Igniting the ANZAC spirit

Anzac Day service, Palmerston North.

A day with the Navy, Army or Air Force is up for grabs as prizes in Operation ANZAC SPIRIT, a competition for year seven and eight students, launched by the NZ Defence Force (NZDF).

The competition, which aims to raise awareness of Anzac Day, requires students to design a poster illustrating what Anzac Day means to them.

“Anzac Day is a day to honour those who fought for our country in the past as well as to remember those who are currently serving overseas,” said the chief of defence force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae.

“The increasing number of young people attending Anzac Day services is testimony to the sense of history and national pride that NZers feel for Anzac Day.

“And while it is a day of commemoration it is also a day when we celebrate our Anzac spirit; our relationship with our closest ally, Australia.

“This is demonstrated today by the number of exercises and missions where the NZDF and Australian Defence Force personnel work alongside each other.

“The Anzac spirit forged during WWI continues today and I hope that students around the country take up the challenge and enter this competition.”

Operation Anzac Spirit closes on Anzac Day (25th April) and the winners will be announced on 5th May.

As an added bonus the Royal Returned and Services Association (RNZRSA) will select 12 of the competition entries to produce a calendar for 2010 which will be used as part of the 95th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

For further information about Operation Anzac Spirit visit: www.nzdf.mil.nz