Blue Mountains students with a passion for history could be selected for a lifechanging study tour visiting historic sites in Greece and Crete relating to Australia’s military service during the Second World War.
The Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship (PAMS) is an opportunity for high school history students to deepen their understanding of Australians at war and gain a richer appreciation of the courage and sacrifice of the nation’s servicemen and servicewomen over the generations.
Up to 18 students will be selected, with applications closing on Monday, 9 March 2026.
A former Blue Mountains PAMS recipient reflected that the tour, when he was only 16, was one of the greatest honours of his life, opening his eyes to the sacrifices made by veterans worldwide.
Sam Lewis, formerly of St Columba’s College in Springwood, said he felt a profound sense of connection while standing on the historic battlefields visited during the tour.
The 2026 tour will take place in the Term 3 school holidays departing on Saturday, 26 September and returning to Sydney on Thursday 8 October. Locations in Greece include the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Phaleron, the Hellenic War Museum, and the battlefields of Thermopylae and Thebes. In Crete, the tour will visit sites such as the 6th Australian Division Memorial at Stavromenos, the battlefields of Rethymno, the Melame Memorial and the Souda Bay War Cemetery.
Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle said:
“I encourage history and modern history students in Years 10 and 11 to consider applying for this life changing opportunity to apply to visit these important historic sites.
“For those with a passion for history, like Sam had and still has, it is a wonderful gift that could literally change the path of your life.”
Mr Lewis, 27, is now studying for a PhD at Cambridge University. He said:
“I was elated to have been chosen as one of the six winners of the inaugural Youth Ambassadors Essay Competition.
“The experience of travelling to several inestimably important sites of the First World War was not only edifying, but also one which was both sombre and humbling. I remember reciting John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields as I stood beside shadow-casting columns on the wind-swept Western Front, just as I recall looking over the vastness of Gallipoli.
“The experience certainly reminded me as to why the spirit of ANZAC is every bit as important now as it was a century ago.”
Fellow St Columba’s College student, Madison Thompson - now a governance officer based in London - was also on that first trip 12 years ago.
Minister for Veterans David Harris said:
“Through this scholarship, recipients will have the opportunity to visit historic sites across Greece and Crete that experienced the conflict first-hand - walking in the footsteps of the Australians who served and honouring their legacy at the very battlefields where their bravery was defined.
“More than 17,000 Australians served in the Greece and Crete campaigns of 1941, standing in defence against advancing German forces. Close to 600 made the ultimate sacrifice, with many more wounded and thousands taken as prisoners of war.
“Their courage and resilience remain an enduring part of our national story, and a lasting bond between Australia and Greece.
“The Minns Labor Government is proud to continue to support this fantastic program and the extraordinary legacy of veterans.”
An important change has been introduced to the application process this year, requiring eligible students to submit a five-minute multimedia presentation as part of their online application, along with a letter of recommendation from their school and a parent consent form.
To apply visit: https://www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/education/premiers-anzac-memorial-scholarship/
