Calrossy Anglican College student Ella Gottke has been selected as one of just 18 NSW students to receive a NSW Government scholarship to travel to Greece on an immersive military history tour.
The Year 11 student will take part in the Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship (PAMS), visiting sites of major significance to Australia’s wartime history during the Term 3 school holidays.
The scholarship coincides with the 85th anniversary of the 1941 Greece and Crete campaigns, in which thousands of Australian troops fought alongside Allied and Greek forces during the Second World War.
More than 58,000 Allied troops, including large numbers of Australians from the 6th Division, were deployed to Greece in 1941 before many evacuated to Crete, where Australians played a key role in the island’s defence.
The campaign came at a heavy cost, with 274 Australians killed, 507 wounded and more than 3,000 taken prisoner.
During the tour, students will attend commemorative services and visit museums, war memorials and battlefields, including the Tempe and Pinios gorges, the Commonwealth War Graves at Suda Bay and the 6th Australian Division Memorial at Stavromenos.
The students will also complete research projects examining Australia’s wartime service and the enduring relationship between Australia and Greece.
More than 200 students from 148 government and non-government secondary schools across NSW applied for this year’s scholarship.
NSW Premier Chris Minns congratulated the successful applicants.
“A massive congratulations to the 2026 scholarship recipients.” he said.
“This is such a unique opportunity for the recipients to deepen their understanding of Australians at war on a tour through these significant historical sites.
“The legacy of those who served in the Greek and Crete campaigns will be remembered in a special way by these 18 students for years to come.”
Minister for Veterans David Harris said the experience would bring Australia’s wartime history to life.
“This tour will be a deeply meaningful experience, offering powerful insight into the bravery and sacrifice of Australians in the Second World War.
“By visiting important sites in Greece and Crete, these students will help ensure the stories of those who served far from home are preserved with respect.
“As a former school principal, I am proud to see our government supporting young people to learn about Australia’s military history and provide a reminder that the freedoms we have today are a result of the service and sacrifice of our defence personnel.”
The scholarship recipients will travel from 26 September to 8 October.
More information about the 2026 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship is available at https://www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/education/premiers-anzac-memorial-scholarship/.
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