Manjimup Senior High School student Mya Kordic is one of 10 West Australian students selected to visit Singapore for the 2017 Premier’s Anzac student tour. In its 14th year, the tour commemorated the 1942 surrender of the Allied forces in Singapore, one of the worst defeats in World War II.
The tour enabled students to take their learning out of the classroom with visits to historic sites. There the students gained valuable insight into Australia’s involvement in the region during the war.
The students also attended a dawn Anzac Day service at Kranji War Memorial.
Premier Mark McGowan said the tour helps keep the Anzac spirit alive among younger generations.
“These students are continuing a proud tradition with a very special responsibility to represent our State at the ANZAC Day service in Singapore,” he said.
Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery said the tour would be a life-changing experience for these students.
“They visited Changi Museum, Johore Battery, Fort Canning, Alexandra Hospital and other memorial sites,” he said. “The students will return with great memories and will share with others what they've learnt about Australia's history.”
Locally in Donnybrook, Anzac Day drew a big crowd to the War Memorial at 6am for the dawn service before a gunfire breakfast at the Donnybrook RSL Hall.
A number of veterans and family members then marched from Ayres Gardens to the war memorial.
The Royal Australian Air Force also conducted an Anzac Day flyover with four PC-9s flying in a four-ship formation over the South West. The aircraft passed over Pemberton’s Memorial Park, Manjimup’s War Memorial and Bridgetown’s Memorial Park.
