Four talented Stuartholme girls were awarded prizes in this years’ Queensland History Teachers Association Historical Writing Competition.
This unique competition, where students select their own topic, recognises and gives awards to outstanding history essays written in schools across Queensland, including entries from Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and central and north Queensland.
Year 9 student Marina chose the topic ‘Did Australians enlist in WWI in 1914 to defend the ‘mother country’?’ The thought provoking entry won her 1st place in the Queensland Year 9 category.
Caitlin, in Year 12, won 3rd place in the Senior Ancient History category with her entry ‘Could Lucius Cornelius Sulla have prevented the collapse of the Roman Republic?’.
Mr Ben Hegerty, History Teacher at Stuartholme, said the competition encourages the girls to explore history in an interesting way.
“The students were able to choose how they present their essay, it could be a report, diary entry, newspaper article or whatever they decided best suited their theme,” he said.
Year 12 students Georgia and Maddie each received a Highly Commended for their entries, which inquired into complex historical issues, such as ‘Does the nature of the Augustan Principate baffle definition?’ and ‘The impact of the anti-war protest movement during the Vietnam War’.
“The girls worked very hard on their submissions, and it is great to see their work being recognised outside of the classroom.
“At Stuartholme we encourage each individual girl to be creative, thoughtful and questioning,” said Mr Hegerty.
Stuartholme is extremely proud of these girls, who were recognised with awards at the School’s Celebration of Excellence on Thursday 16 October 2014.
