The Harding Miller Education Foundation is thrilled to share the news that one of our Queensland scholars, Sophie Robertson, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Premier’s Anzac Prize. Currently in Grade 10 at Ayr State High School, Sophie is one of the 8 Queensland high school students who received this fully funded prize and the first student from Burdekin to do so. The winners were announced in the Queensland Parliament by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the end of last month.
The Premier’s Anzac Prize is a highly enriching initiative tailored for young individuals passionate about history. Those who receive the prize will engage in activities that contribute to developing their understanding of the Anzac spirit and its contemporary significance, both in Australia and globally. As part of the program, Sophie will set off for Brisbane to participate in a two-day young historians workshop hosted by the State Library of Queensland in January next year. This workshop is a prelude to a 16-day tour through Belgium, France, and the UK, where she will explore important memorial sites from World War I and II. As a particular highlight of this tour, Sophie will represent the Queensland Department of Education during the Anzac Day dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Before the tour, Sophie will also engage in research on two Anzac veterans, whom she will deliver eulogies on during the European tour. In addition, Sophie will be fundraising for Mates4Mates, an organization supporting Australian veterans and their families who have sustained injuries due to their military service.
Sophie states that she is honoured to have this opportunity as learning about Australia’s military history has always been close to her heart.
Congratulations Sophie! We are proud of you and wish you a rewarding and enjoyable experience throughout the program.
