In the footsteps of the Anzacs

By Kelly Yates
A NARRE Warren South teacher will be exploring battlefield sites in Gallipoli and the Western Front this September after being one of six history teachers in the state to win a place on the Spirit of Anzac Teachers’ Study Tour.
Teacher Emily Cotterill from Narre Warren South P-12 College told the News she was excited about the overseas 15-day field course during the September school holidays.
“I’m always a self doubter so I didn’t think I would win a place on the tour,” she said. “I always said I wanted to get overseas and see everything I was teaching and now I get that chance.”
The 26-year-old, who has been teaching at the school for two years, specialises in Year 8 and Year 11 history. She said the best aspect about teaching was those ‘light bulb’ moments she has with her pupils. “The best thing is when something just clicks and they understand what you’re teaching them,” she said.
Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans’ Affairs Tony Robinson said the winning teachers all demonstrated great enthusiasm and commitment to using innovative approaches to teaching history. “For these teachers, teaching history is more than a matter of facts and memorising dates,” he said. “Each of the winners is exploring creative ways of engaging and inspiring their students, bringing history to life and connecting the past to the present through the imaginative use of technology, excursions and other stimulating hands-on projects.”
The Spirit of Anzac Teachers’ Study Tour program covers the cost of airfares, land travel and accommodation and entrance fees to museums and historic sites.
Ms Cotterill will depart from Australia on 19 September and return on 3 October.