On Thursday 13 August, Loreto College Ballarat student Bilyana Holloway represented herself and the College with great distinction at Parliament House, where she was presented as a winner of the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize by Minister for Veterans Natalie Suleyman. Premier Ben Carroll addressed the award winners, congratulating them on their achievements and endorsing and signing their Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize certificates.
The Spirit of Anzac Prize is an annual competition open to Victorian students in Years 9-12. Winners receive the opportunity to participate in a fully funded overseas study tour. This year, the nine-day tour will travel to Vietnam at the end of September, visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and the villages of Hoa Long and Nui Dat.
The tour has been developed to give students a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of Australia’s history during the Vietnam War and the service and sacrifice of Australian troops.
Bilyana’s family has a strong history of military service, including a relative who was a Prisoner of War during the First World War. While in captivity, her relative kept a diary documenting the people he met and his experiences. Many years later, the diary was displayed at the Ballarat Gold Museum.
For Bilyana, the opportunity to travel to Vietnam has deep personal significance.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I am so grateful for. I recognise my ancestors and relatives who went through the hardships of war and sacrificed their lives and families to protect future generations.
“Being able to learn about the history and conflict of war while being present in the country where they were fighting is incredibly significant and valuable to me as a young Australian Aboriginal woman.”
Bilyana and eleven fellow award winners will depart for Vietnam at the end of September. The Loreto College Ballarat community looks forward to hearing about Bilyana’s experiences and reflections following this life-changing trip.