Hennessy Catholic College student Tyler Cashel has won the 2017 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship.
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Cashel will represent Young on a tour of important First World War sites in Europe.
Tyler was required to submit a piece of work that related to the Centenary of Anzac.
The local war buff's submission was favoured over more than 100 entries from Year 10 and 11 students in New South Wales.
Tyler said he was honoured to win the scholarship.
"I am very excited because I have never travelled overseas before," he said.
"In September I'll be travelling to the Western Front and France and Belgium where I will be visiting key battle sites.
"I am most interested in visiting some of the battlefields where my great-great grandfather fought."
Tyler said he is prepared for the trip to fairly emotional.
"I reckon the trip will be an emotional one, I never met my great-great grandfather but I know he has always played a large role in my family," he said.
"I feel it is very important that the heritage of the ANZAC spirit lives on."
Hennessy Catholic College principal Trazel Scott said Tyler is an exceptional young man, who demonstrated not only knowledge of the topic but had an unwavering passion for it.
"He is articulate and will be a worthy representative of our region," she said.
"He possesses the ability to talk well in groups and his knowledge of WW1 conflicts is beyond compare.
"This experience will change his life."
Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson said she was very impressed with Tyler.
“This tour is a unique opportunity for Tyler to get a special insight into Australia’s involvement in the First World War and the birth of the Anzac legend,” she said.
"Tyler is a very impressive young man and I am very proud of him, this is such a significant thing to be an international ambassador for his school, town and state.
"Just talking to him you can tell he is so well acquainted with our history and heritage and he is so determined to ensure that the legacy of those who fought and died for our country is not forgotten.
“Tyler’s passion is great to see and it is young people like him that will carry the ANZAC spirit forward for many generations.”
The 12-day tour will see Tyler take in other significant Australian battlefields on the Western Front in Belgium and France including Villiers Bretonneux, Pozieres and Fromelles.
Craig Thomson
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
