Beyond Mel Gibson and Gallipoli!

• The poster for the 2018 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize. Read the 'The story behind the face on the Poster' by clicking here.
• Information and entry forms at http://anzaccentenary.sa.gov.au/competitions/the-premiers-anzac-spirit-school-prize/

The 24 February HaSS SA Conference presentation called 
'Beyond Mel Gibson at Gallipoli!'

 The PowerPoint of the HaSS SA workshop presentation.

The workshop explored the potential to teach war and commemoration through historical conceptual thinking using research skills to develop authentic learning in the classroom. Learning about Australia’s involvement in the Great War, World War 2, Korean War and Vietnam War should be more than learning about chronology, battles and statistics. The Australian Curriculum: History provides the opportunity to connect students to the stories and events through conceptual thinking. At the same time the use of research skills to ‘find’ stories is a way to personalise the learning for students. During the workshop the Virtual War Memorial and the Premier’s Anzac Spirit School Prize will be profiled as examples of unique initiatives for students to participate in high quality historical research and to personally engage in learning about war beyond just learning ‘about’ the conflict involved.

Some ideas to get started with researching

* Naturally, visit the RSL Virtual War Memorial site at https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/ 
* Ask your family about an older family member or family friend who served or was involved in the conflict.
* Does your school have an Honour Board or Memorial Wall commemorating ex-students? 
* The first step for individuals who died during wartime will probably be to look them up on the Australian War Memorial website www.awm.gov.au where you will find lots of other useful links.  Start by going to ‘Research a person’ at www.awm.gov.au/research/people/ and entering either a name or service number. 
 * Research in your local library or local history museum for any local history accounts of an individual from your area participating in your selected conflict. 
* Visit the War Memorials in your local area to identify the names of locals who participated in your selected conflict. The RSL website links at www.rslsa.org.au/ may help you with this task. 
* Contact your local Returned & Services League (RSL) (www.rslsa.org.au/) to discuss the Premier’s ANZAC Spirit School Prize task and whether they can help your research.  The RSL is involved in the competition and have communicated details of the competition and study tour to all their branches.  Such personal contact could be invaluable in developing responses. 
* Visit the National Archives of Australia website at www.naa.gov.au/collection/explore/defence/service-records/army-wwi.aspx for detailed war records of individuals.
* Visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at www.cwgc.org/ for details  on overseas war cemeteries and graves.

The learning journey ends for the 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize

Image above: Discussions about the trip at the 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize reception at RSL SA on 1 December, 2017.

The 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize reception 

   

All good things come to an end and that is the case with the 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize. On Friday 1 December, the final event for  the 2017 prize was conducted in the Memorial Hall of RSL SA. Our special guests were Mr Rick Persse, Chief Executive of the Department for Education and Child Development (DECD), Bronson Horan (RSL SA President), Cheryl Cates (RSL SA Vice President), Jock Statton (Past RSL SA President) and Deonne Smith (DECD Director). 

 Rick Persse, DECD Chief Executive addresses the reception.

  Bronson Horan, RSL SA President presents an RSL medal to Metala Burgess for her prize entry that he had read.

At the reception the students had the opportunity to address the guests with their observations and stories from the tour and reflect on the impact of the prize on their perceptions and considered futures. The students spoke fantastically and did the parents and staff proud!

 2017 Premier's ANZAC Prize students,  Laura Stephens and Josh Loxton addressing the reception.

 Kendal Brown (RSL SA delegate for the trip) and Brenton Meier (teacher chaperone) share their thoughts on the prize.

After the reception the students, staff and parents had the opportunity to have one last Vietnamese meal together at the Ho Tho City Restaurant in Hindmarsh - an absolute treat to finish our time together.

All smiles at a meal back in Ho Chi Minh City.

All the best to the students and staff involved in this years trip -  thanks for all the memories of a great time together.

Now for planning the 2018 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize that was launched on 11 November 2017. Stay tuned!

The 2018 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize poster

Information and entry forms at http://anzaccentenary.sa.gov.au/competitions/the-premiers-anzac-spirit-school-prize/

Every step of the way on the trip I could feel my soldiers with me

Image above: A scene on the track up to the site of the US base called Camp Carroll.

A journal extract from 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize student Abbie Nourse about the hike up to Camp Carroll in the heat and tropical rain.



Thank you Frederick John Schenscher and Errol Wayne Noack for being a major part in my journey

Finding a favourite photograph of my adventures on the 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize Vietnam Study Tour is near impossible to find, especially on my first overseas trip. Every photograph I took on this trip has meaning and a special significance to either the country of Vietnam or my travelling experiences in Vietnam. Every part of Vietnam is different in its own kind of way and every day I learnt and found something new either about myself as a person or the country of Vietnam. I could go on all day long about our travels and adventures in Vietnam but that would be like reading a very long essay and then I reckon it could turn into a novel.
I chose this picture as my significant/ favourite photograph because I believe it captures the culture and meaning of Vietnam and especially holds unforgettable memories. This photograph I took was of a local Vietnamese villager/ farmer whilst walking up to Camp Carroll to the site of the old US base. After 3kms up a steep hill we finally found the memorial to the base! After I was nearly taken out by the massive load of leaves this woman was manually carting down the hill, I quickly snapped the photograph which I consider as a significant memorable photograph.
Walking up the hill of Camp Carroll is something that I will never forget and I believe it made the trip more memorable and meaningful by experiencing all types of weather conditions that the servicemen and women would have endured during the Vietnam War.
As we walked up to Camp Carroll I felt like giving up as this hill seemed never ending with the odds of finding the memorial against us, but then I began to think about both my two South Australian servicemen I had researched for the 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize. I thought about our Australian soldiers walking in these weather conditions in Vietnam, a country so climatically and culturally different to their country and hometown of Australia. They would have felt just as homesick as I did but at least I knew that we were hiking to find a US memorial unlike them who were commanded to hike to some province unknown to them, a place they would have never heard of.

My perspective on life has changed since this trip; I now look at everything in life with a new and different perspective. I am so lucky to have experienced such a life changing adventure with incredible passionate students and mentors. I never knew a group of Aussie tourists and passionate historians would be so popular to the Vietnamese locals!

Vietnam has so much culture and history, each city we went to was always different from the last. Vietnam is full of depth, pain, happiness, laughing yoga, exercise craziness, French heritage and architecture and hidden Chinese treasures. We also met gorgeous, grateful and happy little orphanage and school children who light up your day with sunshine despite the threatening storm clouds and the incredible but peaceful huge limestone rocks at Ha Long Bay and Marble Mountain. I cannot imagine what this country would have looked like during the Vietnam War.

I feel so privileged and honoured to have researched two incredibly fascinating servicemen. Every step of the way on the trip I could feel my soldiers with me and not on one day did I forget about them. Thank you Frederick John Schenscher and Errol Wayne Noack for being a major part in my journey this year. This has been a life changing experience and I am so thankful for being selected as an awardee.

Moments I will never ever forget.

Image above: The smells, sights and atmosphere of the streets of Hoi An at night.

A journal extract from 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize student Alyssa Siebert about her favourite moments on the trip.


My favourite moments and memories

The 2017 ANZAC Spirit trip has gone by too quick. What was two weeks only feels like two days. The whole trip was amazing but if I had to narrow it down to some of my favourite moments and memories, it would be the those spent in Hoi An, Long Tan, our morning yoga sessions and the Song Cau Primary School. From the night of shopping with friends, to the bright and bubbly atmosphere of the locals and tourists and lantern lit streets it was no doubt my favourite place. Our morning walk was one or many but instead of in the sunshine like most others it was mainly in the pouring rain, though the smells were disgusting and I hope to never see live frogs and fish in baskets again.  Being able to see the rubber plantation of Long Tan today and imaging where the stories of many soldiers took place and being fortunate enough  to be able to lay a rose at the memorial and be part of a ceremony for all the soldiers was definitely a moment I will never forget. Our way of watching the city wake up was getting up at six o’clock every morning and walking through the streets of many Vietnamese cities and towns and taking part in yoga and dancing sessions with the locals, watching the them do Tai Chi. I will never forget about happy yoga which was quite different, but made you feel good about yourself. My favourite part of the trip was visiting the Song Cau Primary School. I may not have been able to speak the same language but watching their faces light when given their presents and the way we were able to teach and get along with them was a moment I will never ever forget.

As we were standing silently under the stars

Image above: A tranquil picture of Ha Long Bay at sunrise.

A journal extract from 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize student Lucy Fielke about her impressions of Vietnam history and culture.

This was an eye-opening experience

Behind the picturesque scenery was a country rich with history. I went to Vietnam expecting to learn about the culture and the war. But what I found was a country that was rich in experiences. I saw people on the early morning streets exercising, and going about their day with not a care in the world. People who had very little, but were content with what they had. They didn’t mind. They cared more about each other and connecting than about possessions.

I ate food that I would not normally try back in Australia. Vietnamese food in Vietnam is very different to Vietnamese food in Australia. It has so much more flavour. Our Australian version is just Western food with a bit of spice – compared to the real thing. It was more of an experience than a meal. It was course after course, a banquet – tasting and experiencing and sharing. You don’t just have a course that you choose, you share it all. It promotes community and conversation.  You feel like you belong more as you are connecting with people in a different way. It is more than just a meal.

In terms of history, I learnt so much. I was surprised by the French influence. I didn’t realise there was such a background from the French colonisation. They corrupted the Emperors and made the Vietnamese people think they had control, but really the French were pulling the strings. I was also amazed by the fact that some people became Emperors by the time they were 13. I can’t imagine being in that position at my age. Also, if the Emperors didn’t abide by the French rule they were exiled to the remote islands off the coast of Africa – pretty cut throat really.

This particular photo really moved me, because during the war, every part of the country was affected and under the influence of the war, but Ha Long Bay will still beautiful and untouched by the war. It really was a safe haven and cut off from the horror and devastation happening everywhere else in Vietnam. On the last night, here in Ha Long Bay we had a service/ceremony to commemorate our Vietnam and World War 1 soldiers that we had researched. As we were standing silently under the stars with the shadows of the islands around us, I could really imagine my soldier and nurse and feel how different their experiences were from my experiences in this place. It really made me appreciate the way I have grown up and the opportunities I have had. I couldn’t imagine the horrors and tragedy that they faced, not very many years older than I am now.

We were greeted with great inclusiveness

Image above: Ho Chi Minh City from the top floor of Muong Tanh Saigon Centre Hotel on 6 October 2017.

A journal extract from 2017 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize student Jasmin Grist about life beyond just seeing the buildings of large cities.

Hidden beneath the soaring skyscrapers and within the bustling streets, lay many treasures

Since we arrived back in Australia, I have found that the more I think about it, the harder it has become for me to determine just one place or event as the most memorable to me throughout the Vietnam trip. After sifting through thousands of photos (literally), I finally narrowed it down. The photograph pictured above, shows Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) from the top floor balcony of Muong Tanh Saigon Center Hotel. At first glance, Ho Chi Minh City may appear to be like any other metropolis – stretching vastly in every direction, no end in sight. However, hidden beneath the soaring skyscrapers and within the bustling streets, lay many treasures; the noise and energy of the Ben Thanh Market, the beautiful French architecture, dinner on a boat cruising the Saigon River.

We were fortunate enough to explore many of Vietnam’s hidden secrets – and not just in Ho Chi Minh. Every city we visited, from Vũng Tàu to Hanoi, and the stunning countryside and villages in-between, had their own hidden gems. Walking through the city streets, both early in the morning and late at night, we experienced the dynamic life of Vietnam. The lantern-filled streets of Hoi An and the Night Markets in Hanoi were definitely stand out moments for me, being so different to what I’ve always known here in Australia. And the friendliness and curiosity of the Vietnamese people towards foreigners such as us, remains prominent in my memory. Everywhere we went – dancing with the yoga ladies in the park or chatting with people along the streets, we were greeted with great inclusiveness.

The Vietnam tour was an utterly amazing time, certainly setting the standard high as my first time travelling overseas. Being presented with the opportunity to experience the ‘full’ culture of Vietnam, rather than just snippets of it, allowed me to learn so much more than I expected to about the spectacular country’s culture and history. It seems I’ve caught the travellers bug (not the type that gives you diarrhoea). I truly believe that travelling and seeing the world, learning and comprehending a culture outside of our own homeland’s, can enrich a person’s life.