The student recipients of the 2025 Queensland Premier’s Anzac Prize are giving back to the Australian veteran community, fundraising for Mates4Mates as they take part in a commemorative journey across key locations in the ANZAC story.
Presented by the Queensland Government in partnership with RSL Queensland, the Queensland Premier’s Anzac Prize provides young Queenslanders with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the ANZAC legacy. These high school students will travel to important memorial sites along the Western Front of Europe in April to commemorate the sacrifice of Australian service people.
As part of their prize activities, the students have been given the task of creating their own fundraising initiative to raise funds and awareness for the veteran community and have chosen Mates4Mates as the fundraising recipient.
The students and their chaperones have kicked their fundraising efforts into high gear, raising money through Christmas light displays over the holidays, sausage sizzles, and golf tournaments.
Currently, the eight student recipients have raised over $14,000, more than half of their fundraising goal, with donations continuing to roll in.
When reflecting on the overall experience, Fraser Coast Anglican College teacher and tour chaperone, Dane Ponting said the students are incredibly excited and honoured to be part of this journey.
“The students are enthusiastic about this cause, knowing the funds raised will go towards physical rehabilitation, mental health services, and wellbeing programs for veterans,” Mr Ponting said.
“The fundraising effort adds another layer of meaning to the trip, reinforcing the importance of service, remembrance, and support for those who served our country.”
Mr Ponting comes from a family with strong military history, with several relatives having served in the Defence Force, and has embraced this opportunity as a way to learn more about the ANZAC spirit as well as his own family.
“My mum was a cook in the Army, my dad was a major in the Intelligence Corps, and Pop was a warrant officer down at Kapooka,” he said.
“During the Premier’s Anzac Prize journey, I made a particularly significant discovery and learnt my great-uncle who served in WWII, Bertie Ponting, was a prisoner-of-war and endured the horrors of the Burma-Thailand railway.”
“Understanding these personal stories has deepened my appreciation of the sacrifices made by the ANZACs and the resilience that military personnel show in the face of unimaginable adversity.”
Sharing in this journey with Dane is lead chaperone and Deputy Principal at Murgan State High School, Morgan Suchoronczak who explains that being selected to partake in the experience and share it with the students is a privilege that warms her heart as a history teacher and longtime supporter of her local RSL Sub Branch.
“The Premier’s Anzac Prize is a lifechanging opportunity for young Australians to ensure the legacy of fallen soldiers continues to be passed down in future generations,” Mrs Suchoronczak said.
“The journey of the Premier’s Anzac Prize is also that of growth. It is with great pride that I work alongside the selected students, Mr Ponting, and our communities to recognise service, promote charities like Mates4Mates, and support veterans and families."
“The ANZAC legacy is part of who we are as Australians. It is our history, our identity, and the true meaning of courage, endurance, and mateship.”
To find out more about how you can support Mates4Mates and these students on their fundraising journey, visit their fundraising page
here.
For more information about Mates4Mates services, reach out to us on
1300 4 MATES (62 837) for a confidential chat.
