School competition to honour Australia’s Vietnam Veterans
31st August, 2015
Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss today encouraged secondary schools to participate in the Australian Government’s Honouring Australian Vietnam Veterans schools’ competition.
“The Honouring Australian Vietnam Veterans competition offers students in years 9 and 10 an opportunity to explore the service of Australia’s Vietnam Veterans, and to reflect on the importance of remembering their involvement in the conflict,” Mr Truss said.
“More than 60,000 Australian servicemen and women were deployed to Vietnam between 1962 and 1975, and over 500 were killed. While many returned home with physical and emotional scars, all came home with a personal story to tell.
“The competition encourages students to research the individual stories of our veterans to gain a better understanding of their service. Students can submit responses in a variety of ways, including multi-media, artworks, musical compositions or essays.”
The competition is open until Friday, 8 April 2016, giving students two full terms to participate. Schools can enter their best individual student entry.
Winning students will be invited to attend a three-day Canberra Commemorative Programme in August 2016, involving visits to cultural institutions and attendance at the national commemoration marking the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
The Honouring Australian Vietnam Veterans schools’ competition is part of the Australian Government’s Anzac Centenary national programme, which aims to improve public awareness of Australia’s wartime history, especially among younger Australians.
Further information on the competition is available on the Department of Veteran’s Affairs website at: www.anzacportal.dva.gov.au/competitions.
