Anzac Scholarship awarded to a St Patrick’s student for fifth time

St Patrick’s College for Girls is proud to announce that Year 11 student, Hannah Buckpitt, has been awarded the 2025 NSW Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship — the fifth time a student from the College has earned this highly competitive and prestigious honour.

In previous years, the Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to St Patrick’s College students Rebecca Murphy (2024), Gabrielle Varnakulasingham (2022), Zara Hart (2019) and Amelia Aguiar (2017). Additionally, in 2018, Mackenzie McEvoy-King was selected a Premier’s Anzac Ambassador and earned a trip to Europe. This year, Harshpreet Sidhu was awarded the Simpson Prize and travelled to Japan and Singapore. These recognitions are a testament to the College’s enduring commitment to academic excellence, historical inquiry and the development of socially responsible global citizens.

The Premier’s Scholarship, funded by the NSW Government, recognises just 20 students each year and gives them the opportunity to explore Australia’s military history through an international study tour. This September, Hannah and her fellow scholars will travel to Singapore and the Republic of Korea, visiting key sites of significance such as the Changi Prison Museum, the Kapyong Valley and Maryang San.

Hannah’s application stood out for its powerful and reflective essay on the role of memorials in connecting young Australians with the personal cost of war. Drawing on her experiences at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney and the Kevin Wheatley VC Memorial in Campbelltown, Hannah explored how commemorative spaces help young people form a tangible connection to Australia’s wartime past.

“NSW war memorials and commemorative services provide powerful immersive experiences for younger people to understand the enduring impact of those who have served in both war and peacekeeping operations,” Hannah said.

“This award means a great deal to me, and I hope the trip helps deepen my understanding of Australia’s military history and the personal stories behind it.”

A passionate history student, Hannah has also been part of the College’s prize-winning Anzac Day Schools’ Award team, worked on a major history project with local veterans and represented the College at Remembrance and Anzac Day services across the Macarthur region. Her talents in photography, writing and public speaking have also enriched the College community.

College Principal, Mrs Mary Leask, said Hannah’s selection for the Premier’s Scholarship was both a personal achievement and a proud moment for the College.

“Hannah is an extraordinary young woman whose passion for history is matched by her humility, curiosity and compassion. She possesses a unique combination of academic depth, civic engagement and personal empathy, which make her an engaged student and a natural choice for this scholarship. She truly embodies the spirit of remembrance and service.”

Hannah will attend a briefing in July with the NSW Minister for Veterans, the Honourable David Harris MP, and two Korean War veterans, before embarking on the international leg of the program.

St Patrick’s College congratulates Hannah on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to the insights and reflections she will bring home from this special journey.