0808 CREATIVE SCHOOLS PRIZES – 2012/2013

Summary

0808 Prizes are available for Primary and Junior Secondary students and for Schools creative original prose, poetry, art, performance, music or electronic media based on the 2012 0808 topic – Monash’s letter the eve of 0808 to all Australian Forces involved in The Battle of Amiens.

Each of the 0808 Prizes is valued at $1000

Background

0808 considers Sir John Monash Australia’s most outstanding citizen for his Leadership, Integrity and Service before, during and after WW1. The Monash Medal recognises and honours an outstanding Australian for his/her Leadership, Integrity and Service to the Australian community and beyond.

Past winners - Sir Gustav Nossal AC, Prof. Patrick McGorry AO, and Jeffrey V. Rosenfeld AM.

0808 commemorates Monash’s innovative leadership and planning and the valour of all Australians under his command. 0808 promotes in the community and schools recognition of Australia’s contribution to the ending of WW1 and the importance of peace.

0808 Creative Prizes 2012-13^∆

This year the 0808 focus is General Monash’s letter (copy below) to all Diggers on the eve of The Battle of Amiens.

0808 Prizes are offered to Primary and Junior Secondary (Yrs 7-10) students and to their schools for creative original prose, poetry, art, performance, music or electronic media based on their response to the Monash letter.

Individual 0808 Prizes will be awarded for original contributions while the 0808 Schools’ Prizes may be awarded for a class or school wide response to the 0808 topic which includes performance or reference by the school to its local War Memorial, School Honour Board, Avenue of Honour or an approved site or object.

Students are encouraged to research their family, school or locality involvement as participants in the Battle of Amiens to be included on a 0808 website leading to the centenary in 2018.

All schools in Australia have been made aware of 0808 activities via a Rotary DVD distributed to encourage students to be involved in Rotary’s Polio eradication. Participants in the Monash Leadership Forum 2012 were informed in Aug 2012. Specific approaches to Victorian Schools will be made in Feb-March 2013 to promote 0808 and to encourage entries for the 0808 Prizes.

∆ 0808 Inc. reserves the right not to award a Prize in any category if the quality of entries does not warrant an award.

Timelines

Students and Schools can register their Intentions of Interest Feb-March 2013

Enquiries can be directed to Dr Kevin O'Flaherty –

kevin.of@bigpond.com

Entries close – 31 May2013

0808 Prizes Announcement

Winners will be announced in 0808 Week which in 2013 includes –

2 Aug 13 Spirit of Australia Foundation (SoA) - Monash Commemoration – Parliament of Vic*

Spirit of Australia Monash Luncheon and Lecture – Windsor Hotel

6 Aug 13 Monash Leadership Forum – Scotch College **

7 Aug 13 Monash Medal 2013 Presentation – The Rotary Club of Melbourne

8 Aug 13 0808 95^th Remembrance of The Battle of Amiens – The Shrine – 8.00am ***

* School Leaders at Yrs 9-10 Levels - apply to SoA for invitations to attend

** For School Leaders at Yr10 level – contact kevin.of@bigpond.com

*** Students and School Leadership groups are encouraged to attend

To The Soldiers of The Australian Army Corps

For the first time in the history of this Corps, all five Australian Divisions will tomorrow engage in the largest and most important battle operation ever undertaken by the Corps.

They will be supported by an exceptionally powerful Artillery, and by Tanks and Aeroplanes on a scale never previously attempted. The full resources of our sister Dominion, the Canadian Corps, will operate on our right, while two British Divisions will guard our left flank.

The many successful offensives which the Brigades and Battalions of this Corps have so brilliantly executed during the past four months have been the prelude to, and the preparation for, this greatest culminating effort.

Because of the completeness of our plans and dispositions, of the magnitude of the operations, of the number of troops employed, and of the depth to which we intend to over-run the enemy’s positions, this battle will be one of the most memorable of the whole war; and there can be no doubt that, by capturing our objectives, we shall inflict blows upon the enemy which will make him stagger, and will bring the end appreciably nearer.

I entertain no sort of doubt that every Australian soldier will worthily rise to so great an occasion, and that every man, imbued with the spirit of victory, will, in spite of every difficulty that may confront him, be animated by no other resolve than grim determination to see through to a clean finish, whatever his task may be.

The work to be done tomorrow will perhaps make heavy demands upon your endurance and the staying powers of many of you; but I am confident, in spite of excitement, fatigue, and physical strain, every man will carry on to the utmost of his powers until his goal is won; for the sake of AUSTRALIA, the Empire and our cause.

I earnestly wish every soldier of the Corps the best of good fortune, and glorious and decisive victory, the story of which will echo throughout the world, and will live forever in the history of our homeland.

John Monash

Lieut.-General

Commander Australian Corps