Schools honouring the service of local veterans

9 Sep 2024

Primary and secondary students from all over the nation have had the opportunity to discover the stories of veterans in their local communities through the 2024 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards.

There’s more to war, conflict and peace operations than what is recorded in history books. For many people it was, and is, a significant chapter in their lives, and their service and sacrifices are remembered and told by these young Australians.

The entries were broad, showcasing the respectful and imaginative ways that students learnt about Australia’s military history and the experiences of veterans in their local community.

Entries included websites, songs, roving reporters, memorial gardens and walls, wreaths made from flowers grown at the school, artwork, crochet, dioramas, poetry, re-enactments, posters and even an escape room.

The winner of both the National Award and Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO award for veteran involvement was St Patrick’s College for Girls in Campbelltown, New South Wales, building an impressive website dedicated to telling the stories of local veterans who served in conflicts and peacekeeping missions since the First World War.

Entries for the 2025 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards are now open with the theme ‘Remembering Gallipoli: 110 years’. 

A list of all the 2024 award-winning schools is below. For more information on the Anzac Day Schools’ Awards, including how to enter in the 2025 awards, visit the Anzac Portal.

2024 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards winners

AwardSchool NameState
National Winner ($5,000)St Patrick’s College for Girls, CampbelltownNSW
ACT State Winner ($3,000)St Thomas More’s Primary SchoolACT
NSW State Winner ($3,000)John Edmondson High SchoolNSW
NSW State Winner ($3,000) Gosford High School    NSW
NT State Winner ($3,000)Larrakeyah Primary SchoolNT
QLD State Winner ($3,000)Southern Cross Catholic CollegeQLD
VIC State Winner ($3,000) Guthridge Primary SchoolVIC
VIC State Winner ($3,000)Prahran High SchoolVIC
WA State Winner ($3,000) Woodbridge Primary SchoolWA
Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO Award for Veteran Involvement ($2,000)St Patrick’s College for Girls, CampbelltownNSW
Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO Award for Veteran Involvement ($2,000)Wendouree Primary SchoolVIC
Award for Innovative Commemoration ($2,000)Southern Cross Catholic CollegeQLD
Award for Innovative Commemoration ($2,000)Kulnura Public SchoolNSW
Award for Creative Use of Technology ($2,000)Anzac Terrace Primary SchoolWA