KELMSCOTT Senior High School student Coby Menzie has been chosen as one of 10 students heading to Singapore as part of the Premier’s Anzac tour in 2017.
Competition for a place was fierce as students in Years 8 to 11 from 39 secondary schools battled it out with in an essay writing competition on the topic of how Australia’s relationship with the Asian region today was shaped by our involvement in World War II.
Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore on February 15 1942 when about 22,000 Australians were captured and about 15,000 imprisoned in the infamous Changi prisoner-of-war camp.
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READ NOWCoby said he was looking forward to experiencing the culture of Singapore and seeing the city in modern times as well as the perspective of how it was during World War II.
Kelmscott’s new principal Trevlyn Geiles said it was the third year in a row a student from the school had been awarded a place on the tour.
“It’s a life changing experience for them,” he said.
Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore the tour is a personal one for Coby, whose great-grandfather and great uncle served in the Asia Pacific arena.
The Year 10 student has been given the honour of taking part in the dawn service at Kranji War Cemetery on Anzac Day.
The Premier’s tour will include visits to sites including the Changi war memorial, Johore Battery and Fort Canning.