Tour 2009 - Student Participants
Marissa BARBARO
Mount Lawley Senior High School
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Marissa is currently a Year 12 student at Mount Lawley Senior High School and through the Gifted and Talented Languages program at the school has studied Italian and French. Marissa demonstrates all round skills in both academic and sporting endeavours. She was awarded a High Distinction in the Dante Alighieri Italian examinations and also represented the school in State Debating Finals. She is on the School Health Committee and a member of the Smarter than Smoking Youth Committee. Marissa has achieved success in interschool competitions for Netball, Volleyball and Athletics. She has recently completed her first year playing for Darling Range in the State Netball League and also represented WA Athletics in Kuala Lumpur.
Marissa gained a particular interest in the history of the ANZACS after a family holiday to Canberra and a visit to the Australian War Memorial. The images and displays which demonstrated the harsh realities of war had a profound effect; giving her a greater understanding of the ultimate sacrifices made by the men and women in wartime. Marissa is deeply honoured to be given the opportunity to visit the Western Front as an ambassador of Western Australia and to pay a personal tribute to all the soldiers who fought in war.
Meghan BLACKSTOCK
Sevenoaks Senior College
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Meghan is a Year 12 student at Sevenoaks Senior College, where she is undertaking a tertiary entrance course. Her favourite subjects are History and Political and Legal Studies. The fact that she travels many kilometres each day to attend Sevenoaks shows how much she appreciates her school and her teachers. It was her History teacher who suggested that she apply for the honour of joining the ANZAC tour because of her particular interest in the ANZAC tradition and the history of World War One. Outside of school Meghan does voluntary work with the Disabled Surfing Association. She intends in later years to pursue a career as an archaeologist.
Members of Meghan's family have served with the Australian Armed Forces and her family is very proud of the fact that she has been selected to represent young Australians on a tour of some of the most significant commemorative sites in our nation's short history. She is looking forward to sharing her experiences and photos with them on her return.
Brady FLOCKART
Merredin Senior High School
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Brady is currently a Year 11 student at Merredin Senior High School. He enjoys the wheatbelt environment and living on his family farm. Brady has been involved in his schools extension program, including his favourite subjects English, Mathematics and Society and Environment. Brady's English class participated in the Schools ANZAC Award in 2008, which required Brady to compile a report on a local soldier who is named on the Merredin memorial. He was also a main presenter at his school's ANZAC ceremony. For their efforts they were awarded the state prize and a national prize.
The ANZAC Student Tour will be Brady's first experience overseas. Brady is looking forward to experiencing the different cultures and paying tribute to the thousands of soldiers named at the memorials. Brady is especially looking forward to the trip as he can pay respect to his great, great uncle Mark D’Esterre Brady who fought in Belgium and is buried in Ypres. This is important to Brady as he was named in memory of Mark a gunner for the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. He is also named after his great grandfather, Ernest Roy Scott a survivor of World War I, who served in the 28th Battalion and fought in France.
Mathew KING
Morawa District High School
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Mathew is a Year 10 student of Morawa District High School. Mathew enjoys all subject areas but prefers English, Society and Environment and Drama, where he has received highest achiever awards in these subject areas as well as a number of awards in other subjects. Mathew is also a member of the school brass band and the schools extended music program which is a brass quintet. For the last five years Mathew has been student councillor and enjoys it immensely. Last year Mathew also played one of the main roles in the schools production. After school Mathew participates in a number of activities such as private piano lessons and is also the vice captain of the Morawa hockey team and was awarded 2008 Fairest and Best.
The ANZAC student tour will be Mathew's first trip overseas and he is looking forward to the history side of the tour the most. Mathew's great great grandfather's brother, Joe Thompson, served on the Western Front as a soldier and survived and also his great grandfather, Stanley Gordon Martin, served in World War Two in Borneo on the front line and has the Pacific Star, war medal and the Australian Service Medal.
Dominique MABERLY
Perth Modern School
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Dominique is currently a Year 11 student at Perth Modern School and gained her place on the tour when at Christmas Island District High School in 2008. She enjoys all of her subjects and is interested in the study of humanities, which resulted in her participation in the Sir Charles Court Young Leaders Program this year. Dominique has been involved in a number of community programs including music and dance performances and two circuses. She is currently actively engaged in sports, particularly running, and placed first in the 2008 Christmas Island Open Female Half Marathon. Dominique is enjoying the move Perth will further her education at university after Year 12.
Upon receiving news of her acceptance into the ANZAC Student Tour 2009, Dominique was ecstatic and hopes to share what she learns with her peers. She is excited at the prospect of achieving a better understanding of the ANZAC legend through participation at ANZAC ceremonies overseas. Dominique is a strong believer in peaceful resolve, international relations and equality. She is therefore in admiration of the ANZAC's eagerness to assist others, their mateship and their unique 'Aussie' larrikin spirit for which they will always be remembered and respected.
Mishka MARZOHL
Margaret River Senior High School
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Mishka is currently a Year 10 student at Margaret River Senior High School, where he is a Student Leader and participates in the extension Maths program. Mishka enjoys all subjects but shows a special interest in Society and Environment, German and Science, where he has been the recipient of a number of school awards. Outside of school, Mishka is a passionate soccer player. He loves reading and karate and pursues the study of piano. Upon leaving school, Mishka would like to follow a Science career.
Although he has been to Switzerland before due to his Swiss heritage, the ANZAC Student Tour will be Mishka's first travel to Northern France and Belgium. Mishka is looking forward to visit the AIF Burial Ground at Flers, Somme, Flanders where he will pay his respects to Lance Andrews on behalf of the Margaret River RSL and community. Lance was an early Margaret River settler and enlisted with the B Company of the 16th Battalion, 4th Brigade of the AIF on 14 September 1914 and was killed in action at Le Barque, Belgium on the 24 August 1918. Mishka's own great grandfather, Neil Collinson, was a P.O.W. in Changi during World War Two.
Chelsea MORAN
Ballajura Community College
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Chelsea is a Year 9 student at Ballajura Community College, where she is involved in the academic extension program. She enjoys a range of subjects her talents lying in English, Italian, Society and Environment, and Media. Aside from these she is dedicated to a range of extra curricular activities such as a range of levels of debating, public speaking and creative writing. Chelsea aims to pursue a career in psychology after she leaves school. She hopes to one day travel and study abroad to nurture her love of culture and travel. Chelsea was overwhelmed to be offered the experience to travel over seas to represent the state, and is excited at the prospect of immersing herself in local European culture.
This will be the first time Chelsea has travelled to Europe, and she is looking forward to visiting Menin Gate. She is hoping to be able to pay respects to her three great uncles; Hubert, Sydney, and Albert Walton who fought among others as part of the Third Pioneer Battalion in different regiments. She is honoured to be given the experience to represent the state and reflect on the meaning of ANZAC and its place in today's society.
Caris NEGRI
Santa Maria College
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Caris is currently a Year 12 student at Santa Maria College, where she boards during the school year. When she is not boarding, Caris lives in the rural town of Bruce Rock. This year, Caris began TEE studies and particularly enjoys her studies of History, Political and Legal Studies and Accounting. This year Caris won the Year 11 Accounting award. During her years at the college Caris has represented her college in tennis, netball, softball and mock trials. Caris is also an active member of the college service group, Young Vinnies. After completing schooling Caris intends to pursue a career in either law or accounting.
The ANZAC Student Tour will be Caris' first opportunity to travel overseas, and she is especially looking forward to visiting the battlefields of the Western Front and paying her respects to the many Australians who fought in World War One. Caris will be keeping in mind her own great grandfather, Joseph Baker who served with the 11th Battalion in both Gallipoli and at the Western Front. Caris also had relatives who fought in World War Two.
Chloe SHERWIN
Exmouth District High School
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Chloe is a Year 11 student at Exmouth District High School, where she is an active member of the student council and was selected as the Country Week School Captain. She is an enthusiastic student who is keen to study chemistry, history and photography next year. Chloe has a keen interest in animals and sport. Horse riding is her main hobby in which she has successfully competed in. She has also represented Exmouth in netball and swimming. After leaving school Chloe hopes to go on and study Veterinarian Science at university.
Two of Chloe's Great Uncles, Herbert and Trevor Rushforth, served in World War II. Herb was in the first landing at Borneo as a part of the 5th Airfield Construction Squadron and Trevor was a part of the 10th Light Horse Brigade. He then moved to the 58/59 Infantry Battalion where he served in Bougainville as a Lance Corporal. Chloe is very proud of her family's involvement in Australian history and is honoured to have the opportunity to pay respects to those who sacrificed their lives on the Western Front.
Amelia STRIBLEY
Karratha Senior High School
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Amelia is currently in Year 11 at Karratha Senior High School and attends the home work centre Gumala Mirnuwarni after school. Gumala Mirnuwarni encourages Indigenous students to excel at school and follow their dreams. Amelia’s favourite subjects at school are currently Art and Science and she is looking forward to Year 12 next year. Last year Amelia won High Achievement awards for Japanese and English in her year group. She has been a member of Nickol Junior Soccer Club in 2007 and 2008, the team won the Grand Final for two years running. Amelia is also a member of King Bay Horse and Pony Club. Amelia has recently become a member of the Roebourne Shire Youth Advisory Council. Amelia plans to attend University to pursue a career as a Large Animal Veterinarian.
Amelia has never travelled overseas before and is looking forward to the new experience and getting the chance to pursue her interests in seeing historic places in other countries; to see the land where the AIF in World War One fought. Amelia is excited about attending and participating in ANZAC Day services held on the Western Front honouring the Australian and New Zealand soldiers and their ANZAC Spirit.
Kathryn WILSON
Ballajura Community College
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Kathryn is currently a Year 12 student at Ballajura Community College. She enjoys History and English Literature as well as Italian where she has participated in several exchange programs to Italy. For the past four years, Kathryn has participated in the Western Australian Debating League, representing her school and shows passion in public speaking where she has twice been selected as a State semi-finalist for the Rostrum Voice of Youth Speaking Competition. Within the school, Kathryn is a member of her school's Senior Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble. She plays the clarinet, tenor saxophone and piano. Upon leaving school, Kathryn hopes to either pursue a career in secondary History teaching or Law.
The ANZAC Student Tour presents Kathryn with an opportunity to visit the Western Front where her own great-great-uncle, Sergeant Christopher Veitch, from the 11th Battalion, was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal whilst defending an area called Ostrich Avenue during the Bullecourt campaign. He had also been present at the landing of Gallipoli.
Christopher WONG
Christ Church Grammar School
Chris is a Year 11 student currently attending Christ Church Grammar School. He enjoys all subjects but has a particular interest in Philosophy, Ethics and Religion, having won a school prize in this subject. Christopher has studied Piano and is currently studying Trumpet, in which he has recently completed the AMEB 4th Grade Exam. As part of the school's community service programme, Christopher is involved in volunteer work with aged care in Cottesloe, where he assists in administration duties. One of Christopher's personal interests is the stock market, being intrigued by the recent crash and how this impacts economies throughout the world. Christopher enjoys travelling and has been to parts of the USA, Europe and South East Asia.
Christopher's great grandfather Tan Choon Lee served under the British in Singapore in the auxiliary forces during World War Two. During this period he was awarded a total of four medals. Christopher feels honoured to be selected for the ANZAC Student Tour 2009 and privileged to be travelling to France and Belgium, countries he has not been before, to participate in the 2009 commemorative activities.
Back to top- 2009 Tour Topics
- Historical Significance
- Participants (Student)
- Participants (Staff)
- Tour Diary
- 2009 Tour Extras
- Official Photograph
- Tour Reports