Micah awarded the Premier's Anzac Memorial Scholarship

An interest in military history inspired by his father’s Army service has paid off for Year 10 student Micah P, who has been selected for the 2019 NSW Premier’s ANZAC Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship provides an opportunity for Micah to join 19 fellow scholars from schools across NSW for a 16-day trip that will include tours of significant battlefields in France, Belgium and Germany. Only 20 schools across NSW are selected by ballot to contest for the prestigious scholarship. Once selected, participating schools are allowed to submit no more than three applications from Year 9 history students for the scholarship, with only one student selected from each school to travel the following year. Applicants were required to submit a piece of work in a range of written, video or artistic forms addressing a nominated theme. Micah submitted a short story on the effects of war on communities in Australia. Applicants were also interviewed by a panel comprising NCS Principal Mr Bray, History Teacher Mrs Hetherington, a representative from the Returned Services League and a parent representative. Micah said he was very excited when he learned his application had been successful. “Dad was in the Army for 10 years so I’ve always been interested in military history. I was very excited when I found out I was selected. “Now, I’m really looking forward to it,” Micah said. Micah and his fellow scholars will be busy with preparations ahead of their 27 September departure. The contingent of 20, 16-year-old scholars will be escorted by three supervising teachers, a NSW Government representative and a tour historian. Fellow Year 10 student Isabelle McPhail was also nominated for the hotly contested scholarship. The NSW Office of Veterans Affairs commended both NCS applicants for the quality of their applications.

“It is really such a significant honour for Micah to have this opportunity to travel and explore the world and connect with other students from around the state. He has shown that he is an outstanding applicant and we all look forward to following his journey and hearing about his travels on his return. We are thankful for such an amazing opportunity for Micah," Mrs Hetherington said. Nowra Christian School was last balloted to participate in the NSW Premier’s ANZAC Memorial Scholarship in 2016, with Noah McMillan selected as the school’s scholar.