The National History Challenge
The National History Challenge is a research-based competition for students from Years 5 to 12, 19 years of age or younger, in Australian schools.
| It gives students a chance to be an historian, investigating their community and exploring their own past. It emphasises and rewards quality research, the use of community resources and effective presentation. You can find out more on the National History Challenge website at www.historychallenge.org.au. The JCPML actively supports the National History Challenge, sponsoring a prize each year in the special category The life and times of John Curtin. The overall theme of the Challenge for 2011 is 'Defining Moments' so in the JCPML special category the focus is on Defining moments in the life and times of John Curtin. You can view some of the themes and winning entries from previous years by following the links provided further down this page. |
 Alysia Debowski, Young Historian of the Year 2000, and national winner in the John Curtin category of the National History Challenge, with teacher Jan Bishop and Deputy University Librarian John Frylink. |
2011 theme Defining moments
Ellen Trevanion, a year 12 student at Narrabundah College in Canberra, is the National Young Historian in the 2011 National History Challenge. Ellen’s essay John Curtin: Defining Moments? is an original piece of research that challenges the conventional belief that Curtin’s article ‘The Task Ahead’ and his cablegram war with Winston Churchill altered Australia’s relationship with Britain. |
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2010 theme Celebrations, memories & history
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Samantha Tang (pictured left) of Sefton High School in NSW for her essay, The Life and Times of John Curtin.
State prize winner in the JCPML special category: Lauren Hays, a Year 5/6 student from St Stephen's School in Duncraig, WA.
2009 theme Truimph over Adversity
WA state prize winner in the JCPML special category: Tarryn Haas of Boddington District High School in WA for her essay on John Curtin and adversity.
2008 theme Australia meets the World
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Luci Silvestrin, Shenton College, Perth WA for her essay John Curtin: The long time legacy of a wartime leader.
2007 theme Lessons from the Past
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Campbell Davis of Birdwood High School in South Australia for his essay John Curtin: A lesson in Political Popularity.
2006 theme Turning Points
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Jacinta Livingstone, Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Queensland, for her essay Australia looks to America.
2005 theme Australians All
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Stephanie Giles from Korowa Anglican Girls School, Victoria, for her web resource Raising the Curtin.
2004 theme Celebrations in Australian history
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Louise Upshall from Hawker College, ACT, for her essay John Curtin: Celebration of a wartime leader.
2003 theme Conflict and resolution in Australian history
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Oliver Rourke from Shore School, NSW, for his essay Conflict and resolution: the life and times of John Curtin.
2002 theme Journeys & voyages
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Tom Cooper, Shore School, NSW, for his essay John Curtin: A journey from high school dropout to the leader of Australia through its darkest days.
2001 theme Making our nation
National prize Winner in the JCPML special category: Benjamin Weber, Shore School, NSW, for his essay In what ways did the life and times of John Curtin influence the making of our nation.
2000 theme Achievers and achievement
National prize winner in the JCPML special category and Australian Young Historian of the Year: Alysia Debowski, Year 10, Presbyterian Ladies College, Perth, Western Australia for her essay A rare achiever.
1999 theme Working together
National prize winner in the JCPML special category: Marcus Fitz-Gerald, Anglican Church Grammar School, Brisbane, Queensland, for his essay Working together through the life and times of John Curtin.
