Wednesday, 16 August 2023

 Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (19:13): (296) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Veterans Natalie Suleyman. The action I seek is for the minister to join me at Ilim College in my electorate of Broadmeadows to share with the school community how the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize is connecting young people with the legend of Anzac. More than 40,000 Australians of Turkish background called Victoria home, and many of those live within my electorate of Broadmeadows, making it one of the largest Turkish communities in Australia. The bond between Australia and Türkiye is special and one of respect and friendship. That is why at the last election I was proud to join the Premier and Minister Suleyman at Ilim College to announce the Spirit of Anzac Prize would be returning this year.

The Spirit of Anzac Prize is a competition that offers Victorian students in years 9 to 12, including those in Broadmeadows, the opportunity to explore the Anzac legacy, and this year’s competition is even more special. To mark Türkiye’s centenary of independence, 10 prize winners will embark on an unforgettable journey to significant war memorials, battlefields and commemorative sites in Türkiye, including Gallipoli. I want to ensure young Victorians, including at Ilim College and across Broadmeadows, get the opportunity to understand, appreciate and respect the Anzac legacy. The Türkiye centenary and the Spirit of Anzac Prize are a unique opportunity to celebrate and share the strong relationship between Victoria and Türkiye, and I know that this government will always back our multicultural communities. I would be delighted if the minister would join me at Ilim College to share with students how they can seize this opportunity and engage with the Spirit of Anzac Prize. I look forward to the minister’s response.