Trip of a lifetime with Premier’s Anzac Prize
The history and sacrifice of the Anzacs will come to life for eight Queensland students and two teacher chaperones who have been named recipients of the 2027 Premier’s Anzac Prize.
The prize offers an opportunity to delve further into the Anzac legacy through a range of events, learning experiences and a two-week tour of key historical sites and World War I memorials in the United Kingdom, France and Belgium.
The tour culminates with attendance at the nationally televised Anzac Dawn Service near Villers-Bretonneux on what was known as the Western Front – a battleground where Australian service people sacrificed so much during WWI.
The students will research Anzac soldiers, the realities of their life during the war, the mateship and values that they built and the important place they still hold in Australia’s history.
The 2027 Premier’s Anzac Prize student recipients are:
- Aliza Palasara, Mansfield State High School
- Charlie Bargh, Warwick State High School
- Owen Callinan, Meridan State College
- Lucy Mowbray, All Hallows' School
- Erin Maher, St Monica's College - Cairns
- Isabelle O’Hara, Mackay North State High School
- Isabelle Wilson, Robina State High School
- Lucinda Rowan, Somerville House
The 2027 teacher chaperones are:
- David O’Connor, Deputy Principal-Primary, Nashville State School
- Tamara Steinhardt, Head of Department - Engagement, Sarina State High School
Warwick State High School student Charlie Bargh said he felt privileged to have been selected.
“I have been part of the Australian Army Cadets for the past three years and hope to join the Australian Army in the future,” Charlie said.
“Attending the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that very few people have the opportunity to attend.”
St Moncia’s College student Erin Maher said her connection with the Anzac legacy spanned three countries.
“I hold replica medals from my Irish great-great-grandfathers who served in the First World War, participate in Cairns Anzac Day commemorations, and carry a deep sense of gratitude for the Australian soldiers who defended Singapore, the city where I was born, during the Second World War,” Erin said.
“I applied for the Premier’s Anzac Prize because I believe shared histories matter. The Anzac legacy crosses borders and belongs to all Australians.”
RSL Queensland State President Major General Stephen Day DSC AM said helping young people recognise the contribution of service people from past conflicts was vital to understanding the Australia we know today.
“Shaped by the ANZAC spirit more than 100 years ago, this rare pilgrimage gives students the opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation of the service, commitment and sacrifice of veterans and their families,” Major General Day said.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with the Queensland Department of Education and help make this meaningful prize available to young people across Queensland.”
The Premier’s Anzac Prize is delivered by the Department of Education in partnership with RSL Queensland.
For more information, please visit the Premier’s Anzac Prize
- Last updated:
- 2 November 2026