The Simpson Prize Logo

Simpson Prize 2008


The History Teachers’ Association of Australia (HTAA), together with HTAA State affiliates, conduct this competition for year 9 and 10 students on behalf of the Australian Government.

The focus of the competition is the Australian ANZAC tradition and students are asked to write an essay of 900–1200 words, or prepare an audio-visual presentation of not more than 15 minutes, on a given statement every year. This year's statement was: ‘To what extent was Simpson a hero? How have his heroic qualities been demonstrated by other Australians since 1915?’

The winners and runners-up for the 2008 Simpson Prize competition are listed below.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Alan Griffin, on behalf of the Hon Julia Gillard, the Minister for Education, presented the winners and runners-up with their prizes at Parliament House on 18 March 2008. Read press release

Simpson Prize 2008 winners

Any enquiries should be addressed to the Simpson Prize Competition Secretariat, email simpson@ncsonline.com.au

Winning Entries 2008

Links are provided to winning essays from each student's name. Essays require Acobat Reader.

State Student School

Australian Capital Territory

James Butterworth

Canberra Grammar School

New South Wales

Emma Campbell

Frensham School

Northern Territory

Terry Lim

Taminmin High School

Queensland

Oliver Kersnovski

Kingaroy State High School

South Australia

Elizabeth Carroll-Shaw

Walford Anglican School for Girls

Tasmania

Emma Norton

The Friends School

Victoria

Jacinta Scadden – Transcript of video

Nathalia Secondary School

Western Australia

Kayla Mizzi

St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School

Runners-Up Entries

State Student School

Australian Capital Territory

Fiona Spitzkowsky

Radford College

New South Wales

Monte Sheppard

Cranbrook School

Northern Territory

Zoe Whittington

Palmerston High School

Queensland

Stephanie Ferguson

Saint Stephen’s College

South Australia

Truc Tran

Wilderness School

Tasmania

Ellie Cope

Kings Meadows High School

Victoria

Rebecca Free

MacKillop College Swan Hill

Western Australia

Brady Inman

Scotch College

Two teachers Ms Carmel Harman from Caboolture State High School in Queensland and Mr Robert Lee from Palmerston High School in the Northern Territory have been selected to accompany the student winners.