Tour 2008 - Student Participants
Hannah CASTLEDINE
Esperance Senior High School
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Hannah Castledine is a Year 11 student at Esperance Senior High School, and is an active member of her school community. Hannah has participated in the Tournament of Minds competition since 2001, winning the national finals twice. She is a percussionist in the Concert and Jazz Bands, and has been awarded several certificates of outstanding academic achievement.
Hannah’s interest in war history has been enhanced by travelling with ex-POW’s on the Quiet Lion Tour to the Burma-Thailand Railway where she was awarded the Weary Dunlop Medal. She also found her visits to the Sandakan Memorial Park in Borneo and the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to be very moving. Hannah’s grandfather served Australia in World War II and her four great uncles fought in North Africa, Italy and Burma, where CSM Harvey Staunton of the West African Expeditionary Force was awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry. Hannah feels privileged to be attending the tour especially as 2008 marks the 90th Anniversary of the liberation of the French village, Villers-Bretonneux, near Amiens, where her great grandfather served in the Royal Horse Artillery from 1914 -18.
Merredith CULLY
Iona Presentation College
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Iona Presentation College Year 11 student, Merredith Cully, is originally from Manjimup. Merredith moved to Iona as a boarder in 2007, where she is actively involved in the sport and culture areas of the school. She is a keen student of piano and enjoys performing in the school choir. She enjoys all subjects, but shows particular passion in Art and Science. Upon leaving school, Merredith would like to travel, before commencing studies in medicine or midwifery. The ANZAC Student Tour is a great honour to Merredith and will be her first overseas trip. She is looking forward to immersing herself in new cultures and experiencing a world of memories and legends. Merredith has no relatives who fought in World War One, but a great-grandfather who was a dentist was contracted to the army at Black Boy Hill Camp during the war. She is very passionate about exploring her family’s history. Merredith feels privileged to be able to represent her family, school and Western Australia.
Rachel DRAKE-BROCKMAN
Katanning Senior High School
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Rachel Drake-Brockman is in Year 11 at Katanning Senior High School. Rachel enjoys many subjects, including Society and Environment, Science and English and she is looking forward to completing her TEE and then going to university. Rachel has represented her school at a number of events including the Model United Nations Assembly. She enjoys sport, holding a black belt in karate, and is a member of the Katanning Clay Target Club. She had three uncles in World War One. Two served in the Australian 10th Light Horse; with nineteen year old Hubert who was killed at the Nek on Gallipoli, and Elliot, who was permanently scarred by his experiences. Edmund Drake-Brockman served as the second-in-command of the 11th Battalion during the landing at Gallipoli and played a decisive role on the first day. On the Western Front, he commanded the 16th Battalion at Pozieres, Mouquet Farm and Bullecourt. Rachel is looking forward to visiting the sites of the first two battles and to remembering his contribution. She believes that her tour experience will enable her to assist her peers at Katanning Senior High School remember the enormous contribution of the ANZACs.
Neil GRAHAM
Albany Senior High School
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Year 11 student Neil Graham takes part in the Academic Talent Program online while attending Albany Senior High School. Neil’s favourite subjects include Society & Environment, Mathematics and Science. He recently was awarded equal top mark in the state for the University of NSW Mathematics competition, and a High Distinction in the Australian Informatics Competition. Neil has participated in the Sir Charles Court Young Leaders Program and intends to study Medicine at UWA, and become a general practitioner. He is involved in the Follow the Dream program and an ATP Marine Science group. Neil enjoys playing tennis. Neil was ecstatic when he was told that he would be joining the 2008 ANZAC Student Tour. This will be Neil’s first overseas trip and he hopes to learn a lot more about the history of Villers-Bretonneux and the ANZACS. Neil also hopes the tour can help him expand his knowledge of different cultures.
Cory GRAY
Geraldton Senior College
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Cory Gray is a Year 12 TEE student at Geraldton Senior College. He has been nominated for Head Boy for 2008 and has been rewarded for his leadership with the Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award. When not at school Cory has a part time job and enjoys playing the guitar and drums with hopes of attending the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts to pursue a career as a sound engineer. The ANZAC Student Tour will be Cory’s first overseas trip and he is especially looking forward to visiting the battlefields of the heroes that he has researched as an entrant in the competition. Cory has a deep interest in the study of Australian History and is very proud of his eldest brother who, as a member of 10 Light Horse Army Reserves, marches each year in the ANZAC Day Parades. It is partially due to this personal connection that Cory one day aspires to join the Australian Defence Force. To be a part of the Anzac Student Tour is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that Cory will forever honour and never forget.
Emma HAINS
Willetton Senior High School
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Emma Hains is a Year 10 student at Willetton Senior High School where she is in the Academic Talent Program and the Multimedia Scholarship Program. She has a particular interest in humanities and the arts and has received a number of academic awards across all learning areas. Emma loves all sports, particularly netball, and has represented her school in many sporting teams. Emma is considering a career as a veterinary surgeon or a forensic scientist when she leaves school. Her great grandfather; Albert Edward Hains and his two brothers served in the Australian Army in World War I. Another great grandfather, Harry Wesley Gaunt, served in the Royal Australian Engineers in World War II. Emma’s grandfather; Arthur Ernest Hains had a 25 year career in the RAAF after serving as a mid-upper gunner (24 Squadron) during World War II.
The ANZAC Student Tour will be Emma’s first trip to Europe. She is very proud to have been selected to represent her school and other Western Australian students. Emma is honoured to have the opportunity to visit the battlefields where so many brave young Australians died and to attend the services dedicated to their memory.
Alice HENDERSON
Frederick Irwin Anglican School
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Alice Henderson is in Year 11 at Frederick Irwin Anglican School in Mandurah, where she is studying Maths, Science, English, Politics and Japanese. Her out-of-school activities include Australian Air Force Cadets, scuba diving, tennis, umpiring netball and playing the piano. Upon graduating school in 2009, Alice intends to seek a Bachelor degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy before becoming an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. The ANZAC Student Tour will be Alice’s furthest trip from home. She is excited about experiencing other cultures, but is primarily looking forward to visiting the famous battlegrounds in France where her great uncle, Private Alfred Henry Pavy, who served with 11th Battalion, was killed in action on 6 May 1917. She would like to locate his grave near the French town of Villers-Bretonneux and pay her respects. Her grandfather, Alfred Harold Stacey, saw action in New Guinea during World War II and his brother, Campbell Stacey, served in Egypt and Germany.
Veronica LAM
Warwick Senior High School
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Veronica Lam is a Year 10 student of the Academic Excellence Program at Warwick Senior High School. Veronica shows great interest in all aspects of school, particularly enjoying Society & Environment and English. She intends to become a lawyer, so she can promote justice and equality to settle disagreements through negotiation rather than resorting to the violent conflicts of war. Veronica is acutely aware how the fear and anguish of war may be experienced not only by those on the battlefield, but by families and friends of our heroes. Veronica believes it is the role of current and future generations, to prevent devastating events such as warfare from occurring again. As an Australian-born Chinese student, Veronica is very eager to learn about the Australian history and Australia’s involvement with war. Veronica looks forward to visiting the battlefields where our soldiers sacrificed their lives for our future generations. She envisages that this will be a great opportunity to fulfill her curiosity about war, to personally express her appreciation of our soldiers’ efforts, and to share her experiences with her family and peers of Warwick Senior High School.
Claire McLAUGHLIN
Hedland Senior High School
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Claire McLaughlin has lived in Port Hedland all her life and is a year 12 student at Hedland Senior High School. Claire is a TEE student and especially enjoys History, Physical Education Studies and Human Biology. She hopes to pursue a career in Medicine or Physiotherapy. Claire has a great passion for her chosen sport of Gymnastics which she has been involved in since she was two years old. Claire has represented the school in many sporting events including interschool athletic carnivals, and interschool sports playing touch rugby and soccer. Claire is looking forward to travelling overseas and visiting the places that have contributed to the development of our national identity. Claire is very honoured to represent her school, community and Western Australia on a trip of a lifetime. She wants to share the experience of taking part in the ANZAC Student Tour with her community.
Ilka MITCHELL
Manjimup Senior High School
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Ilka Mitchell is in Year 12 at Manjimup Senior High School having previously attended Bridgetown District High School where she received a number of awards for English and Society and Environment. Studying five TEE subjects, Ilka especially enjoys History and Economics and has represented both schools at Country Week in netball and hockey. Outside of school, Ilka is involved in the local junior hockey association and this year travelled with the team to New Zealand to play and experience the culture. Ilka also enjoys coaching and umpiring netball. On completion of her TEE, Ilka plans to attend university, with the intention of studying either international relations or sports medicine/science. The ANZAC Student Tour will be her first trip to Europe. Ilka is looking forward to seeing the places that helped forge Australia’s national identity and representing her State and school while in Europe. Ilka’s grandfather fought in Korea with the British Royal Signallers and one of her uncles was a member of the Special Air Service Regiment.
Thomas MURPHY
Corrigin District High School
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Year 9 Corrigin District High School student Thomas Murphy is a member of the Student Council and his favourite subjects are English and Society and Environment. Thomas and his friends are keen performers, and in 2007 they won the Bruce Rock Speech and Drama Festival. Thomas also was named Best Actor. Outside of school, Thomas plays football and hockey, and enjoys swimming, computing and reading. A keen writer, he would like to pursue a career in journalism. Although he spent a year overseas as a toddler, living in Papua New Guinea, Thomas is looking forward to seeing more of the world on the ANZAC Student Tour. He is especially eager to see the places which saw the development of the ANZAC legend. Thomas has a strong family history in the armed services, with three great grandfathers having served. One Great Grandfather, Herman Murphy was a member of the 10th Light Horse Regiment, serving in Palestine. Another, James Henry Adam was a member of the 44 Battalion and served in France, while a third, Russell (Bob) Chadd, enlisted in the Army during World War II. Tom’s great uncle, Sylvester Murphy also served with the 10th Light Horse Regiment during World War II in Darwin, Palestine and Papua New Guinea.
Cassandra MUTTON
Narrogin Senior High School
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Cassandra Mutton is a Year 12 student at Narrogin Senior High School. Her family farm is near Wickepin, so she resides at Narrogin Residential College where she is also a Prefect. In 2006, Cassandra was selected for the Sir Charles Court Young Leader’s Program and was named Wickepin’s Young Citizen of the Year. Cassandra plays and coaches hockey and basketball and has often represented her school, college and community. After completing TEE studies, Cassandra intends to study nursing. Cassandra has a keen interest in ANZAC history and is thrilled to be part of the 2008 tour. She is honoured to be representing her school and State at the 90th anniversary commemorations at Villers-Bretonneux and is excited to be visiting the town’s famous Victoria Primary School. Cassandra’s family military background comes from Australia and England. In World War II, her great uncle, Richard Hoyle served in the 2/32 Infantry Battalion in New Guinea, and her uncle Maurice Jackson was with 2/5 Australian General Hospital. Another uncle, John Kenny was a Warrant Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force for 22 years. Cassandra’s cousin, Christopher Kenny, served with the Army Reserve’s 10th Light Horse Regiment and later the Pilbara Regiment. On her mother's side, both great grandfathers served in British Royal Navy and Merchant Navy.
- 2008 Tour Topics
- Historical Significance
- Participants (Student)
- Participants (Staff)
- Tour Diary
- Media Statements
- 2008 Tour Extras
- Official Photograph
- Tour Reports