The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize is an opportunity to help Tasmanian students better understand Tasmania’s rich military history.
The Tasmanian Government, through the Department of Education, runs the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize essay-based competition which also commemorates and preserves the meaning of the ANZAC spirit in the Tasmanian community.
Frank MacDonald MM was born in Ulverstone in 1896 and was Tasmania’s last World War I veteran. He was the last member of the 40th Infantry Battalion raised in World War I and was responsible for repairing signal lines between the Battalion Headquarters and trenches which saw him receive the Military Medal for courageously working under heavy fire. He also served in World War II and received the Legion of Honour in 1998.
Frank Macdonald passed away at the age of 107.
Today at the Tasmanian Parliament House, I met with previous recipients of the Frank McDonald Memorial Prize to hear from their experiences first-hand and how being part of the Study Tour has a meaningful impact on preserving the memory of our ANZACs. The students were accompanied on this year’s tour by Braddon MP Felix Ellis.
The Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize Essay Competition is now open to all Tasmanian students in Year 9 and will be awarded to six students
Prize winners will take part in a study tour that will travel in 2023 to visit sites and landmarks related to Australia’s military history.
Students also undertake research into individual soldiers as part of the preparation for the Study Tour. The research helps commemorate and preserve the meaning of the Anzac spirit in the Tasmanian community.
Information about how to enter the 2022 Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize is available on the Department of Education website:
Entries close Friday 16 September 2022.
