SA Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize

The group in front of the Edith Falls after an exhausting walk up the scarp in the heat. Today we had the awesome environmental experience of swimming at Edith Falls on Edith River and explore the pastoral/outback world of Katherine.                                                                   A Giant Termite Mound                                                                                                                                  ...

  On Arnhem Land What a great day in Kakadu on the East Alligator River, standing on a bit of Arnhem Land and a 4 Km hike in the heat to the rock art scarp.  Just a few pictures from an amazing day in Kakadu. Back at Cooinda Lodge, enjoying a well-earned swim.

  The Giant Boxing Crocodile and the group Today on the way to Kakadu we had some close encounters with the crocodiles in the Adelaide River.   The pictures that follow show the story: 

Adelaide River War Cemetery Every night on the trip the students are presenting their research on a person who died during the bombing of Darwin. Most of these people are buried at the Adelaide River War Cemetery. We are visiting the cemetery on Friday 23 April to conduct a commemoration service in honour of the people who died in Darwin during World War 2. Many of the students will have the opportunity after the service to visit the grave of the person they researched, to pay their respects.  Students sharing their stories at H on Smith During the week the stories the students have uncovered during their research will be posted on the blog. Here are some of the pictures of those we will be profiling at nights during the trip.

                                                    Overlooking Darwin at the National Park Today was a day about aviation (at the Aviation Museum and Ross & Keith Smith Memorial), Cyclone Tracey at the Darwin Museum, learning about crocodiles, relaxing in Darwin at the Wave Pool and on the Stokes Hill Wharf. B52 bomber at the Aviation Museum At the Memorial to Ross and Keith Smith. This is where they landed in 1919 when they reached Darwin. Crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove (a facility in the centre of Darwin)

  At the Cenotaph on the Darwin Esplanade Today was very much focussed on the Bombing of Darwin in 1942. I suggest the students are all across this event after listening, watching and experiences the bombing years - the Virtual Reality at the Flying Doctors Museum on the bombing raids was an amazing experience for us all. On the cruise around Darwin Harbour - great information and views in the Darwin Harbour Alongside the Stokes Hill Wharf - first point of bombing on 19 February 1942 Dr Norman Cramp (Director of the Darwin Military Museum) talks to the students about the Cenotaph on the Esplanade in Darwin. The group on the Esplanade next to the gun from the USS Peary Relaxing in the pool after a long day

  First group photograph: At East Point after the Larrakia Cultural experience with Tony and Trent Lee. A  great day in Darwin - the following photographs show some of the highlights from the day. Trent welcoming the group Getting ready for the Larrakia salt water ceremony Throwing spears Making fire Tony playing the Didgeridoo and students accompanying Didgeridoo healing                                                                  Body painting with ochre Dinner at Stokes Hill Wharf Tomorrow  we will learn about the 1942 bombing of Darwin on the water, at the wharf, around Darwin and at the Darwin Military Museum - another busy day!

  The 2021 Premiers' Anzac Spirit School Prize is happening now! Although this blog is all about the study tour for the 2020 awardees, the 2021 Premiers' Anzac Spirit School Prize is currently being undertaken in South Australian schools. As 2020 awardees, we would love you to encourage students in your schools to enter the 2021 competition for the prize. At this stage, the 2021 awardees and selected teachers will be also be travelling to Darwin and the Top End - probably in October 2021. Here is the information on the 2021  Premiers' Anzac Spirit School Prize - similar but slightly different this year in regards to the task set. The 2021 Premiers' Anzac Spirit School Prize was launched on 11 November, Remembrance Day 2020. The theme for this year is the multicultural soldier and the poster above profiles soldiers with  Irish and Indian backgrounds (Hindu and Muslim). The Soldiers in Worl...

  Getting ready to head-off to Darwin and surrounds on 16 Apri l After a few false starts and the disappointment of the study tour to France being cancelled because of the pandemic, the 2020 Premier's Anzac Spirit School Prize students are finally approved to travel to Darwin and the Top End of the Northern Territory during April this year.   The historical focus is learning about and commemoration of the Bombing of Darwin during World War 2.  As you will see from the itinerary below, the study tour also has a strong cultural and geographical focus as the group travels from Darwin to Kakadu, to Katherine and then onto Litchfield National Park.  The trip is planned and the itinerary is as follows: Fri, 16 April 2021 0730 Depart Adelaide Airport (QF858) to Darwin. Arrive Darwin 1110. Overnight in Darwin at H on Smith Hotel Sat, 17 April 2021 Visit Darwin War Museum and tour of Darwin environs. Over...