, and how she discussed why
Australian Vietnam Veterans should be honoured
and remembered. |
|
Total WA: 10 |
Media enquiries:
Minister Tehan's Office: Byron Vale, 0428 262 894
Department of Veterans' Affairs Media: 02 6289 6203
Veterans and Veterans Families
Counselling Service (VVCS) can be reached 24 hours a day
across Australia for crisis support and free and
confidential counselling. Phone 1800 011 046 (international:
+61 8 8241 45 46). VVCS is a service founded by Vietnam
veterans.
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