The an essay competition Simpson for year 9 students Prize 30 April 1999 Dear Colleague The 2000 Simpson Prize an opportunity for year 9 students I am pleased to provide advice about an exciting essay competition. The Simpson Prize is a national competition for Year 9 students which will see eight students, one from each State and Territory, accompanied by two teachers flown to Gallipoli to attend the dawn service and other ANZAC Day ceremonies in Turkey, 2000. The competition, whilst managed by the History Teachers Association of Australia (HTAA) on behalf of the Commonwealth Government, will be state based in terms of the judging. HTAA affiliates in each State/Territory will receive up to three entries from a school and will select the State/Territory winner and the runner up from these entries. In February 2000, the winners and runners up will attend a two-day briefing program in Canberra. The selected teachers, who will accompany the winning students to Turkey, will also attend this program. The teachers will be selected by the Simpson Prize Advisory Committee from two nominees provided by each HTAA affiliate. The enclosed material provides full information about the competition, including conditions of entry, timelines, judging criteria and other details. I hope that you will encourage Year 9 students from your school to participate; a photocopiable student information leaflet is enclosed. There is also a form to be completed by teachers who are interested to be considered for selection to accompany the students on the trip. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact your State or Territory representative or the national organisers whose details are also enclosed. Please note that entries must be received by the relevant HTAA affiliate by close of business on 24 September 1999. Your sincerely Andrew Buxton PRESIDENT History Teachers Association of Australia Simpson Prize competition secretariat PO Box 361 Abbotsford VIC 3067 Phone (03) 9415 1299 Fax (03) 9419 1205 Email vcta@vcta.asn.au An initiative of the Commonwealth Government Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs
student information sheet The an essay competition Simpson for year 9 students Prize One student winner from each State and Territory announced 11 November 1999 Winning students and two teachers travel to Turkey in 2000 for ANZAC Day services Briefing program for winning students, runners up and accompanying teachers in Canberra, February 2000 An initiative of the Commonwealth Government Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs entries close 24 September 1999
background The Gallipoli Campaign during the Great War 1914 18 was the first time that men and women served Australia as Australians in a war situation. The campaign was part of a plan to oust the Turks from the war and thereby to weaken Turkey s ally, Germany. Australians were considered by some to be untried soldiers, secondraters, and six bob-a-day tourists. By the end of the campaign the Australians had demonstrated some remarkable characteristics and were respected by soldiers from other nations. The ANZAC tradition was established on the beaches of Gallipoli from 25 April 1915 to the evacuation in December 1915, and has continued through other military conflicts in which Australians have been involved. The ANZAC tradition, which includes the story of John Simpson Kirkpatrick, has been strengthened by the service of many who have served Australia, both on the battlefields and on the homefront, and it now forms part of our heritage. the prizes The State and Territory winners will travel to Gallipoli in April 2000 to attend the dawn service on ANZAC Day and other ANZAC Day ceremonies in Turkey. In February 2000 the winners will attend a twoday briefing program in Canberra to prepare them for the trip. Two teachers will accompany the winning students to Turkey and will attend the Canberra briefing program. The student runners up will also attend the Canbera program. Travel, accommodation and meals expenses associated with the Turkey and Canberra trips will be met by the competition. The Australian War Memorial s Battlefield and Cultural Tours will manage the Gallipoli trip which will be led by an Australian War Memorial curator/historian. diary Winners will be asked to keep a diary of their trip. entrant s recognition All students who participate in the competition will be provided with a certificate of participation. Last year s winning entries are on this website: www.ash.org.au/teachers/afssse the Simpson Prize competition You are asked to write an essay of between 800 and 1000 words in response to this question: The story of John Simpson Kirkpatrick is one of courage, mateship, determination and sacrifice. He has come to symbolise the ANZAC spirit. How have ordinary Australians during wartime demonstrated those qualities which are associated with the ANZAC spirit? How are these qualities still relevant to Australians today? See your teacher for all the information about various requirements that essays need to meet in order to be eligible for entry and details on how the essays will be judged. For instance, the following elements are essential: Content the essay must be relevant to the question, reflect appropriate research and skill in analysis, interpretation and evaluation of sources (70%). ANZAC Presentation the essay should be logically and fluently developed, neat and legible and no more than 1000 words (30%).
teacher application to accompany the winning students on the trip to Turkey surname male female given names school school postal address telephone facsimile email private address telephone HTAA affiliates will each put forward the application of one male and one female teacher to be considered for selection by the Simpson Prize Advisory Committee to accompany the students on the trip to Turkey. Those put forward by the HTAA affiliates will be selected on the basis of: having students participate in the competition the support of the teacher s principal two references which comment on the applicant s suitability for a chaperone role in the context of the trip an indication in no more than 100 words why he/she wants to be one of the two teachers to accompany the students to Turkey in April 2000. This should include: evidence of expertise in extended excursion management and responsibility excellent interpersonal skills with students demonstrated expertise in historical enquiry. Material to support the application must be attached to this application form. The decisions of the HTAA affiliates in nominating teachers and the Simpson Prize Advisory Committee in selecting the two teachers for the trip will be final. Selected teachers will maintain a trip diary which becomes the property of the Commonwealth Government. applicant s signature principal s endorsement (supporting statement) I understand the nature, purpose and conditions of entry for the Simpson Prize Essay Competition. I support the application by to accompany the winning students and commend him/her to the competition organisers as an appropriate person to chaperone, with another teacher, eight Year 9 students on the trip to Turkey. Teacher chaperones will be required to attend a two-day briefing in Canberra in February 2000 in preparation for the ANZAC trip. I understand that the cost of teacher replacement to a maximum of $1000 will be covered by the Prize.
cover sheet to accompany each entry submitted to HTAA affiliate judging panels. Limit of three entries per school. Winning entries become the property of the Commonwealth Government and may be published in print and/or electronically. student s surname male female given names of birth home address home telephone school contact teacher postal address total no. of entries submitted at the school telephone facsimile email statement of authenticity I hereby declare that this submitted essay is the original work of the entrant, to the extent that no more than usual guidance was provided by others. (teacher) name (student) name parent/guardian statement I understand and agree that should be successful as a State or Territory winner of the Simpson Prize, he/she will travel to Canberra for a two-day briefing in February 2000 and to Turkey in April 2000 to participate in the Gallipoli dawn service and other ceremonies. If chosen as runner up, he/she will participate in the two-day February 2000 briefing in Canberra. principal s declaration I am fully aware of the conditions of entry and the prize in the Simpson Prize competition and support the entry of the abovenamed student.