Premier’s Anzac Prize Recipients Welcomed Home

The recipients of the 2026 Premier’s Anzac Prize have been welcomed home after a two-week journey that pays homage to Australia’s fallen soldiers.  

Eight students and two teachers from across Queensland participated in the trip, and as part of the Prize, students visited memorial sites, war museums and the Anzac Day dawn service in France.  

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Applications for the 2027 Premier’s Anzac Prize are now open.  

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Prize inclusions:

   Return domestic flights to and from Brisbane (if required) & Return international flights

   3-day Brisbane research workshop (January)

   2-week European tour (April)

   GoSafe travel insurance & Visas if required

   Hotel accommodation & Meals

   All local travel, tours and entries fees

   Tickets to the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Villers-Bretonneux

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The 2026 Premier’s Anzac Prize recipients have returned home from a two-week excursion to memorials, battlefields and historic war sites across Europe.  

Recipients of the prestigious prize honour Australia’s Anzac legacy and walk in the footsteps of fallen soldiers at historic war sites in the United Kingdom, Belgium and France.

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The Premier’s Anzac Prize tour culminated at the Anzac Day commemoration service at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France.  

The Premier’s Anzac Prize is part of the Government’s excellence and awards programs for high-achieving students, including the Peter Doherty Awards, The Quantum Challenge, Premier’s Reading Challenge, and the inaugural 2026 Westminster Prize.  

Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said the tour was a living history lesson and a chance to learn about Queensland and Australian identity.  

“I’m proud to see the 2026 Premier’s Anzac Prize recipients have returned with a passion for Australia’s rich military history,” Minister Langbroek said.  

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“Students from right across the State have taken part in this extraordinary experience to learn, travel and pay respect to the Anzacs.  

“It’s important for all young Queenslanders to understand the sacrifices that were made for the lives we enjoy today.  

“Queensland has been sending students to Europe through the Premier’s Anzac Prize since I introduced this program back in 2013.  

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“My thanks to RSL Queensland, who is a proud sponsor of this Prize, as well as to the State Library of Queensland for their delivery of the Young Historians Workshop and White Gloves Experience, and Queensland Museum for hosting the 2026 Welcome Back Event.”  

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Applications for the 2027 Premier’s Anzac Prize are now open.  

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For details visit the Premier’s Anzac Prize web page.: https://education.qld.gov.au/about-us/budgets-funding-grants/scholarships/premiers-anzac-prize

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2026 Premier’s Anzac Prize student recipients  

Dakota-Lily Cullen-Chambers, Upper Coomera State College

Jessica Hawkins, Moreton Bay College

Isaiah Howell, Bowen State High School

Seth Johnson, Bundaberg State High School

Kurt Lane, St Michael’s College (Merrimac)

Clayton Reddan, Roma State College

Lara Santo, Assumption College Warwick

Georgia White, Maryborough State High School  

Chaperone recipients  

Courtney Trost, Ferny Hills State School

Jake Hartland, Marsden State High School

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