TOPIC
"Has the ANZAC legend changed over 95 years?".
You should support your view with reference to at least 2 different periods of history.

(Responses can be either a 900 - 1200 word essay or a 15-minute audio/visual presentation for students in Years 9 and 10)

Winners and two teachers will travel to Gallipoli for the April 2011 ANZAC Day services.

ENTRIES CLOSE: 3 DECEMBER 2010

Please submit 3 copies of each entry accompanied by an official coversheet to: Queensland History Teachers' Association, Box 1029, New Farm Q 4005 (Attn: Ros Korkatzis)

The National History Challenge is a research-based competition for students. It gives students a chance to be an historian, investigating their community and exploring their own past. It emphasizes and rewards quality research, the use of community resources and effective presentation.

The theme for 2010 is 'Celebrations, Memories and History'. Students may produce entries in one of four formats: an individual research paper, a three-dimensional museum display, a multi-media format (audio/video/website), or a performance. Except for the individual (one person) research paper, students may work alone or in groups of up to four people.

2009: Year 7/8 Prize - Hannah Dillman - St Aidan's Anglican School
Hannah's essay was on Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop. Whilst Edward Weary Dunlop (1907-1993) is best remembered for his heroic work in World War II prisoner of war camps, his work in establishing ties between Australia and Asia and his medical research should not be underestimated. Dunlop led many World War II Prisoners of War to mental and physical survival by giving them hope and inspiration. He created friendships between Australia and Asia which resulted in cultural differences being out aside. Dunlop was also the founder of the Sir Edward Dunlop medical Research Foundation.

2009: Year 9/10 Prize - Hamish Murray - Albany Creek State High School
Hamish wrote about The Battle of Long Tan. Faced with an enemy outnumbering them twenty-six to one and monsoonal weather, the Australian soldiers' position looked hopeless. But the Australian 'never give up' attitude drove them on. The Battle of Long Tan became one of the greatest triumphs over advertsity Australians have been involved in the Vietnam War.

2009: Year 11/12 Prize - Natasha Gromof - Albany Creek State High School
Natasha Gromof wrote about The Trye Triumph of Ned Kelly. As she writes: In my entry, I have attempted to explore the legend of Ned Kelly - focsuuing on the adversities he faced in his life, and how the legend represents a triumph. I chose to do this in the form of a feature article, so as to present the information in an accessible, interesting way, using primary source images to enhance both the readers' interest and understanding of the topic.

Students in years 8 to 12 are invited to submit an essay or written response of some other appropriate genre (a report, diary entries, newspaper article, play, script etc). This topic may relate to an historical piece from ancient or modern times. The topic or question which the piece of writing is intended to answer must be clearly stated and must be historical in the sense that it addresses an issue concerned with causes or consequences or change of continuity in human affairs in an identified time period.

The entry may relate to a topic studied during the student's history studies at school and must be the original work of the student, in that the student has not received more assistance than is usually given during the researching and writing of essays or other genres submitted for assessment within the school curriculum.

In 2010 an extra prize has been added to the QHTA Historical Writing Competition for any winning entry which is on an indigenous topic.

While teachers should feel free to comment on early drafts, the submitted entry must not contain any teacher’s comments, corrections or marks.

Each school may submit no more than three entries in each of Years 8-10. In Years 11 and 12 a maximum of three Ancient History essays and three Modern History essays may be submitted at each year level. In instances where more than the permissible number of three entries in a given year level/category are submitted, only the first three removed from the envelope will be eligible.

Due Date: Friday, 17 September 2010

Sponsored by the Queensland Independent Education Union