Tuesday, 15 August 2023

 Iwan WALTERS (Greenvale) (19:03): (282) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Veterans, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me at Kolbe Catholic College to inform that great school community about the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize and how it will help young Victorians understand, respect and sustain the legacy of the men and women who have served our nation and the memory of Anzac. I was at this wonderful school just yesterday for the college’s feast day in memory of Saint Maximilian Kolbe and the dedication of a beautiful new statue in his likeness, as well as the formal opening of the school’s stunning new open space and the interment of a time capsule.

Speaking with principal Nick Scully, who does a magnificent job leading Kolbe and its wonderful culture, I know how interested the school and its students already are in the opportunity provided by the 2023 Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize. This year’s prize offers Victorian students in years 9 to 12 the opportunity to participate in a unique educational program that fosters understanding and appreciation of our nation’s Anzac spirit and legacy. This year’s prize proudly celebrates Türkiye’s centenary of independence and the significant ties that endure between Australia and Türkiye. Through this program, 10 students will be chosen to embark on an unforgettable educational journey, learning about the Anzac legend, retracing the experience of Australian men and women on the Gallipoli Peninsula and travelling to battlefields and commemorative sites in Türkiye. It is so important that we continue to support and educate young Victorians on our shared history and the journey of those who sacrificed their lives for our country. I am delighted to support this worthy and important competition in my electorate of Greenvale, and I am really looking forward to joining the minister at Kolbe Catholic College to discuss this wonderful program and how the incredible students of that school can get involved.