Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Education; Minister for
Employment and Workplace Relations;
Minister for Social Inclusion.
VA115
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
YOUNG HISTORIAN OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, today presented the Young Historian of the Year award to
Luciana Silvestrin, from Shenton College, Western Australia for her essay on former Prime Minister John
Curtin.
Mr Griffin presented the award on behalf of Julia Gillard, Minister for Education, at a ceremony at
Parliament House, Canberra, attended by eighteen talented young students, winners of the Australian
Government’s 2008 National History Challenge.
The National History Challenge is an exciting research-based competition for students in years 5-12. It
encourages students to learn more about Australia and its past. The theme for this year’s challenge was:
‘Australia Meets the World’.
The Young Historian of the Year is selected from state and territory Young Historians. Minister Gillard
and Minister Griffin congratulated all of today’s award recipients.
The National History Challenge showcases the quality of work being produced in our primary and
secondary schools. This year, more than 450 schools entered the competition with more than 4,000
students across Australia participating.
The Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is the main
sponsor of the challenge. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs sponsors the ‘In War and Peace’ special
category prize.
All Governments have committed to the development of a rigorous, world-class national curriculum for
students from kindergarten to Year 12, starting with the key learning areas of English, mathematics, the
sciences and history. The national history curriculum will include Australian history.
The interim National Curriculum Board has published initial advice on national curriculum in history on its
Further information about the National History Challenge and the 2008 winners can be found at:
Category
National winner
Location
Young Historian of the Year
Luciana Silvestrin
Shenton College, WA
In War and Peace
Julian Cook
Clarence High School, Tasmania
Australian Prime Ministers meet the world
Nicolas Peterson
Clarence Valley Anglican School, NSW
The Life and Times of John Curtin
Jonathon Tong
Shore School, NSW
History of Sport
Sam Upton
Rosny College, Tasmania
Women with a Mission
Imogen Forbes-
MacPhail
Presbyterian Ladies’ College, WA
Australia’s Heritage
Addison Dixon
Albany Creek State High School, QLD
Asia and Australia
Yun Fei Ou Yang
Canberra High School, ACT
Australia Meets the World Through a
Museum Display
Annabelle Walker
Walker Home School, NSW
Using Archival Sources
Emily Mettrick
Camberwell Girls Grammar School, VIC
Indigenous Australia
Eleanor Hanscombe
Camberwell Girls Grammar School, VIC
NEWS 
