Senior students - Win a trip to Turkey this Anzac Day

Win a trip to Turkey this Anzac Day — Calling all senior school students

Senior secondary school students have the chance to travel to Gallipoli for the 2012 Anzac Day commemorations by entering The National Bank RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition.

Registrations for the competition opened on 1 February for New Zealand Year 12 and 13 students and close on 25 February. Entrants will initially compete in regional competitions (9-11 March), and then a national final at the National War Memorial in Wellington in early April. Among the prizes is a trip to Gallipoli for the national winner to commemorate Anzac Day.

Students prepare 6-8 minute speeches on ‘New Zealanders at War’, and the topic includes New Zealanders who served in the South African War, World War One, World War Two, the Korean War, operations in Malaya and Borneo, Vietnam War, Afghanistan, and numerous Peacekeeping operations such as Timor and the Middle East.

Speechmakers can choose a particular war/operation or to cover them collectively; or they can profile a serviceman or woman from the past or a living veteran; or an aspect of the commemoration of war (Anzac Day/war memorials).

Past winners speeches have included topics such as: the Kiwi Spirit, WW2 Bomber Command, the Unknown Warrior, New Zealand Victoria Cross recipients, Loyalty and Honour, WW2 through the Eyes of Women, and Honouring the Fallen.

RSA Chief Executive Stephen Clarke said 140 Year 12 and 13 students took part in The National Bank RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition in 2011, and the standard was impressive and a credit to these talented young New Zealanders and their schools.

Prizes

As well as the trip to Gallipoli for the 2011 Anzac Day commemorations, the national winner will also be awarded a $1000 travel fund, a trophy, a laptop computer and digital camera. The eight regional winners will receive $1000 prize money in a National Bank account, $1000 for their school, and a place in the national finals.

About The National Bank RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition

The National Bank RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition is a tribute to Cyril Bassett, VC, (1882-1983), the only New Zealander at Gallipoli to be awarded the Victoria Cross in World War 1, and a career-long staff member at The National Bank.

Full competition details are at www.rsa.org.nz/speechcompetition

ENDS