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Tour Journal Contents Page

Bryce Taylor page 3

Patrick Reilly page 12

Brandon Rowe page 24

Caitlyn McKenzie page 32

Coby Menzie page 42

Mya Kordic page 55

Cale Wilcox page 69

Janka Reynders page 79

Ming Hui Gao page 90

Mitchell Murray page 104

Appendix: Strife & struggle tutorials page 114

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Bryce Taylor

Year 11

Albany Senior High School

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Introduction

The lead up to the announcement of participants for the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour (PAST) truly was

one of the most suspenseful and anxious periods of my life. I checked my email at every opportunity,

eagerly awaiting a response. I made it to the State finals last year as well and unfortunately didn’t make the

final cut. This year I felt I had performed significantly better in the interview stage and had a greater chance

of being selected.

I clearly remember the day I was selected for the tour. It wasn’t a school day for me in Albany, so when I

received a call from my HASS teacher I got worried that perhaps school was still on! Mrs Thomson, my

teacher, built up anticipation over the phone before delighting me with the news of my selection. I’d like to

say I burst into excitement but it really did take a few minutes to sink in. After hanging up the phone I

logged into the website myself and when I saw my name there amongst nine others, that was when the

emotions really sank. I spent the remainder of the day with great anticipation and excitement.

I am both excited and eager for the opportunities which lie ahead. The thing I am looking forward to the

most on the tour is experiencing a new culture. I have never been outside of Australia and I know

Singapore is a culturally diverse country. I am also interested in seeing how it thrives with such a high

population density and how it acts as a centre for trade across the world.

March Briefing

The March Briefing was an amazing opportunity to meet the students and teachers who would be attending

the tour. It was also a great experience to go to the Army Museum, WWII Tunnels and Kings Park, where

we could both learn and reflect on the past.

Meeting everyone filled me with even more

anticipation for Singapore. We began the

weekend with several ice-breakers including

‘historical charades’ and I found everyone

bonded really fast which was great. After getting

to know everyone over the weekend, I knew it

was going to be a better experience than I had

previously anticipated as we would be able to

comfortably share experiences with each other;

something I think is very important in terms of

learning.

Attending the Army Museum was definitely the

highlight of my weekend. Having previously

visited the museum I did not expect to

experience it so vividly. The ability to link specific people, places and events to the topics I had researched

(General Gordon Bennett and trade) made the guided tour especially inspiring and insightful. Our tour

guide, Brian King, amazed us with his knowledge about WWII and was able to answer our questions. This

helped expand my understanding about my research topics and, more importantly, inspired me to continue

to explore them while I am in Singapore.

One thing I found fascinating in both the tour guides and war veterans we met were the stories they told. I

had the privilege of speaking with WWII veteran John Gilmour, who attended our presentation ceremony.

He delighted me with insightful stories such as sabotage of Japanese ships during his years as a POW and

helped me envision what it would have been like as a POW. I will take these stories with me to Singapore

in the hope that I can further develop my perception of WWII and the experience of Japanese POWs.

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I am eager to gain an accurate perception of war and its consequences as I want to help preserve the

Anzac legacy. Thanks to the March briefing, I now realise that this experience will allow me to do so. The

tour will not just be a personal one, but one I can share with my community to help educate them and

preserve our history.

Day 1: 16 April 2017

I must admit, the anticipation for the tour truly didn’t set in until we reached the Perth Airport. Having woken

up at 5:30am, I was more tired than eager during the car trip from Albany. When we finally reached the

airport, seeing the other students filled me with excitement and a new found anticipation. It had been a long

wait, but the tour was finally in action.

The plane trip was pleasant, with minimal turbulence. Although I

was in the middle seat, I caught glimpses of Singapore’s ports

and vast number of ships through the windows. Seeing these

ships helped me make links to the research I had done on the

history of trade and its present state. Later on, our tour guide

mentioned that Singapore imports everything and lead me to

believe that without primary production, trade must be the main

form of labour.

Changi airport itself proved to be a very pleasant scene, with low

levels of security, and the presence of nature was immediately

felt in surrounding plants and water features. Another thing which

struck us upon exiting the plane was the humidity and heat. Having come from Albany, it was a big change

to what I am used to which I’m sure will take a while for me to adjust. It also made me think of how some of

the Australian troops may have struggled with climatic conditions during the war.

Day 2: 17 April 2017

Today was an eye-opening experience for me to the possibility

of world-wide multiculturalism. For the first half of the day we

visited a large variety of religious temples and walked through

parts of the city. It was amazing to see the variety of cultural

backgrounds so closely integrated into a community. Our tour

guide Joe informed us that there are no cultural/race specific

areas in Singapore, and in some situations this is even

reinforced by law! I began to think that maybe there is a

correlation between integrated cultures and peace. This idea

was reinforced by Brandon’s speech on multiculturalism which

was largely based upon personal experience. He told us how

his community united in events linked to the different cultures

present, and how people would attend even if the particular

event was unrelated to their own culture.

This sense of unity which emerges from multiculturalism was

something I thought was evident in Singapore. While walking

through the streets, we encountered people of many ethnic

backgrounds and the diversity was apparent in the temples. It

really made me think about the importance of social tolerance, especially in relation to difference in

religious values. I think perhaps during war and the Japanese occupation of Singapore, the community

would have bonded. It’s an odd concept to think that war, ultimately a division of people, could also rally the

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multicultural Singaporean community to unite. This is something I really hope to explore in the next few

days.

The second key thing I really noticed today was the natural side of Singapore. In every direction there were

trees hanging over roads, or vines and flower on the railing of buildings. This incorporation of nature into

such an urban environment inspired me on a personal level, because I know it’s a step towards stopping

climate change. If all cities were as biophilic as Singapore, perhaps we would not be facing the current fear

of global warming.

Day 3: 18 April 2017

While we explored much of Singapore’s past during the Japanese occupation, the main theme of today was

about changing perspectives. We welcomed our articulate tour guide Chris who made a very interesting

point about the way we view things and interpret events. He explained to us that there is always an

alternative side to an event and that these differing

perspectives and contexts can be optimistic and also provide

an understanding of seemingly irrational actions. An example is

the battery that allegedly faces out towards the sea instead of

the land. Many people interpret this as yet another error in the

Fall of Singapore, however there is an alternative view point;

perhaps having those guns facing out stopped the Japanese

from invading from that direction and so in essence was

purposeful. This unorthodox way of viewing things and being

willing to adjust to different ideas is something I think we could

all apply to areas of our lives; however it was great being able

to contextualise the idea with WWII.

When we later visited the Changi chapel and museum I really

put this new found concept into the context of the Japanese

occupation of Singapore. As Chris told us about ‘bushido’ and

the great honour and responsibility Japanese soldiers had, I began to see their motives for war. I think this

is the most valuable life lesson I’ve learnt so far on the tour. Although I don’t approve of the Japanese

cruelty, with different perspectives in mind I can begin to understand their motives for war.

Day 4: 19 April 2017

Our first stop today was the Old Ford Factory (now a historical museum), the site of the official surrender of

Singapore to the Japanese. I found the very first room of the museum very interesting as it split the

perspectives of the Japanese, Allies and civilians during the Fall and Japanese occupation of Singapore.

The civilian experiences were something I had briefly touched upon at the Changi museum yesterday,

however today I really gained insight into this new world. I discovered that while the POWs had

undoubtedly suffered, the locals were treated with the

similar vigour from the Japanese. This theme was

evident throughout the museum, which included very

personal accounts of the Sook Ching massacre. . The

accounts were spoken with a visual projection of five

silhouettes of victims who had eluded the massacre.

This relatively simple visual display allowed me to truly

listen to the personal accounts without distractions

and immerse myself in the experience. This exhibit

was the highlight of the day.

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Later in the afternoon, we ventured to the Labrador Nature Reserve and the first thing that hit me was the

sound. The constant screeching of cicadas was almost deafening and allowed me to envision the Allied

soldiers’ experience of sound. Not only would they have trekked through harsh, unforgiving marshes, but

they would have to put up with the shrill sounds of the jungle at all hours of the day and night. I am now

eager to view and even venture into some of the marshlands like our Aussie troops did to gain a real sense

of their experience. I am hopeful this opportunity will present itself in the coming days. I’ve come to realise

today that reliving experiences truly is amazing and better than anything a textbook or even documentary

could provide. It gives me something I believe I can better reflect on during Anzac or Remembrance Day in

the future. It is certainly an experience I will continue to hold close to heart.

Day 5: 20 April 2017

Visiting the Fort Canning Battle Box today allowed us to

appreciate what the Fall of Singapore meant, and the immense

pressure placed upon military officers. We saw the navy, air force

and army split into different sections which heightened the lack of

each. One by one, the tour guide explained to us the Japanese

superiority in all of the military branches (including army because

despite their lack of troops, the Japanese had tanks). This

breakdown really proved to me that it wasn’t the fault of the

officers in Singapore for the loss of the island. There were many

competing pressures from the British Government, to the speed

of the Japanese, to the Battle Box itself. Filling the air would have

been loud noises amongst the intense heat from the high density of personnel crammed in the tunnels. The

experience shifted my blame more so to the British Government, however I also understand their reason for

not sending reinforcements.

I think many people fail to appreciate Singapore’s history and its impact the world in which we live. During

our visit to the Battle Box, I came across a statement indicating that many believe Singapore’s history only

dates back 50 years. I was amazed that people could have this view especially after learning the impact of

Singapore’s fall around the world. The Fall of Singapore for instance, has much more significance because

of its effect on British colonies. The failure of the British in defending Singapore, both through lack of

supplies and conflict between officers lead to a rejection of British colonial rule. This had direct implications

in Singapore of course but, due to the scale of the loss, was of global significance. As other British colonies

heard about the failure of the British, they too lost faith and began a movement of nationalism and

independence. This has largely impacted the world we live in today and perhaps without this great failure,

many British ruled colonies would still be present.

Returning to the mythical 50 year history, I think now it’s vital that we share our experiences with the

community, to preserve this knowledge of how independence can occur and ultimately predict future

outcomes.

Day 6: 21 April 2017

The visit to Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) today gave us insight into the local perspectives of the Fall of

Singapore and allowed us to compare our two nations in many ways. I found the comparison of our

education systems very interesting as HCI has a very focused academic structure whereas Australia’s is

more open and opportune. At HCI their score in exams determines which subjects they take and there’s

little personal input. In that sense, I’ve learnt to appreciate the variety and freedom we have to choose

subjects directly affecting our own education.

There is an alternative side, however, as Hwa Chong students are able to specialise in certain subjects with

much more depth than we do in Australia. However, I personally value a balanced education more, and

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again I appreciate what I have a lot more after today. One of the students also mentioned to me that after

they have finished school, many travel abroad for university because of the variety of choices available. We

later discussed national identity and how Australians always tend to think of Gallipoli as our defining point in

history. The ideas of mateship, courage and leadership are evoked when we consider Anzac Day. It’s come

to form our national identity and is why I believe we have a strong commemoration of our troops’ sacrifice

to this day. In contrast, the Singaporean students believed there wasn’t such a strongly flavoured national

identity present in their country. While Singapore is a well-

integrated and very culturally accepting country, it lacks a

sense of belonging and true national identity.

What surprised me was that Singaporeans don’t consider the

Fall of Singapore to be a defining moment in their history. The

students explained that this was because, at the time, the

majority of people didn’t feel Singapore was home. Rather,

they had emigrated from China, Indonesia, Malaya and

various other countries causing them to think of these places

of origin as their true home. A lot of focus is placed on the

evolution of society in Singapore, and I found it interesting that while we have a stronger identity as a

nation, Singapore has thrived through its ability to not only learn from the past, but also to move on. It really

made me consider the importance of both aspects in a society, and I think an understanding of these

different values with the HCI students is something we’ll both take away from the experience.

Day 7: 22 April 2017

Environment was the theme of today with our tour taking us

to the Singapore Zoo, where we explored the diversity of

animal life. Upon our arrival it was evident that conservation

was the message they wanted to convey; posters and signs

advocating animal protection could be found throughout the

zoo. A negative light was shed upon animal traffickers with

signs emphasising the extremities some people go to

merely for a different flavour of soup. I often consider the

environment when making decisions, however after leaving

the zoo today I can see just how important it is to protect.

We need to reconsider our actions against the environment

because as we often forget, you can’t eat money.

It was nice to see how open and free the animals were at the zoo. Many zoos confine their animals to areas

specific to their species, however at the Singapore Zoo numerous environments were found to hold a large

variety of creatures, closely mimicking their natural habitats. Also, animals at zoos are usually seen purely

as a tourist attraction: seeing how unlimited the animals’ boundaries were, and the quality of life they

appeared to have gave me reassurance for our future.

Although war and conflict weren’t intended themes of the day, I was able to link our conflict in wars with the

animals’ conflict with us. In so many aspects it’s similar; notably in the sense of destroying animals and

habitats for land and resources. Today’s visit made me consider humanities place amongst other animals

and ask why we place so much importance on our materialist prospects and products over the miracle of

animal life. After all, why should we be so much more important than any other animal?

Day 8: 23 April 2017

The Malay perspective was explored today with a journey to Bukit Chandu Museum. The museum made

excellent use of technology to provide a visually enthralling experience. In particular I enjoyed the animated

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recreation of the Battle of Pasir Panjang, which I feel captured the emotions of both the Malay and

Japanese troops and, more importantly, built that emotional connection to the event and people. What

amazed me was that despite the fact that the Malay regiment was evidently doomed, they fought to the

bitter end under a similar code to the Japanese; “death before dishonour”.

One thing I’ve forgot to mention during my tour journals is our tour guide Chris and his depth of insight into

not only the fall of Singapore, but also war in general. The thing I find so inspiring about Chris is his ability

to evoke emotional and deep level thinking. An example of this today was a debate surrounding the

bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where he was able to get us to think about how different cultures

see the bombings: Japan focuses on the horrors which came as a result of the bombings and not why they

were dropped or how the Japanese treated their prisoners of war: America, on the other hand, chooses not

to look at the after-effects of the bombing but rather tries to justify the bombing by showing what might

have been. This selective use of information from the whole truth is a barrier I feel we must push past in

order to move forward.

Day 9: 24 April 2017

Today we travelled to the Australian High Commission in Singapore where we met Colonel David Hay,

Sharifah Khairunnisa and Clele White. The main thing I took away from Colonel Hay’s talk was how

respected Australians are in other countries because of our soldiers' efforts in war. He told us the story of

the slouch hat, which has ultimately become the symbol of Australia’s wartime efforts. When people of

foreign countries saw the colonel wearing the slouch hat, they thanked him, and consequently Australia, for

our soldiers’ efforts. For me, that appreciation of Aussies has embellished the significance of our past, as I

see its implications in today’s world. Many of our encounters with the local people of Singapore have shown

just how much they appreciate Australia, an appreciation which I’m sure goes back to WWII.

Another topic Colonel Hay touched upon was Anzac Day’s meaning. He explained to us how Anzac Day

means something different to everyone and depending on your experience, its meaning changes. I found

significance in this statement as the tour has drastically changed my perspective of Anzac Day. I now

appreciate how the ‘Anzac spirit’ has shaped our national identity and values.

The conversation with Sharifah and Clele later challenged some of my associations with DFAT. Previously I

had only considered them as the people who dealt with Australians when they were in trouble in other

countries. Today however, I saw another side, notably their importance in international relations. Sharifah

explained to us the huge role DFAT play in country relations; ensuring Australia is represented positively in

other countries. The Department puts a strong focus on relationships between people, cementing the

various economic and political agreements. To hear that relationships govern inter-country bonds rather

than pieces of paper gave me

confidence for our nation’s future.

I think the visit also made me question

some of the strong negative

connotations I’ve previously held with

the word military. I tend to think of war

and violence when the word comes to

mind, however Colonel Hay showed

just how much difference the armed

forces do make, and that much of what

they do is peacekeeping rather than

fighting in wars. I was inspired to

investigate this new side of the military

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in order to better understand its role in preventing conflict and violence.

In the afternoon we had a change of scenery, journeying to Singapore’s Art Science Museum. The exhibit

we visited had the theme “future world” and combined technology with creativity and art. It was amazing to

re-immerse ourselves in the forgotten world of our childhood mindset. To have your own creation come to

life is a dream I think every child has, and so through this experience I think many of us were able to

reopen the door to the creative aspect of our lives.

Day 10: 25 April 2017

Today we reached the much anticipated climax of our tour: Anzac Day. The time had come for us to reflect

upon the tour and what we had experienced over the past ten days. We began the day with a dawn service

at the Kranji War Memorial Cemetery, run by the New Zealand High Commission. As the day’s duty

student, I had the honour of laying a wreath on the group’s behalf. Having never laid a wreath before, I was

immensely proud to represent my State and country in this ongoing tradition, especially with the

significance of Anzac Day new to me. No longer was it just about remembering those who fought, it was

about carrying the knowledge of the death of their humanity so that we may prevent future conflicts.

What amazed me about the Anzac ceremony was the large number of countries involved, including Ireland,

Canada and Korea. For me this really highlighted the unity of nations we can appreciate today and a

worldwide acceptance of Australian and New Zealand culture/identity. A particularly moving part of the

ceremony was the Turkish Ambassador’s reading of the famous words attributed to Atatürk. The speech

expressed the idea that our troops are now resting in the arms of friends, despite lying in “faraway

countries”. I found the ideas inspiring in terms of striving for world peace, and it reinforced acceptance of

different people and cultures. This was also shown in the cemetery with an integration of all who fought and

lost their lives, regardless of rank, race or religion.

After the service, we were lead on a short tour and then were

left to reflect upon our experiences and place poppies for the

fallen soldiers. As I walked through the cemetery I was truly

shocked by its enormity, which emphasised the sheer number

of troops who had fallen. I took time to read the headstones,

many with messages from family and close friends. Reading

these connections enlightened me to the significance of such

a loss. Every one of these people had fought for the freedom

of their loved ones and never got to say a final goodbye. It

alerted me to perhaps the most important part of this tour; to

preserve the memory of sacrifice, in order to stop future

conflicts, and to nurture and protect all people of this world, regardless of our differences. Ultimately we are

all equal in the face of death.

Day 11: 26 April 2017

As I sit here in my room, surrounded by old comforts, I

reflect upon an experience which began just eleven

days ago… except it began before that; at the March

Briefing. One could even argue it began with those first

words being written for our essays. How little we knew

about what this tour would teach us, and how it would

impact our lives.

While today marks the end of our tour, it also marks

the start of a new stem for opportunity and experience.

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From this stem new branches will grow, stretching out into the vast expanse of knowledge and opportunity.

Personally, the tour hasn’t just been an experience - an event tied to one place and one time. No, for me

the tour has been an inspiration - to learn new things, to chase my dreams, and above all, to grow as a

human being. I have learnt so much about Singapore’s past and how it continues to influence the island

nation, and many other nations, to this day. I have gained an insight into Australian identity, and how the

values and traditions we embody today wouldn’t be here if not for the sacrifice of our troops. Not only that,

but their ideals of courage and mateship have become a part of all of us, and that is something for which

we should be thankful.

The tour has given me a definite appreciation for history, now that I see just how much the past influences

our modern world. Many of my own beliefs were challenged throughout the tour as I was opened up to a

world of cultural diversity. The interaction with other kids with similar interests over the duration of the tour

was amazing, and to share thoughts and opinions freely is something I really valued. The bonds we formed

are sure to hold for a lifetime and I feel like a much more confident and well-rounded individual thanks to

the inclusivity of the tour group. I’m sure our commitment to the Anzac legend is far from over, as we

continue to educate our communities and uphold the values forged at Anzac Cove.

Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Although the tour itself has come to an end, it seems my role

as a tour member is just beginning. The next stage of my

journey is sharing the experience with my local community.

This is perhaps the most important stage of the tour as it is

about continuing the Anzac story and upholding an

appreciation of Australia’s military history among the youth. I

feel confident in my role and believe I have the ability to

inspire and educate other students towards a new historical

point of view.

I would firstly like to acknowledge the Premier and State

Government of Western Australia. Without you this tour

would not exist, so I am immensely grateful to you for making this incredible opportunity available. To the

RSL, DFAT and DVA, I thank you all for supporting and following our journey. To John Gilmour, with whom

I had the privilege of speaking at our presentation ceremony, thank you for sharing countless tales of your

experience as a POW with me, they’re stories I’ll never forget. A big thanks to all the tour guides at both the

March Briefing and on tour- I really appreciate the personal insights you gave us into Singaporean culture

and WWII. In particular I’d like to thank Chris Cher, whose words of wisdom allowed us to gain a much

greater insight into the Fall of Singapore. The knowledge you gave us is indescribable, and all I can say is

thank you for making me question my perspective of the world and way of thinking.

I’d like to say a huge thanks to my HASS teacher Mrs Thomson who encouraged me to re-enter the

competition after narrowly missing out on last year’s trip. Perseverance clearly pays off. I thank you also for

supporting me with the tedious editing of my essay and preparation for the interview. A huge thanks goes to

Norman, Mery and Sam for not only organising the trip, but for being such lovely people who we could

openly go to for advice and also just to talk about our experience. I don’t consider you staff members

anymore, I gladly consider all of you lifelong friends. Finally, I’d like to thank my fellow youth ambassadors.

You guys truly made this tour special for me, allowing for great depth of conversation through relationships

which are sure to last a lifetime.

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Patrick Reilly

Year 10

Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School

(formerly of Boyup Brook District High School)

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Introduction: Pride On the morning of Remembrance Day late last year, I woke up feeling much the same as any other

morning. Until my mother reminded me that it was the day the ten winners of the Premier’s Anzac Student

Tour 2017 would be announced. My older sister, Caitlin, went to North Borneo in 2013 as part of the same

tour and had actually received news of her selection before November 11 so the tour participants were able

to attend the Remembrance Day service at King’s Park. As a result, I was expecting to be notified in the

week leading up to the official announcement. After checking the PAST website, and not seeing anything,

my day continued. If it had not have been for my online HASS teacher and the lesson we had at 9:50 that

morning, I would have found out about my selection much later. She was able to put me onto the Premier’s

official announcements website where I was absolutely overwhelmed to find my name and school written

side-by-side. After the pressure of the week I had all but given up on being selected, so my nerves very

quickly turned to pride and excitement as I went to see the school HASS teacher and the principal who

were both overjoyed with the news. November 11, 2016 is certainly a day I look back on very fondly.

In terms of the tour and the personal connections I have with Singapore during WWII, although not

direct, are still important to me. My great-grandfather, George Connor, served as a sapper in the 2/4

Australian Field Squadron in Borneo during WWII. As a sapper, he was assigned the role of driving the

officers of the Australian Army. Although he did not serve in Singapore, I still hope that I am able to get an

idea of his experiences during his time, and hopefully share my experiences with him upon my return.

I thoroughly enjoy the company of others, especially those who share my keen interest in the history of our

nation and the rest of the world. I very much look forward to being able to get to know the nine other tour

participants as well the teachers and organisers who attend the tour. I am looking forward to sharing such a

rare experience with company such as the other students. I intend to represent Western Australia as well

as possible, being reverent

and respectful to the

Singaporean people, their

land and their culture.

While on tour, learning as

much as possible about

Singapore is a priority. With a

history as rich as Singapore's,

it is easy to gain knowledge

about colonisation, war and

general history of the tiny

island. I am thoroughly

looking forward to the tour

and the prospects it holds, and feel I am very privileged to be granted this amazing opportunity.

Brian King, Barry Ellis, Jan McLeod and Jenny Knight all talked to the tour group on various topics at the

March Briefing. They were four everyday people who taught me a lot and had an extraordinary impact on

me.

Brian King, a tour guide at the West Australian Army Museum in Fremantle, showed outstanding

understanding of WWII, especially with our tour focusing on Singapore. He answered all of our questions

with as much detail and accuracy as he possibly could, giving us a context of the Fall of Singapore that will

help immensely during our time abroad.

Barry Ellis is a tour guide at the Leighton Battery, also in Fremantle. The most striking thing about his tour

was his insightful, immense knowledge. Never have I seen a guide who knew so much about the place they

March Briefing: Seeing Something Greater

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were representing. Barry told everything we would ever need to know, plus more. He gave us a perspective

of the war that I had never considered. Australia believed that we would be under attack, and Fremantle

was believed to be most at risk. The Leighton Battery and tunnels were the line of defence against

Japanese forces that were supposedly going to take the Fremantle Port and invade our country. Barry was

able to paint a clear picture in our minds of the attitude and the situation of our nation during the middle and

later parts of WWII, broadening our perspectives and knowledge to encompass the people at home while

our brave soldiers were defending our nation overseas.

Jenny Knight is the Executive Officer of the War Widows’ Guild of Western Australia, who along with Jan

McLeod, the President, spoke to us about the work of the Guild and how they support widows around the

state. Offering yet another perspective of war, telling us about the experiences of the partners left behind by

war or the effects war had on their loved ones. The passion of the Guild, which is in decline due to a

lessening population, is unprecedented. What struck me, not only with the ladies from the Guild, but with

Brian and Barry as well, is the passion they showed for the preservation of our war history and their love for

our culture.

It was after I had heard what all of these people had to say, that I finally realised the real reason I was here,

and the real reason the tour existed in the first place. I was a part of something far greater than myself,

greater than the essay I wrote, even greater than the tour itself. Once selected to participate in this tour, a

responsibility was placed on me, responsibility that I only became properly aware of and properly

understood on the evening of Friday, 3 March.

I have a responsibility to carry on the legacy of all the people involved in wars, to share my experiences

and the experiences of others that are not able to share their own anymore. I will gain a perspective that

few Australians are fortunate enough to have, and as a result, will give my best possible representation of

those perspectives to as many as possible. I now realise what it means to be an ambassador for Western

Australia and for Australia, and I am determined to fulfil my role. The passion of Barry, Brian, Jan and

Jenny awakened me to my responsibilities, and after meeting them, I have been inspired to persist until I

have well and truly served my State and country.

I don’t want their efforts to sustain our remembrance of history to be in vain.

Day One: Anticipation

Easter Sunday - a day highly anticipated by myself

and 12 other people embarking to Singapore on this

day as part of the 2017 Premier's Anzac Student

Tour.

After landing, successfully making it through customs

and getting on a bus, I began to finally get a proper

view of the place that I have read about and

researched for the last few months. The first thing

that struck me was the heat and the humidity. I was

obviously aware of the fact Singapore has a tropical

climate and that it would be hot, but it still didn't

properly prepare me. The most humorous part about

that is the fact that we arrived late in the evening,

hardly the heat of the day.

Something that amazed me was the size of this humid, green, densely populated nation. I knew that it was

very small, but I was extremely surprised to find out that it only stretches 47km east to west, and north to

south is only 27km as the crow flies. To put that into perspective, it is 42km from my home to Boyup Brook,

15

the nearest town. The fact that an entire nation's width can fall within just a few extra kilometres of that

distance is something that I personally struggle to comprehend.

My learning today has excited me to spend the next ten days in this city nation, learning about its war

history, cultural history, and what has shaped it to make it the bustling, technological and trade world leader

it is today.

Day Two: Acknowledgement

Our first full day in the Lion City. Our first full day of bustling streets, lush foliage, modern infrastructure and

our first day of the unfamiliar Singaporean tropical heat. Being in the Lion City, it was only fitting that we

started our journey at the famous Merlion, one of the city's most well-known tourist attractions.

Once I became aware of where we would start, I imagined a large man-made lion crossed with a mermaid,

with a few people standing at the base posing for photos. That was what I was expecting anyway. As I

approached the footbridge which would enable us to stand over the reservoir and take photos of the

futuristic Marine Bay Sands hotel, I realised the Merlion was not going to be surrounded by just a few

people. We made it to the peak height of the bridge and the Merlion finally came into full view about 100

metres away. What I saw between us and the sculpture was very different from the image that had initially

been in my head. The remainder of the footbridge and the platform that stood over the water at the foot of

the Merlion was completely covered by people, hundreds of tourists, wanting to see this breathtaking

sculpture and capture the moment forever on their phones or cameras. I could not believe the sheer

number of people on the platform.

I thought it was quite spectacular actually, and I ended up taking more photos of the masses of people than

I did of the water-spitting Merlion itself. All these people have come to tour Singapore in all its current day

glory, see the amazing skyline and the immaculate city streets, maybe go to the zoo, or do the walk along

the tops of super trees. But I wondered - how many of these tens of thousands tourists are aware of the

past history of Singapore?

So much to do on

this tiny red dot

island, so much to

see; but there is also

so much to learn.

Prior to landing here,

I thought I knew a

fair amount, but after

spending the day

touring the island,

visiting mosques, temples and museums, I have found there is far more to Singapore than I could have

ever imagined. I am here for many reasons, but the main reason is because of my keen interest in history,

whereas the majority of the people I was amongst today at the base of the Merlion are obviously here to

see Singapore how it is today, not how it was in the past.

Today alone I learnt more than I could have possibly imagined about the history of Singapore. I have finally

begun to realise how far this 'tiny fishing village' (in the words of our tour guide) has come. So many people

walk unfamiliar streets and journey to unfamiliar places without fully understanding or having any

knowledge about the past of that place. We trudge the footpaths and ride along the roads without properly

acknowledging everything that has happened to shape the place. As a whole society, we take things as

they are, how we see them. We don't question enough, we don't delve into the depths of the history of the

ground we stand on enough. It's not something we can change, but I will always try to be more aware of

what has influenced the identity of a place, town, city and country.

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Day Three: Adaptation

This was our first day delving deeper into the war history of Singapore, especially looking at the Fall of

Singapore. We began by our guide, Chris, taking us to Changi Beach where he displayed several maps

showing us how and where the Japanese landed and conquered the Allied Forces in Singapore.

That is when we were told about the 8th Division. The 8th Division was an Australian regiment that fought

as part of the effort to defend Singapore from the Japanese invasion. It consisted of about 20,000 soldiers,

so they made up about fifth of the Allied Forces in Singapore. They had never seen proper conflict, and had

only arrived from Australia after recently completing their training. Their lack of experience in war and their

lack of adaptation to battle and the conditions was highlighted as a major weakness by our highly

passionate and knowledgeable tour guide.

After visiting the Changi Museum and Chapel, we made our way onto the bus that would take us back into

the city to complete our day's learning and touring. Rain is always threatening in Singapore, and today was

no exception. While we were on the bus it started to rain, and rain it did. After the bus trip was finished, we

made a quick dash into the National Gallery to start our afternoon adventures. After the National Gallery,

we then made adaptations of our own; umbrellas emerged from backpacks and rain jackets and ponchos

were put on to keep us dry in the heavy tropical rain that didn't seem to be going anywhere. We had

adapted, very minutely, to better our chances of getting through the rainfall without getting too wet.

As we walked

along in the rain,

visiting Old

Parliament

House, the Lim

Bo Seng

memorial and the

memorial for the

British people of

Singapore who

had lost their lives

in the two World Wars, I began to realise that the footpaths were empty - we were the only people outside. I

obviously put this down to the rain, and the fact the locals know not to be outside at this time of the day

because of the weather. They are more experienced and adapted to Singapore and the conditions than we

are, and as a result they stayed dry while we got drenched.

The battle hardened Japanese soldiers who had fought in China and all the way through Southeast Asia to

make it to Singapore were far more adapted to the situation and knew what was required to succeed. Many

of those in the Allied Forces were not experienced and, as a result, were unsure of what Singapore

required to be defended from the ruthless Japanese onslaught. Their health, fitness and youth were their

greatest strengths but ended up being their greatest weakness; it was one of the many Achilles' heels of

the 'invincible Singapore'.

Day Four: (In)Justice

Three full days spent in Singapore, and already my understanding of this city and its war history has been

extended by an amount that I could not have possibly imagined a week ago. The Fall of Singapore, the

events leading up to it, and Singapore in general are topics I thought I was relatively knowledgeable about.

As I have spent more time on the island, I have realised this isn't quite the case. From the outside, yes, I

had insight to the topic however, there is a lot is to be said about being fully immersed in your topic when

attempting to broaden and deepen your knowledge. For example, being in the actual place that the history

and events occurred is definitely an advantage. Similarly, being around the right people who can enhance

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your experience maximises your processing of information (tour guides, teachers, students with similar

historical interests).

Today we explored the Old Ford Factory, which is now a museum boasting detailed, personal exhibits

about the Fall of Singapore and the Syonan-To period, which was between the Fall of Singapore and the

end of the war during the Japanese occupation of Singapore. We also spent some time learning about

'Force Z', a commando unit that successfully infiltrated Singapore and caused significant damage to the

Japanese naval fleet in the port. Finally, we visited Labrador Park to walk through the nature reserve,

exploring the battery that was situated on a hill overlooking the entrance to Keppler Bay.

During our time in the Old Ford Factory, I came across an exhibit outlining the war crime trials that took

place to mete justice to Japanese soldiers for their actions during the taking and occupation of Singapore.

As I read and investigated further, it occurred to me that I have never heard of any Allied Forces being

accused or prosecuted for war crimes. I am not in a position to comment on whether or not any Allied

soldiers committed crimes during WWII, but I do find it strange that I have never heard about or read about

any sort of accusations or trials against Allied soldiers. During a discussion with our guide and several

members of the group, I learnt that there is evidence suggesting that war crimes had been committed by all

who participated - Allies and Japanese alike. During that discussion, I was also reacquainted with a

statement that I had learned and subsequently forgotten: history is written by the victor.

While the Allies were victorious in WWII, the atrocities committed by Japanese military against Prisoners of

War and civilians came to light. Those accountable were brought to trial and punished accordingly, giving

those affected the justice they deserve. With victory falling on the Allied side, their wrongdoings seem to

have been ignored or exonerated. This does not seem right. All is fair and just for those who are

responsible for war crimes to be punished, there is no denying that. In contrast, what about the soldiers and

their families who did not gain justice for crimes committed against them? As an Australian citizen and an

indirect member of our alliances, many of which we have maintained since WWII, this sits uncomfortably on

my conscience.

This is a prime example of historical bias: history is written by the victor; justice for some, maybe an

injustice to others.

Day Five: Preparation

With our tour of the unknown 'Battle Box' on the all-important itinerary for today, I awoke and prepared for

my day while I anticipated today's adventures nine metres below Fort Canning Hill. As with everything we

do, preparation is the key, and in order to be prepared

for today I had to ensure that I had everything that I

needed: water, rain jacket, umbrella, hat, sunscreen

etc. I am no stranger to being prepared when it comes

to this tour, almost everything I have done has required

some form of proper preparation, whether that be

planning for a research assignment or making sure that

I have been mentally prepared for the emotional strain

this tour may possess, I've always had to be prepared.

In the Battle Box, the tour very hastily made it clear to

me that the Allied forces in Singapore were not

prepared for the Japanese attack. General Arthur

Percival, the man in charge the of the Allies in

Singapore, had made a request for the British War Office to send approximately 600 aircraft, 300 tanks and

a naval fleet to strengthen Singapore and ensure the safety of the Crown Colony. The return for the request

came in the form of 181 outdated aircraft, from late in WWI, a fleet of two warships and several smaller

18

cruisers with no tanks sent at all. This was due to the fact that all available tanks had been deployed in

North Africa, which was must have been seen as a higher priority to Britain than Singapore.

Percival was aware of what was required to keep Singapore and Malaya in British hands, the mother

country wasn't able to supply Singapore with its needs, and in turn, it was under-prepared. Despite the lack

of preparation, the Allied superiors chose to use their advantage of soldiers on the ground as an excuse to

promote superiority over their enemies. Ignoring the fact that the ocean and air were in Japanese control,

they continued to create an illusion to the lower ranking soldiers and civilians that they were in an invincible,

impenetrable fortress. As a result, I believe the officers themselves began to fall for their own illusion. This

illusion could also simply be referred to as the arrogance of the Allied forces in Singapore.

We are all aware of the result of the Battle of Singapore, which alternatively has become known more

commonly as the Fall of Singapore. It is humiliating and heart-breaking. The number of prisoners of war

taken following the surrender stands the highest amount any army has taken in history, about 120,000. This

is devastating, but the reality is, it all happened because Singapore was not prepared. Yes, the Japanese

had tanks, war vessels and aircraft that were at the time the best, fastest and most technologically

advanced in the world, but the Allies were not undermanned, they were underprepared. They were not

materially prepared, or physically prepared for the sort of warfare that the Japanese brought with them

across the Johore Strait. By the time the men at the helm of Singapore, sitting in that small room in the

Battle Box, had come to terms with how completely and utterly underprepared they were, it was too late.

They had no choice but to surrender their fortress to a numerically impoverished Japanese force.

Day Six: Identity

After an early morning run through

Fort Canning, further exploring the

hill and battling the humidity, I was

excited for a day at Hwa Chong

Institution, a selective all-boys’

school for some of Singapore's

best students. The visit would

consist of touring and learning

about the history, values and goals

of the school, spending some time

in a history class to see how things are done at an elite Singaporean school, and finally some question time

with a group of the students to gain an insight into each other's background and daily lives.

Throughout the day, it became evident that there was a strong focus on the WWII and the post WWI

periods in the school. This period encompasses the Battle and Fall of Singapore, the time of Japanese

occupation and the period of nation building where Singapore gained independence from the Crown,

merged with Malaya and finally became a republic. There was also an emphasis on the period following

them becoming a republic, where they worshipped founding father Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister,

and his People's Action Party worked tirelessly to lay the foundations of modern day Singapore.

The students of Hwa Chong Institution, our tour guides and many of the museum exhibits I have come

across all seem to have the same belief that this 30-40 year period in modern Singaporean history has

shaped the nation and its identity greatly. The perseverance shown by the Singaporean citizens during this

time of hardship and instability is a credit to their strength as a country. The school students seem highly

knowledgeable about these events, and it is evident that a fair amount of effort has been injected into the

learning of their recent history. The way that the Singaporean people seem to always draw from this time

period when in discussion about their country reminds me of our nation's attitude towards the Gallipoli

campaign of WWI. I see striking resemblance in the way our countries have grasped these events, and how

the people involved shaped the way we see ourselves and the way the remainder of the world views us:

Singapore's recovery from the depths of Japanese occupation to their complete independence and nation

19

building to become the thriving economic hub they are today is something which generates great pride; we

are also proud of our heritage left on the shores and hills of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It is only natural for a

young nation like Singapore to draw on such a pivotal point in their history to gain their own sense of self-

worth and their identity, just as we did the years following WWI.

Day Seven: Innovation

The Singapore Zoo is known not only for its large range of exotic and rare species, but also its focus on

conservation and sustainability. After spending the day roaming and exploring the world famous zoo, I

came to realise why it was so renowned. Among the concrete paths and tropical vegetation I witnessed the

much proclaimed diversity of the wildlife and was amazed at the display of sustainability and the promotion

of conservation.

In terms of size, the Singapore Zoo is large, but if you look at size compared to number and volume of

animals, the ratio would tell you that the animals don't get much room. This is definitely not the case. Zoos

have their critics for obvious reasons, but the Singapore Zoo definitely puts doubts in the minds of those

critics. Everywhere you look, there are signs promoting sustainable living and the conservation of the

natural environment. At every enclosure, information boards explain about the animals and whether or not

they are in any sort of risk, and if so, they provide ideas about how we can be a part of the solution rather

than exacerbate the problem. Friendly staff also endorse the messages of conservation and sustainability

during shows that involve the animals, adding extra emphasis, and leaving a lasting impact on viewers.

The way the Singapore

Zoo has managed to

pack in so much into

the available area has

distinct resemblance to

Singapore itself. With

an area of only 720

square kilometres,

Singapore has a

thriving population of

over five and a half million. There is almost a non-existent homelessness rate as people have found ways

to house themselves in ways that would be widely unheard of in Australia, especially Perth. With such

limited space available, the people of Singapore have been forced to be innovative, thinking outside the

box in order to build an entire nation. Much like the city itself, Singapore Zoo overflows with innovation in

every direction. One of our tour guides highlighted the fact that Singapore has not only built along the

landscape but has had to build 'up and down as well'. The vast majority of people live in apartment style,

high rise housing, the railway system is underground and some have even begun to venture below the

ground for storage. The Singaporean Government deserves much credit for being able to keep this city

clean and as sustainable as possible, while managing such a large population. Australia and the rest of the

world, developed and developing, could take much inspiration from the population dense, environmentally

aware Singapore that promotes innovation and sustainability.

Day Eight: Selflessness

The Battle of Bukit Chandu. The numerically disadvantaged Malay Regiment, led by Lieutenant Adnan bin

Saidi, engaged with the rapidly advancing Japanese forces at Bukit Chandu. Despite encountering great

odds, they managed to hold them at bay for more than 24 hours. Displaying an inspirational show of

courage, the Malayan forces battled on, with only bayonets and their fists, long after they had run out of

ammunition. Adnan refused to surrender his dwindling forces or accept defeat, forging a path of honourable

death which his loyal troops were willing to follow.

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The Malayans, choosing to put death before dishonour, were undeterred by the Japanese when ordered to

strip their military uniforms and badges, and accept defeat. Upon their refusal, the Japanese opted to hang

Adnan and his remaining troops from a tree by their feet in order to force them to admit that the battle had

indeed been lost. Adnan stubbornly and courageously never gave in to the torture and once again, his

troops followed his admirable lead.

The way the Malayan Regiment

conducted themselves during the

Battle of Bukit Chandu and its

aftermath is an inspiration to all who

encounter the story. The Japanese,

believing that taking Bukit Chandu

would be far easier with a much more

insignificant casualty rate, were

angered by the proud, selfless fighting

style of the Malayans. The 'death

before dishonour' attitude displayed

by the Malayans drew many

comparisons to Japan's long-lasting Bushido Code, which was originally practiced by the Japanese

samurai, telling them to die fighting rather than surrender. The Battle of Bukit Chandu could be seen as the

Japanese having a 'taste of their own medicine', with the Malayans deciding to selflessly give their lives to

maximise the damage inflicted on their enemies and temporarily halting the rapid Japanese advance on

Singapore.

The Malayans' complete and total willingness to die in the name of defending Singapore shocked the

Japanese troops and caused a major speed-bump in what was a considerably smooth and swift invasion.

Actions and events such as these do leave many questions in one's mind. If the entire Allied force in

Singapore had fought like the Malayan Regiment, would things have panned out differently? We will never

know, but it certainly gives food for thought.

Day Nine: Appreciation

With a visit to the Australian High Commission on the itinerary for this morning, we arose and prepared for

the day with a sense of importance, which is only natural considering our intended location. Upon arrival,

we were greeted by Colonel David Hay and two ladies, Clele White and Sharifah Khairunnisa, who work in

the High Commission for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Austrade respectively.

We began by listening to a busy Colonel Hay

discuss his role in the High Commission and the

importance of Anzac Day and the Anzac legacy.

He offered us a valuable insight into the importance

of maintaining strong military relationships with

Singapore as well as all other allies, a job for which

he is largely responsible. His knowledge of history

enabled us to see Singapore and its relations with

Australia from yet another perspective, deepening

and broadening our understanding even further.

After the Colonel departed our small group in order to board a flight to Brunei for an Anzac Day service

tomorrow morning, Clele and Sharifah proceeded to inform us of other roles that the High Commission

plays in Singapore. For example, maintaining relationships with Singapore in a political and economic light

rather than a military sense. The High Commission work on promoting Australia to the Singaporean public

in order to attract tourism, workers and people wishing to study abroad. While trying to develop and keep a

21

positive impression of Australia running at the forefront of the Singaporean media and public, they also

organise the trips and itineraries of politicians who come to Singapore for official business. I very quickly

realised that Embassies and High Commissions do far more than help Australians in need overseas with

things such as stolen belongings or lost passports.

It’s the development and maintenance of international relations that is by far the most important role of the

Australian High Commissions and Embassies around the world. After our visit to the High Commission in

Singapore I came to the realisation that it was absolutely fundamental for Australia to sustain strong

international relationships with all nations after the conclusion of WWII, especially Southeast Asian

countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. If not more so, was political reconciliation with Japan. If this had

not happened as smoothly and swiftly as it did, a strong economic tie may have been lost with a new-found

powerhouse nation of the modern era.

Japan and Australia now have durable trade relationships, with Australia supplying many natural and raw

products to its counterpart and gaining manufactured goods, such as vehicles and machinery, from Japan.

The reconciliation with Japan and the continued relationships with Southeast Asia has greatly benefited

Australia socially, politically and economically over the last 70 years. It is critical that we maintain these

healthy ties in order to continue to reap the benefits. The role that the people who work in our High

Commissions and Embassies play is exceptionally important and should not go unnoticed, especially

considering the difficulty of their job and the fantastic job they do.

Day Ten: Rawness

The most important day of the tour was upon us, as was the 4:30am wake up that came with it. We arrived

at the Kranji War Memorial and Cemetery about an hour later, to be seated in a position that enabled us to

view the entire ceremony with ease.

The official ceremony began at

6:30am, opening with a brief

welcome and introduction followed

by the assembling of the guards,

who were Navy personnel from New

Zealand. The formalities continued

with heartfelt readings and

addresses from New Zealand and

Australia’s High Commissioners as

well as the Turkish Ambassador to

Singapore and Reverend Mark

Dickens. After the readings, the

wreath laying was carried out,

backed by the nostalgic sound of the bagpipes playing prominently in the background. As the Anzac Day

tradition asks, the last post was played flawlessly on the bugle followed by an emotionally rich minute’s

silence. Finally, the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand were led by the choir from the

Australian International School and the ceremony was concluded.

For a fifteen year old from a small country town of no more than 2,000 living within the shire boundaries,

going to the Dawn Service at Kranji has been totally and utterly bewildering. Previously, I have only ever

attended the mid-morning services at Boyup Brook, but never a dawn service. Having this morning’s

ceremony as my first dawn service was more emotional than I had expected. Adding to that stimulation was

the significant location, surrounded by almost 4,500 headstones of Allied soldiers who served and died

during WWII, and sitting in the shadow of the imposing memorial with the names of 24,000 Allied

servicemen and women whose remains were never found. These factors, along with deeply-felt songs and

22

readings, all contributed to creating an emotional whirlpool that I was caught up in. A truly moving

ceremony.

Not only were the sensory properties of the Kranji service emotionally rich, but also my lead up and

preparation to the ceremony. I have spent more than a week in Singapore, learning about its history,

people, culture, and most importantly, its WWII history. I have heard and memorised countless stories and

atrocities committed during this period in Singapore, with few of a good nature to counteract the evil. To

attend this morning, to be able to link my depth of knowledge that I have learnt from a distance with the

emotion of the hurt and pain felt by these soldiers, their families and their friends, was an experience that I

almost have no words to describe. When asked how I found the ceremony, I would reply with the words: ‘It

was pretty raw to be honest’, simply because that is all I had to describe what I witnessed and the way I

felt.

Having been through the loss of a family member recently, I was able to empathise with those who lost

loved ones prematurely, which in turn brought back waves of the pain and hurt that they may have been

dealing with. I found that whenever I heard mention that the men and women were ‘fathers, mothers, sons,

daughters, husbands, wives’, I was sucked further and further into that emotional whirlpool. For me, Anzac

Day, no matter where I am or what I am doing, will never be the same.

Day Eleven: Farewell

The day we’d all been dreading.

And here it was, hitting us like one of the buses or trains we had been aboard during our previous 10 days

spent exploring the island. In case you wondered how we were feeling, it wasn’t that great. We pushed

smiles to our tired faces as we boarded a bus to greet the driver who had got out of bed far earlier than we

had. After all, he was the man who determined if we got to the airport safely or not.

If it’s okay, I’m just going to fast forward to after we had made it through customs, flown about 5000km and

made it through our second set of customs. We are now at the very end of our trip; there was nothing else

to come. No more on the all-important itinerary for us to look forward to or wonder about. That was where

the journey had ended. We exited the airport, some with tears, some without. Actually, most were in tears.

We said our final farewells for the tour and sent everyone off with good wishes for the remainder of their

year in school, sport and life. Despite our farewells, we were all sure and still hold that certainty we will see

each other again.

As I walked with my father towards the car, zigzagging between countless other vehicles, I thought once

again of soldiers and their families during times of war and conflict. Bidding their farewells to loved ones,

just as we did at the airport, but with doubt in their minds as to whether or not they would return. Despite

promises being made by both parties involved in the emotional goodbyes, the wellbeing, safety and survival

of service personnel could not be guaranteed. Soldiers, warriors, knights, samurais and numerous others,

for thousands of years, have bid farewell to loved ones in order to fight knowing that they might lose their

lives for a cause they deem worthy.

As a result of the war or conflict they were leaving the people around them to engage in, it is only natural

that many will lose their lives, and never make it home. I could try to imagine what would be worse: saying

goodbye to a loved one knowing that you may never see them again, and dealing with that truth while they

are gone, or knowing that you will never see them again. Either way, being lucky enough to grow up during

my generation, so far I have never had to experience either of those terrible feelings. So as I watched the

airport slowly get smaller and eventually disappear in the rear-view mirrors, I realised how truly grateful I

23

am for all those who have served or are currently serving, those who have enabled us to have a safer and

more harmonious present and future.

Reflection

In order to reflect on my journey, I am going to keep it short and sweet. I feel that if I let it drag on too much,

I will overcomplicate things and, as a result, confuse myself and whoever has managed to make it to the

twenty-third page of this journal.

Taking part in the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour of 2017, without a doubt, has been the most eye-opening

experience in my life to date, and I would say it will hold that imaginary title for an extended period of time.

It has enabled me to better myself as a person, as a student and a historian. My knowledge and

understanding of WWII, especially in Singapore and Southeast Asia, as well as my emotional connection to

those who made any sort of sacrifice during that period, soldiers and civilians alike. My perspectives,

morals, attitudes and beliefs were enhanced, challenged and changed throughout the entire tour,

something that I credit to our exceptional tour guides and local personnel that gave us an extra insight that

we never could have gained as regular tourists.

I have met and got to know 12 other like-minded people who share my keen interest in history. Their

company is a large part of what made the tour so special, and as I looked around our group on several

occasions, it was totally clear to me why they were selected as youth ambassadors on the tour.

From the very beginning, when I began to research and write my essay, there was obviously extra work

that I would have to do in order to benefit the greatest. Although at times, especially after I had been

selected, it did challenge me, I look back on it now and realise the extra work was far from extensive and I

am extremely happy I completed the tasks. As a result, I have done nothing but reap the benefits the tour

has granted me.

My most heartfelt and genuine thanks are extended to the Hon Mark McGowan, Premier of Western

Australia, the Department of Education, tour organiser and coordinator, Ms Samantha Boswell, those who

aided me during the selection process, and finally, the tour chaperones and participants for helping to make

the tour such a truly humbling, eye opening and amazing experience.

24

Brandon Rowe

Year 12

Girrawheen Senior High School

25

March Briefing

On 2 March, I was called along with 9 other overly excited students, into the city for the Presentation

Ceremony where we would be given our official tour awards. The part which excited me the most was not

the certificate or getting it presented to me by the then Minister for Education, Hon Peter Collier. The most

exciting part was, for the first time, meeting the other 9 students and 3 teachers with which I was going to

experience the Premier's Anzac Student Tour. After the ceremony we retired to the accommodation at the

School of Isolated and Distant Education in Leederville. There, the students and teachers were given an

informal setting to meet each other and get to know one another.

On day two of the briefing, some of the students awoke at 5 o’clock in the morning and went for an early

morning stroll around Lake Monger, before returning to the dorms and having some breakfast. After, we

headed out to some of the WWII related sites for the day, like the Leighton Battery where our guide, Barry

Ellis, showed us around and gave a thoroughly educational and enjoyable tour of the guns and tunnels.

After returning to the dorms, we met with members of the War Widows’ Guild, Jan, who is the President of

the WA branch, and Jenny. Meeting them and hearing some of their stories was a highly emotive

experience for myself and many of the other students.

On the final day, we prepared for our personal commemorative ceremony at Kings Park. I was particularly

looking forward to this day as I was the one who was going to be laying a wreath and reciting The Ode at

the memorial. After cleaning up and packing everything up, we set off. At Kings Park we had a look at

some of the sights like the State War Memorial and the Sandakan Memorial. We walked down a path lined

with trees and commemorative plaques and listened to the stories of the men they represented.

The briefing was a fantastic and informal way to get to know the others who I will be going on the tour. It

had a great balance of fun, bonding activities as well as informative and educational experiences.

Day 1

It was a fine 24oC day when our group left Perth at 2:20pm

on Sunday, 16 April. We set sail (or more accurately ‘wing’)

for Singapore, where, much to everyone’s surprise, it was a

humid 28oC when we landed at 7pm.

After a fairly peaceful flight, we landed at Changi Airport. As

we disembarked the plane many of us were so surprised to

see the extreme amount of foliage and plants that the

Singaporeans had fit into the airport. Walls were lined with

plants and water features. In awe, we gawked at the plant

life we were surrounded by just as we met with our tour

guide, Uncle Joe.

As the group were driven through the city, we stared in wonder at the buildings and the many different ways

that the Singaporean Government had incorporated an immense amount of plant diversity into the city-

scape. In amazement, we watched as each building became more entwined with nature than the last.

Even on such a small island, they manage to reserve so much space for greenery. The sheer scale of the

forestry within the city itself was astonishing. Trees pieced the landscape just as much as the buildings did.

As we gathered in the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge foyer, and were given our room keys, we looked out of

the windows at the view that stood before us. We eagerly waited to see the city under the light of day.

Would it be just as wonderful?

26

Day 2

To truly experience a country, one must first

envelop themselves in the culture. This is what the

aim of Day 2 was for me.

The highlight of the day was becoming entranced in

the diversity of cultures and religions that Singapore

had to offer. At first, we travelled to the Sultan's

Mosque where Joe explained the basic premise of

Islam and a bit of the history of the temple and the

misconception regarding the ‘symbol of Islam’.

After walking around Arab Street and admiring the

street art and (for lack of a better word) ‘odd’

signage that stated the house rules of a local bar,

we left.

We then drove through Little India before visiting a Hindu Temple. While in the temple, I gawked at the

ornate paintings and statues that juxtaposed the scenes at the Mosque where (as per Muslim tradition) no

symbols, statues, or paintings appeared on the walls.

At a Buddhist/Taoist temple on the outskirts of the hustle and bustle of the Singaporean CBD, we arrived

and looked around at one of the major sections of the building - the Ancestral Worship room. I was

particularly interested to find out that after a relative passed, those still living would rent a space in the altar

for a plaque to be sat honouring their family member.

In all, the day was quite a unique experience getting to see the foundation of many of the families of

Singapore. Yet, with all of these different types of religions - Abrahamic, poly-theistic, and ancestral- the

people of Singapore do not discriminate as is common in Australia. To see the contrast between the two

countries is phenomenal.

Day 3

A sense of solemnity and respect grew in the room because our groups’ main focus for the day was

Prisoners of War.

To start our day, we took a short drive to Changi Beach where our war tour guide, Chris, explained to us a

few of the major events in the Fall of Singapore. He brought along maps to help not only with the

explanation but also to help put those

explanations into one, coherent perspective.

Emotions grew more as we travelled to the

Changi Museum and Chapel. I became

quite emotional at the sights, photos, and

stories of the experiences of the POWs.

However, I managed to keep control and

persevere through the exhibit. I found it

interesting to learn that the Changi Chapel

was built by the POWs and that many of

them made crucifixes out of artillery

shrapnel calling them a “symbol of hope in

the shadow of death”. Many in our group

were moved by the stories of what the

27

POWs experienced and witnessed, myself included.

A member of the group said that the legacy [that the Anzacs] built during WWI, was tested and

strengthened during WWII. I don’t believe this to be the case because I think that the soldiers at the Fall of

Singapore built a completely new legacy of hope, trust, and brotherhood during this time, even in the face

of death every single day.

Day 4

Napoleon Bonaparte said, “what is history but a fable agreed upon?” I believe that what Napoleon was

trying to convey is that versions of history will never be the same as long as people are told many different

‘truths’. As Vladimir Lenin also said, “a lie told often enough becomes the truth.”

At the Old Ford Factory, the first exhibit showed different perspectives of the Japanese and the Allied

Forces in regards to the Fall of Singapore. However, the most overlooked and vital perspective was that of

those who called Singapore home. As I was looking at many of the exhibits at the Factory, I was

astounded at the extent of propaganda, even in the post-Fall publications. The most noticeable form of

propaganda was how the Western Forces translated the Japanese words spoken by Generals and

politicians. When translating, words were used that attempted to make the Japanese seem as though they

were innately dull when it came to vocalising a speech or even a sentence. This was clearly evident when

both British and Japanese quotes were juxtaposed.

Though much of the media vilified the Japanese for what they did, it is also true that the Japanese did

conduct many heinous and excessive punishments for petty crimes such as a child being stabbed through

the thigh for taking food. However, it was quite heart-warming to read stories of a select minority of

Japanese soldiers who helped the Singaporeans by ‘turning-a-blind-eye’ to minor crimes and warning them

when they should run.

Today was particularly hard as I know people whose families have fled from their home-countries due to

the oppression that their conquerors have imposed during post war regimes.

Day 5

As I walked the cold and desolate corridors of The Battle Box, I

was haunted by the footsteps of the past. The Battle Box was built

as a secret underground base of operations by the British. It is

also the backdrop for the decision that would change the course of

WWII. The Battle Box was the sight of the decision for the Allied

Forces to surrender to General Yamashita. Filled with life-sized

wax figures depicting the scene, my emotions grew as I came to

the realisation that we could not change the critical decision that

was made in that room. The decision caused many men to lose

3½ years of their lives as POWs.

The short films played at The Battle Box were confronting. I found that the hardest to watch was when the

British POWs were in the camps and institutions and yet still acted in a fairly civil manner towards their

Japanese overlords; in particular, I could see that Percival was barely able to maintain a professional

demeanour when he met with General Yamashita during his imprisonment. This genuinely shocked me;

footage of great military generals usually shows them as strong and imposing figures of history. Here was

another side to the story.

Though, even with this confronting imagery, I was able to keep an open-mind and take in as much

personally unbiased information as possible.

28

Day 6

Today was a day of much affable reflection and discussion. Our group was welcomed by the humanities

class at Hwa Chong Institution, a

highly-regarded and famous boys'

school in Singapore.

In the morning we attended the

lower school history classes where

it was quite interesting to see how

the cleverness and humour of some

of the Year 7 boys. The facetious

comments that some of the boys

made were quite intriguing.

The wealth of knowledge that was

exchanged was not only immense

but also meaningful and impacting.

We heard not only about personal

opinions but also of family stories

and the deep scars, both physical

and mental, that WWII left

Singaporeans.

While the students and tour members spoke, barriers were broken down and new relationships formed.

These were relationships of cultural integration and acceptance.

Hopefully, communications and relations with the students of Hwa Chong Institution will continue into the

foreseeable future and this closeness can be reflected in future international affairs. We all look forward to

hearing for our Singaporean neighbours in the coming times.

Day 7

During the amazing adventure that was the

Singapore Zoo, I was uplifted with the

plethora of diverse life of both animals and

plants that was on display. However, I was

also confronted with constant reminders and

pictures of the disturbing industry of much of

Asia - the illegal animal trade.

One of the oddest exhibits was that of the 13

year old polar bear. The reason I found this

strange was because the zoo had taken an

animal that had evolved to survive and thrive

in the frozen tundra of the far north, and had

placed her in a country that was well known

for its intense humidity and rainfall. Seeing

this ill-adapted creature in a completely

abnormal habitat reminded me of the British and Australian Forces in Singapore and the fact that not only

were they ill-equipped for the environment, they were also ill-adapted. The Japanese did not suffer from ill-

adaption as much as the Western Forces. However, though they struggled in the environment, like the

polar bear, Allied service people fought on and persevered.

29

Another interesting aspect of the zoo was the conservation message that appeared on their signs and in

shows throughout the day. The message was made clearly evident that many of the creatures were not

meant to be kept locked away in an enclosure, they should be able to roam free in the wild. The zoo taught

children as young as five the importance of environmental conservation and the changes that can be made

is we reduce, reuse, and recycle.

It was extraordinarily heart-warming to see such young children embrace the vitality of nature and the

animal life that dwells within.

Day 8

One of Singapore’s most illustrious soldiers of WWII was Lieutenant Adnan bin Saidi. While at the Bukit

Chandu Museum, I watched a short film that detailed the events of the Battle of Pasir Panjang. To see,

even a cartoon version, of the battle was extremely emotional. To see a re-enactment of the fervour that

bin Saidi and his men fought was amazing. It was

inspirational to see how when faced with no

ammunition, dwindling men and impossible odds, he

ordered his men to fight on with hand and sword

until that last man fell. They did. The fact that even

in the face of death, these men stood tall and strong,

was truly awe-inspiring.

It was confronting to see the brutality of the

Japanese on film. It is one thing to read about it, it is

another to see it. It was depressing to hear that the

Japanese beat, killed and hung the Malayan

Regiment by their feet from a tree simply because

they refused to strip and die naked. If they were

going to die, they were going to die in their uniforms.

I found it very difficult to put those images behind me

for the rest of the day and I am fully aware that these images will stay with me to the grave. But I don’t

care. They showed the truest of all human nature - we are strong when we are weak.

Day 9

Today, we met with Colonel David Hay from the Australian High Commission. He explained that the reason

that he has such pride when wearing his Australian Army slouch hat was because his previous superior

officer, Sir Peter Cosgrove, found great pride in wearing his. Colonel Hay went on to say that he also

wears it because when in a Yugoslavian village, he was approached by an older woman and thanked

because of the work the Australian soldiers did for her village when she was a young girl. Hearing how the

slouch hat has become an international symbol of Australian kindness makes me proud to say I am

Australian.

After the High Commission meeting, we went to the Singapore Art Science Museum to consider

possibilities of the future prior to the Anzac Ceremony tomorrow morning.

Once we finished our futuristic tour, we left Marina Bay Sands and headed for the Stamford American

International School where, much to my surprise, only about 50% of the student held an American

passport. I had the chance to speak to many of the students there, all of whom originated from a variety of

different backgrounds and cultures. This drew a direct parallel to the country of Singapore itself. While

there were many people in the ‘American’ school, very few were actually American and while there are

many people in Singapore very few of them identify as ethnically ‘Singaporean’ with the majority being

Chinese or Malay.

30

It was also interesting to be able to compare Stamford with

Hwa Chong Institution as I found that the schools are run are

quite differently. Despite both schools following an

International Baccalaureate program, Hwa Chong runs in a

unique fashion. Stamford, on the other hand, runs a more

US based structure with the calendar staggering much like

the US where the students get a two month holiday over

summer.

It was extremely interesting to be able to contrast the three

styles of schooling that I have experienced: Australian,

Singaporean, and American.

Day 10

An ever-changing presence of sadness, respect and solemnity grew at Kranji Memorial as the morning sun

rose to embrace us in its warm rays of hope.

While at the Kranji Memorial Dawn Service, I felt

deeply sorrowful as we honoured the lost servicemen

and women who gave their lives to fight for the

honour of the country they called home. Having a

first generation Scottish migrant ancestor who fought

for the Australian Armed Forces at the outbreak of

WWI, I felt humbled to be able to commemorate

those who lost their lives, like he did, for our country.

Seeing the 4,500 headstones and 24,000 names was

extremely eerie. People hear about the number of

victims in wars but to see just a fraction of them en

masse was most definitely a different story. It was

frightening to see from the graves how many people

had died during such a narrow period of time.

I approached a member of the tour who was weeping at a headstone and when I asked if she mourned a

family member, she replied, “no, there are just so many”. I was comforted to see that I was not the only

one who found the sheer number of graves distressing.

In all, the day was an emotional rollercoaster. However, it was a rewarding rollercoaster. I now feel that

immense connection to our WWII heritage due to my involvement in the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour.

Day 11

“Laughter is not at all a bad beginning to a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one.” Oscar Wilde

Coming on this tour has been such a great opportunity. When I entered this competition, I thought it was

going to be very structured and that none of the students were really going to connect or bond with one

another. This was clearly not the case. On the last day, everyone on the tour was extremely emotional.

By the time it sank in that this would be the last time all 10 of the students and 3 of the teachers were going

to be together, I felt extraordinarily sad. I know that we will keep in contact with each other over the phone

and the internet, but it will not be the same as seeing them all day, every day. I have felt closer with the

students on this tour than I have with people I see every day at school for the past 5 years.

Now that it has sunk in that I may possibly never see some of these people again, I don’t want it to end.

These people are no longer, they have truly become my ‘tour family’. I am not used to becoming so close

31

to people in such a short amount of time, but I’m glad I did. I will never forget what we have gone through

together and the stories we have shared. I will miss everyone; you all have a special place in my heart

forever.

Acknowledgments

From the deepest recesses of my heart I would like to thank: the Premier of Western Australia, Jan and

Jenny who represented the War Widows’ Guild of Australia (WA); the tour organiser and teacher

chaperones - Samantha Boswell, Norman Paini, and Mery Jones; my history teacher, Jacqueline Bolt as

she is the reason I applied for the PAST 2017; the many tour guides who accompanied us on our

adventure of the tour. I deeply appreciate the opportunity, and thank everybody involved with the

continuation of the tour.

32

Caitlyn McKenzie

Year 12

Holy Cross College

33

Sculptures by Bathers, Fremantle

Introduction

The entire week leading up to Friday, 11 November 2016 was full of anticipation and excitement. Every

time I walked past my history teacher we'd signal how many days were left until the results came out for the

Premier's Anzac Student Tour for 2017. Finally, the Friday had come – and it was rather bittersweet. I had

just returned from a touching Remembrance Day ceremony in Ellenbrook when I was summoned to the

front office. After what felt like hours, I was met by the principal and my history teacher who had a

noticeable skip in their steps! I knew it had to be good news, as neither of them would stop smiling.

We entered the conference room then amazing news was shared with me, and I burst into tears of joy. It

was such an incredible moment, knowing that my hard work had paid off and I had such an amazing

opportunity ahead of me. After all the congratulations and photos, I called my mum, and the first thing I said

to her was, “Mum, I'm going to Singapore!” But, of course, she had been constantly refreshing the

Department of Education website and was aware of the news long before I was! Nonetheless, she was just

as excited.

The whole experience leading up to the announcement of the results was so humbling, and it gave me

confidence in myself and my abilities, which is just as valuable as the tour itself. I'm extremely excited for

the tour, and have already begun counting down the days until it commences!

March Briefing

Day 1 - Presentation

Being officially presented with a certificate of recognition was such an extraordinary feeling in itself.

However, what was most memorable about the day was being surrounded by the nine other students who

were feeling similar emotions to me which was comforting. The support from my family and from my

principal, too, was very humbling.

Day 2 - Museums and Historical Tours

The passion and commitment that was demonstrated by our tour guides was so admirable, and it

strengthened my appreciation for the history of our nation. The tour guides were devoted to teaching our

generation about the sacrifices our service personnel made, and shared stories of both heroism and

tragedy that have shaped our country. This was incredibly inspiring, and has encouraged me to form a new

resolution: to continue to educate future generations about the backbone of our world as it is today –

something that the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour will enable me to do.

Day 3 - Memorial Service

My mindset for our walk through the memorial avenue in

Kings Park was one of solemn respect and utmost

appreciation for the sacrifices and unquestionable bravery

of the fallen Western Australian soldiers who lined the

paths we walked. What resounded the most with me was

the concept of ‘reconciliation.’ For our future to be

ensured, it is essential that we do not hold grudges

against those who were against us during the war, but to

forgive and, most importantly, put our effort into ensuring

that such atrocities never occur again.

34

Day One - Departure

Arriving at Perth International Airport was such an elating

feeling. The moment I had been counting down to since

11 November 2016 had finally arrived, and I was beyond

excited. Unsurprisingly, the stylish nature of our tour polo

shirt attracted some attention, and when answering the

questions about what our tour was for, and seeing the

pride on the faces of the inquisitor, it further enforced the

importance of being a youth ambassador.

Undoubtedly, there were a few nerves when it came to

take-off, but the prospects of what lay ahead, as well as

the warm hospitality of the stewards, was incredibly

calming. The highlight of the flight – words I never thought I would hear coming from my own aerophobic

mouth – was flying in over Singapore Port and seeing the vibrant and busy harbour, which alluded to a

country with a blossoming trade industry.

What resonated most with me upon landing in Singapore and journeying through Changi Airport, was the

abundance of greenery that occupied locations both within the Airport and in the streets that we travelled.

I'd heard of the beautiful landscapes and incredible gardens that exist within the country, but seeing it with

my own eyes was breathtaking.

Driving past the high rises and landmarks that characterise how the world sees Singapore, I'm intrigued to

dig deeper and discover more about the historical struggles and triumphs that have shaped the Lion City

into the successful nation is it today.

Day Two - Cultural Appreciation

Waking up to the sounds of a main road, yet birds too, was a very pleasant early morning surprise –

offering just a taste of what Singapore held.

I was particularly excited to visit Marina Bay as my grandparents travelled to

Singapore several years ago and sent me a postcard featuring the Marina Bay

Sands Hotel. Leading up to the tour they were eager for me to see the

magnificent architecture of Moshe Safdie – or maybe they just wanted me to

stand where they stood, admiring the same view. Nevertheless, seeing the

modern and urban Hotel and city landscape, immersed in the luscious foliage of

native trees, was an unforgettable sight. I hope that other countries also adopt

the ‘Green City’ idea, and encapsulate the modernity of our world, while also

glorifying the flora and fauna of their particular country.

Visiting the Sultan Mosque, Arab Street, as well as Hindu and Buddhist temples,

allowed for the opportunity to fully see how rich our world is when it comes to

different cultures and religions. Never before have I been able to travel to four different places of worship

within the timeframe of a few hours. Not only did it put into perspective how abundant culture is within

Singapore, but also how accepting and mutually respectful these religions, and the people of the religions,

are towards others.

What resonated with me most, was a goddess-related symbolism that our tour guide – ‘Uncle Joe’ Nin

explained. One of the three main goddesses of Hinduism (Goddess Lakshmi) is often painted with a lotus

flower. Joe explained that in the Hindu religion, lotus flowers represent new, beautiful things growing from

Embracing Hinduism

35

Changi Beach

adverse origins. This religious motif is exceedingly powerful, as it offers a sense of hope to anyone who has

experienced difficult times, promising a brighter future. Despite the difference in faith, I believe that I will

forever remember such an encouraging symbol, to give me optimism in times of doubt.

Day Three - Events of WWII

Heading into today, it was inevitable that emotions were going to be prevalent.

Changi Museum and Chapel had a very solemn atmosphere – not surprising, yet touching in some

respects. Two main aspects of our visit to the Museum and Chapel stood out to me the most. Firstly, the

resilience of the prisoners that was inspired by and reflected in their commitment to their faith, and finding

refuge in God. What was most astounding was the Changi Cross, made by a prisoner of war from metal of

artillery. Not only does this emphasise how the men clung to their

faith in times of turmoil, but also how resourceful and pragmatic

they were in trying to normalise their horrific experiences. I am

incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to leave a

message of gratitude towards the sacrifices made by the men on

the Chapel wall, and also to pray in front of the Changi Cross, in

the same way that the prisoners of war would have 75 years ago.

Secondly, what provoked a response of sympathy and sorrow,

while also providing a more localised perspective, were the

letters and postcards sent to prisoners by their families. Reading

the words exchanged between the distant relatives reinforces the seemingly overlooked fact that the men

indeed had wives back home missing them, children growing up in their absence, and parents praying for

their safe return. This encourages me to question what our world would be like had those service personnel

and their families not made immense sacrifices in the name of peace and freedom.

In the words of George Yeo, Minister of Trade and Industry (2001), “It is very important that we do not take

peace for granted - that we do not assume that there will always be harmony; that there will be no more

war; that there's no need for us to defend ourselves.”

Day Four - One Place, Many Stories

Today can be summed up by one particular word: juxtaposition.

Our day started in the Old Ford Factory Museum where we walked around the

building where the monumental surrender of Singapore was formally signed

by British General Arthur Percival, under heavy pressure from Japanese

General Tomoyuki Yamashita. This was significant for me, as I had

extensively researched Yamashita for my biographical production for the tour,

so I was stupefied by the opportunity to stand in the same room.

On the theme of juxtaposition, the Old Ford Factory provided an incredible

insight into the many different perspectives that existed surrounding the Fall of

Singapore. Two significant examples of this were the displayed quotes from the Japanese Prime Minister

Hideki Tojo, who stated that “the capture of Singapore signifies the birth of a new Asia, and a turning point

in world history”. This optimistic view of the monumental Allied defeat of Britain's ‘impregnable fortress’ is

profoundly contrasted against British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill's interpretation of the Fall of

Singapore, which was displayed on the opposite wall: “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in history”.

With Gallipoli Bear, Private

Ernest Harvey, at the Old

Ford Factory Museum

36

Arriving at the Labrador Nature Reserve, the concept of juxtaposition still resonated with me. There was an

uncanny rivalry between the rhythmic snapping of the cicadas in the tropical jungle-like greenery of the

Reserve and the lapping waves of the Singapore Strait. Furthermore, the land featured distinguishable

changes from the barren landscapes that existed during WWII, to the built-up, luscious scenery that is

present today. This offers the opportunity to examine the progress that has been made over the past 75

years, and how much effort the country has put in to developing into the modern, urban nation we see it as

today.

Our tour guide, Chris, told us today that there is something truly magical and eye-opening about being in a

certain place, which brings about an awe-inspiring epiphany which will not be forgotten.

Day Five - Strategies and Surrenders

The Fall of Singapore has such an extraordinary history behind it, that it is hard to fully grasp how

monumental this event really was. Visiting the Fort Canning Hill and the Battle Box today provided me with

the opportunity to cement the significance of the defeat of the Allies: “the sun had set on one nation, but

had risen on another”.

There is something truly incredible about being in a location that transports

the mind into a bygone-era. This applies heavily to the Battle Box where we

had the opportunity be in the same room that Arthur Percival and eleven

other high-ranked military officials held the mere fifteen minute meeting

where they formally decided to surrender Singapore to Yamashita and his

troops. Being in the enclosed room, it almost seemed as though the

environment was mimetic of the situation - a closed room signifying a closed

decision.

What shocked me, however, was to learn how Winston Churchill viewed the

possibility of surrender. Churchill announced that the Allies must not

surrender at any cost and must also not consider the civilians of the nation

when making a decision. The heartless and insensitive reaction of the leader of the biggest Empire in the

world is quite confronting, as he seemingly had no regard for the humanity that remained. However, this

was a direct contrast to the twelve Allied officers who made the executive decision to surrender, as they

understood that water supplies were depleted (due to devastating bombings of the water sources and pipes

in the city) and that to continue to defend the island nation would result in unnecessary casualties on the

Allies' behalf.

What was also particularly interesting, despite its obvious importance, were the security measures that the

men in the Battle Box took to ensure that no crucial information was leaked. There were countless

propaganda posters warning about the danger if the enemy managed to access secret military information.

Furthermore, when men from the communications room had to deliver information to another part of the

bunker, they had to travel in pairs to protect the exchange of valuable data.

Day Six - Witnesses of History

I had much anticipation leading up to our visit to Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), and was impressed by the

nature of the school, the students and the education system itself.

What was immediately obvious upon arriving at HCI was the amazing architecture of the school buildings.

The school is nearing its centenary, and the age is evident in colonial-style buildings, high ceilings, white

plaster, archways and waterfalls, which were all common characteristics around the campus. Ponds and

Spice Garden Trail at

Fort Canning Hill

37

water features are intended as stress release - a calming environment for whoever requires an escape from

the demands of school life.

The welcoming nature of the students at Hwa Chong was clear

with an instant connection as we interrogated each other trying to

gain an insight to what life in Singapore is like from a teenage

perspective. We shared different perspectives in regards to the

education system, co-curricular activities and history. For

example, different responses that some of the students'

grandparents had in relation to the Japanese occupation of

Singapore were exposed when one student said his grandmother

who had lived through the Occupation had forgiven the Japanese

for what occurred. At the other end of the spectrum, another boy

said that his grandfather refused to reconcile with the Japanese,

and did not accept their culture – to the extent that he refused to

eat Japanese food. It was intriguing to see how different people,

who had lived through the same time period, reacted very

differently. Singapore seems to thrive on individualism.

To sit in on a year seven history class, and see how at such a young age they're learning about the Lee

Hock Bus Riots, the Examination Boycotts, secular politics and communism was incredibly insightful. It

provided the opportunity to really compare the education systems and see how information was dealt with

in such a direct manner, and how accepting the students were of their young nation’s history.

Day Seven - Environmental Experience

Singapore Zoo is undoubtedly one of the best zoos in the world, both in

regards to the animal species and the conservation efforts that are present

throughout the exhibits.

There is an extensive variety of animals, ranging from orderly mole rats to

majestic Asian elephants in small herds. What I found incredibly interesting

was how the nature of the zoo reflected Singapore itself - the diversity of

animals living in close quarters is eerily similar to the range of cultures living

in the 719 square kilometres that is Singapore. Seeing how these animals

interacted with each other, other species and even their human visitors,

further emphasised how Singapore Zoo is, essentially, a microcosm of the

country itself.

The conservation awareness posters and exhibits that were prominent across the zoo really encapsulated

the goals of the ‘green city.’ The zoo did not shy away from graphic content surrounding environmental

issues like animal cruelty and the illegal animal trade. Perhaps by adopting this confronting approach, the

zoo hopes to target the sympathetic nature of visitors in an attempt to deter humans away from behaviour

that is damaging the beauty of our world. I think Singapore embodies the message that the zoo preaches -

the greenery, the lack of litter and the harmony between man and nature all prove that it is not difficult to be

a sustainable, beautiful metropolis.

I appreciated one quote that was displayed in the zoo – an old Cree Indian saying: “Only after the last tree

has been cut down, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught,

only then will you find that money cannot be eaten”.

At Hwa Chong Institution under the quote “If

I have seen further, it is by standing on the

shoulders of giants”

Sir Issac Newton

Singapore Zoo

38

Day Eight - War and Peace

Sentosa Island is famous as ‘The State of Fun’, however, our visit

today allowed us to discover a deeper, much more somber history

behind the small Singaporean island.

Bukit Chandu features a forest of green, with a horizon of

Singaporean skyscrapers. Despite how the beautiful views of Bukit

Chandu essentially sum up the ‘green city,’ it is important to

remember that 75 years ago, the land was the Pasir Panjang

Battlefield. Visiting the WWII Interpretive Centre at the Bukit Chandu

Museum, another perspective of the Japanese invasion of Singapore was presented to us - that of the

Malayan regiments. The Museum displayed an animated film of the Japanese attack on the Malayan

regiment, and we were able to see both the courageousness of the Malayan troops, but also the brutality of

the Japanese forces. While the video was incredibly confronting, it emphasised the morality of the Malayan

men, as they fought under the Jawi saying Ta'at Setia meaning ‘loyal and true.’ I feel this encapsulates how

gallantly the Malayan regiment fought, even to the extent that they resorted to hand-to-hand combat to halt

the Japanese.

Chris, our war specialist tour guide, has an incredible ability to articulate such sensitive matters in a delicate

manner. I admire how he can deliver intricate information in a way that provokes an emotional response

from his audience, to the point where I was constantly challenged to reflect. One particular thing that Chris

said today was that “when you are exposed to different cultures, your worldview expands significantly.”

This quote epitomises the tour - the changing perspectives, the broader view of the world and the deeper

appreciation for the sacrifices made.

“When we bring up history, it challenges our sensitivities... history makes you appreciate that not everything

is in black and white.”

Day Nine - A Trek Through Time

Visiting the Australian High Commission raised many important points

about Australia's political involvement in Singapore. Colonel David John

Hay shared with us an interesting story about the Australian slouch hat.

He said that when he wore his slouch hat, which was inspired by

Governor General Cosgrove, foreign civilians recognised his nationality

and experienced an emotional connection to him. I think this emphasises

how important the Australian involvement was, as so many people, both

Australians and foreigners, respect the immense sacrifices made

throughout history.

The Art Science Museum was created with the following mindset: “The

digital realm, free from physical constraints, allows for unlimited possibilities of expression and

transformation” (Toshiyuki Inoko, co-founder). The interactive activities throughout the museum emphasise

Singapore's modern and technologically advanced nature. I thoroughly enjoyed the crystal universe and

immersing myself in an LED cosmos.

Later in the day we visited Stamford American International School which was an incredible opportunity to

meet students our own age. One boy in particular, Adam, has a history remarkably similar, yet logistically

different, to my own. Adam was born in Ireland, but moved to Bangkok, Paris, and now lives in Singapore.

While I have lived in three countries in my life (Zimbabwe, New Zealand and Australia) I feel as though

Fort Siloso, Sentosa Island

Australian High Commission with

Colonel David Hay wearing his

slouch hat

39

there are some similarities between those countries, particularly New Zealand and Australia. However, in

Adam's case, the four countries that he had lived in are distinctly different, with significant differences in the

general lifestyle. It was incredibly interesting to see how diverse individuals can be.

Day Ten - Commemorating Anzac Day

The dawn service was the pinnacle of our tour. Arriving at Kranji War Memorial Cemetery was incredible,

but darkness disguised the true essence of the Commonwealth War Cemetery. There is a unique

atmosphere spending Anzac Day in a foreign country, and it was an amazing experience that I will certainly

never forget.

The service was incredibly moving, with emphasis on the

extraordinary sacrifices made by Allied soldiers throughout

history. The reading of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk by His

Excellency Mr Murat Lutem, the Turkish Ambassador, was

particularly powerful. “Those heroes that shed their blood

and lost their lives… they have become our sons as well”. I

feel as though he reinforced that reconciliation between the

former enemies is essential, as he recognised the battles

that played a significant role in shaping both Australia and

Turkey as nations. This modern day unification was further

enhanced by the diverse range of dignitaries who presented

wreaths at the ceremony with representatives from Costa

Rica, Germany, Japan, and Sweden, as well as Australia

and New Zealand.

The service also included a multi denominational reflection which involved the commemoration of the fallen

soldiers by the leaders of the main religions in Singapore: Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. I

enjoyed seeing the unity between the cultures and faiths, a representation of how differences should not be

a basis of conflict – as they are in many wars.

Following the service, a guide from the Battle Box conducted a brief tour of the Kranji War Memorial

Cemetery. Helena explained the meaning behind the architecture of the memorial where the three main

aspects of the military – Army, Air Force, and Navy – are represented in the infrastructure. The vertical

columns holding up the structure symbolise how the army is the basis of the military and plays an important

role in the defence of the land. Similarly, the ‘roof’ of the memorial represents the wings of the Air Force,

who protect the skies. Finally, the post erected in the centre is a symbol of the navy, particularly a

submarine or the sail of a ship.

The Kranji War Cemetery evoked a sincere emotional response, one which was significantly enhanced by

the 4461 graves of men and women who fell during WWII. Reading the inscriptions on the headstones of

the fallen servicemen and women brought me to tears, as did the personal words left by the families. Words

that were never spoken in person, but are instead carved into stone, become symbolic of their everlasting

legacy. Walking around the cemetery was a moving journey, and while it was extremely difficult to

comprehend the fact that boys as young as sixteen were killed in battle, the emotional response induced is

important in maintaining both the legacy, as well as peace.

Day Eleven - Reflections and Memories

The 26 April 2017 was the day I was dreading, as it meant that the PAST 2017 journey was coming to an

end.

Seemingly endless rows of Commonwealth

casualties’ graves at Kranji War Memorial

40

Reflecting on the last ten days in Singapore, I feel very proud of everything that we accomplished as a

group. We have learnt so much about the rich and deep history of Singapore over the course of our tour. I

feel as though we not only travelled physically through Singapore, but we also journeyed mentally from

colonial Singapura to the modern day ‘Lion City.’ Becoming aware of the events that shaped one of the

most urban cities in the world was an incredible opportunity and I am grateful to have been able to

experience this growth. Singapore provided me with many opportunities to gain an understanding of how

events that may seem very minor in the scheme of history actually have had a profound impact.

The tour taught me a lot about myself, too. I have always

been rather introverted and very intent on personal

reflections. However, spending ten days in a foreign country

with people I only briefly met six weeks prior to our departure,

provided an opportunity for me to develop who I am as a

person. I was exposed to many environments throughout the

tour where I had the chance to voice my thoughts and

opinions, a prospect with which I often struggle. Despite this,

the supportive nature of everyone on the tour was comforting,

which enabled me to grow as a person. I feel I have become

more confident in myself and my abilities, as being on the tour

and constantly being recognised for what we achieved was

unbelievably humbling, and helped me to understand the abilities I have as an individual.

The 2017 PAST was a life-changing experience. I will cherish the amazing memories and people I have

met and the history lessons I have learnt. “Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come.

Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can build a bridge to the

future.” – Mattie Stepanek.

Acknowledgements

I'm so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to travel to Singapore with the 2017 Premier's Anzac

Student Tour. The tour is a prestigious experience, and I express my sincerest gratitude towards the

Premier, the Hon Mark McGowan and the Department of Education for providing students with this

opportunity. Being a youth ambassador for Western Australia and commemorate the turning point in the

Pacific War has been an incredibly humbling experience. Knowing that I play an important role in continuing

the legacy of the Anzacs is an amazing opportunity which is very empowering.

Leading up to the tour, my Modern History teacher, Miss Emilie Reynolds, offered constant support and

guidance, and ultimately helped me achieve a place on the tour. I am grateful to all my teachers who

empower young students to achieve such amazing opportunities, like the Premier's Anzac Student Tour.

Samantha Boswell, Mery Jones and Norman Paini (our tour coordinator and teacher supervisors) have all

made the tour feel so comfortable. They have encouraged us to embrace the culture and the history to a

full extent which has been an enormous benefit and I am truly grateful.

Furthermore, our tour guides deserve to be acknowledged for the knowledge, enthusiasm and willingness

to share with us their country, views and perspectives on history. This provided us with a more personal

view, enabling us to gain an insight into how the Singaporean people have grown up leaning about their

history. Our tour guides from Australia who we met during our March Briefing played an important role in

setting the scene for our journey to Singapore and helping us to gain an understanding of the Australian

context behind the Pacific War and the Fall of Singapore.

Arrival at Perth International Airport – the end

of our PAST 2017 journey

41

I would also like to acknowledge Jan McLeod and Jenny Knight from the War Widows' Guild of Australia

(WA) who visited us during the March Briefing. This organisation supports those who lost loved ones as a

result of war. Jan and Jenny are incredibly empowered, and they emphasised that the population of war

widows is depleting which creates a sense of uncertainty surrounding the future existence and legacy of the

Guild. I feel an extreme amount of pride about this organisation, and I hope that more young people

become aware of the sacrifices made, by both men and women, during wars and are able to acknowledge

and continue these legacies.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to participate in the tour, and I will never forget the importance of what I

have learnt.

“What we learn with pleasure we never forget” - Alfred Mercier.

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Coby Menzie

Year 11

Kelmscott Senior High School

43

Introduction – Reflections on my selection and the opportunities that lie ahead

When my Humanities teacher handed me the task outline for the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour back in

September 2016, I could have only imagined making it this far. I was given the arduous duty of entering the

prestigious competition on very short notice. With only one week to write the essay and meet all submission

deadlines for the tour, I was understandably stressed. Looking back on the experience, the late nights and

paperwork were worthwhile.

By the time November rolled around, the final interview stages of the competition were long behind me, and

the anticipation was growing with the countdown to the Remembrance Day announcements. Needless to

say, it was an anxious wait and emotions were high. I was taken by surprise on the Thursday before the

official announcements when I found out that I had made the tour a day earlier than anticipated. The news

was accompanied by feelings of pride, joy and an unexpected shock as I learned that The West Australian

newspaper wanted to interview me! The entire experience was very humbling and something I definitely

won’t forget embarking on the journey ahead of me.

Although not my first overseas trip, the tour will be my first time visiting Singapore. After learning so much

about the experience of POWs in the region, one of the things I am most excited about is visiting historic

sites like the Changi POW Museum and Fort Canning bunker. In honouring the Anzac legacy and the

unbreakable spirit of our soldiers, I think visiting sites like these where so many wartime atrocities took

place will strengthen my appreciation for the sacrifices made by our servicemen. This deeper appreciation

and more candid view on war is something I hope to take away from the tour and something I wish to

impart when I return home in late April.

In addition to the educational purposes of the tour, I am also looking forward to experiencing the cultural

aspect of Singapore. Visiting sites like Singapore Zoo and the Art Science Museum will showcase how this

city has evolved over time - from its humble beginnings as a small fishing village to its present state as a

thriving urban metropolis. On this note, I am also excited to make the most of the opportunity to explore this

country and immerse myself in the Singaporean and Malaysian cultures.

Speaking to the previous tour alumni about their experiences on tour made me realise the challenges that

lie ahead, but I am confident I will be able to overcome any hurdles. From being away from my parents for

a sustained period of time to the commitments I will undertake as an ambassador for WA, this tour will mark

a movement towards greater responsibility and resourcefulness.

Overall, I am honoured to be selected as part of the 2017 Premier’s Anzac Student Tour. I am excited for

the upcoming opportunities to grow, learn and experience different aspects of our world and I can’t wait to

travel to this incredible country.

March Briefing – The anticipation grows

For the ten participants and three teachers of the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour, 2 March marked the

beginning of a new chapter for the group as we prepared for our journey to Singapore. We began in the

heart of Perth city as we assembled together for the first time in the Returned & Services League of

Western Australia (RSLWA) offices to commence the award ceremony for the prestigious tour. We were

soon greeted with a moving speech by then Education minister, Mr Peter Collier MLA, about the

importance of educational tours such as this, their importance to the preservation of our past and in

teaching us to learn from our mistakes so that we may progress forward.

What resounded most with me throughout the ceremony was not the privilege I felt being acknowledged for

making it onto the tour, nor the excitement I felt finally meeting the other finalists, but the powerful message

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of remembrance I found within Mr Collier’s words. A message best summarised by George Santayana's

quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” To me, Mr Collier cemented not

only the significance of the tour but also the importance of the places we would be visiting in the lead up to

and throughout our journey to Singapore, setting the commemorative tone for the days to come.

With this is mind, we set off to begin our historical pilgrimage into Western Australia’s military past. Over

the next three days, we travelled to several historical sites around Perth including the Army Museum, the

lesser-known Leighton Battery site and the King’s Park State War Memorial cenotaph. However, it was the

guided walk through the King’s Park Honours Avenue which had the most profound effect on me.

Referred to as a ‘living memorial,’ the site is distinct from other places of remembrance. As you walk down

the avenue, rows upon rows of bronze crosses commemorating the lives of those gallant men and women

who died fighting overseas can be seen. Each plaque is poignantly placed behind a backdrop of Marri trees

planted in honour of the fallen. As someone with a keen passion for ecological conservation, I found this

idea of honouring the dead with living trees both inspiring and touching, shifting the emphasis away from

death by celebrating the sacrifice our soldiers made with a symbol of life. To me, the trees that lined the

solemn paths of Honour Avenue represented much more than just sacrifice and life, these trees

represented the immense, enduring strength of our Anzac soldiers. Their bodies deeply rooted in the earth

just as the Marri trees are; standing strong today as a reminder of what our brave soldiers fought and died

for and a reminder that the Anzac legacy, just like these trees, lives on.

As the walk came to an end, we gathered around the Sandakan memorial to lay a wreath in recognition of

those who suffered endlessly throughout the wars so that we may lead our fortuitous lifestyles. It was here

at this ceremony, during Brandon's recitation of the “Ode for Remembrance” that the importance of

remembering the past Mr Collier talked so passionately about, became overwhelmingly apparent.

Reflecting on the briefing and the stories of wartime atrocities I had heard, I came to see why remembering

such events was so integral to our progression forward as a society. For if we do not look back into the past

and draw understanding and compassion from our mistakes, we will be condemned to repeat those same

atrocities, again and again, furthering the plight of human suffering.

Going into the March Briefing, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The prospect of sharing the next few days with

a group of strangers made me nervous and I felt apprehensive about how well I was going to bond with the

other students in the short time we had together. However, after I had finally met everyone in person I

found my concerns dissipating, soon realising how like-minded and welcoming the other students were.

Leaving for Singapore, I now have a greater appreciation for the significance of the places I will be visiting

and the importance they hold in both preserving and learning from our past. While many of the parents,

wives, brothers and sisters of our fallen servicemen have passed on, their children, grandchildren, nephews

and nieces still hold dear the memory of these men and the ultimate sacrifice they made under such terrible

circumstances. By giving students the opportunity to embrace historical commemorative tours such as this

one, we are empowering the younger generation to carry on the legacy of our soldiers. I hope to convey the

importance of remembrance to my fellow peers so that they may not forget the past nor the sacrifices made

for them.

Day One: Departure

After months of preparation, tireless nights and back and forth emails, the day finally arrived when we

would embark on our journey to Singapore. As the group rallied together inside Perth International airport,

a growing sense of anticipation and excitement began to swell as the reality dawned on us that we would

soon land on Singaporean shores. There was a strong sense of eagerness for our departure, but the mood

45

was also tinted with a bittersweet tone as we bid our homes farewell for ten days and said our emotional

goodbyes to loved ones.

After our send-off, we soon settled into our flight and after what seemed forever, we finally got our first look

at the Lion City. As we descended over Singapore Bay, I was struck by the immense and intimidating fleet

of ships that lined the harbour, a testament to the city’s affluence and strong global trade networks.

Touching down at Changi Airport was an elating experience and I had a strong feeling of accomplishment

knowing that I had made it to Singapore on this prestigious tour.

Needless to say, anticipation had reached an all-time high and the glimpse of the city skyline from above

only intrigued me more about what lay ahead. As we made our way through customs and out of the airport

gates, one thing that stood out to me was not the enveloping humidity, but rather the rare diversity of

vegetation that paved the city landscape.

As we made our way to the Canning lodge - our home away from home for the next ten days - I was

captivated by the tropical foliage and incredible diversity of life that lined the roads and paths of the 'Garden

City.' The emergent green canopy of the trees seemed to be an even more dominating feature of the

Singaporean panorama than the skyscrapers themselves and I was left with a lasting impression of a green

city.

Our preview of the island nation highlighted many of the city’s most significant qualities, from the

breathtaking greenery to the bustling ports, but still, there is much to see and learn. After experiencing just

a small fraction of what this city has to offer, I am more curious to uncover the city’s cultural roots and rich

historical background that has shaped the identity of Singapore.

Day Two: Cultural Immersion

Today marked the group's first eye-opening introduction into Singapore and offered us a chance to truly

immerse ourselves in the Singaporean culture and history. Described as a city where “east meets west”,

Singapore boasts a highly cultural diverse population and it was interesting to see this illustrated by the

different religions and architectural styles present throughout the city's distinctive ethnic areas.

With cultural links to India, China, Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore is home to many different religious

practices, all on exhibition throughout the city. Over the course of the day, we travelled to some of these

places of worship, including a Mosque, Taoist temple and a Hindu pagoda. Our local tour guide, Uncle Joe,

was keen to share his comprehensive knowledge about the religions associated with each holy place and

the beliefs, values and attitudes held within each religious system. I found it interesting to note how the

predominant religion in each ethnic area influenced the culture around it. For example, in Chinatown where

the monumental Taoist temples rose, the subtle influences of traditional Chinese culture was prevalent with

everything from the store names to the cuisine being shaped by the predominant Chinese religion of the

area.

The diversity and mixture of culture in the global city was also evident through the varied architectural

styles. The influences of Western culture were most prevalent in the CBD where a highly modernised

skyline of steel, glass and multinational corporations dominated the view. As you moved further away from

the city centre, however, the eastern architecture and cultures become more distinguishable where Islamic,

Indian and Southeast Asian influences merge to form a multicultural hub. The way the differing ethnic

zones seem to harmoniously crossover underscores the tolerant nature existing between the different

ethnic and religious groups in Singapore and, for me, it’s this cultural understanding and religious

acceptance that defines Singapore’s identity as a multicultural nation.

We concluded the day’s exploits with a tour of the National Museum of Singapore, drawing insight from the

nation’s history during colonialism, Japanese occupation and its struggle to survive and thrive as an

46

independent nation. What resonated were the intrinsic function gardens and nature now play in

Singaporean culture. From the 1960’s until the 1980’s, Singapore’s landscape transformed beyond

recognition as the urbanised area doubled in size. To mitigate the effects of rapid urbanisation, under the

government of the late Lee Kuan Yew, a conscious effort was made to incorporate green areas into urban

development and to clean up the city's growing pollution epidemic. Now, the city is famously known for its

emphasis on sustainability and clean living with environmental consciousness ingrained into the identity

and culture of Singapore, a defining element of the so-called Garden City.

Day Three: Perspective

Day three was an enlightening, albeit emotional, look into the events surrounding the Fall of Singapore and

subsequent reign of terror by the Japanese. The day’s tour centred around the legacy of the ill-fated,

Changi POW camp. We began our historical expedition on Changi beach where the notorious Sook Ching

massacre of over 50 000 Chinese locals took place nearly 75 years ago. It was here where we revised the

Japanese offensive down the Malay peninsula and into the heart of Singapore, all visualised with an

impressive collection of maps, some dating back 115 years.

During our historical context lesson, interesting points were raised about one pivotal figure in particular - the

General Officer in Command, Sir Arthur Percival. It was Percival who was tasked with defending Singapore

throughout the Asia-Pacific war and it was he who had signed the surrender document to General

Yamashita, marking the fall of the mighty impregnable force to the Japanese. Our guide argued that the

Fall of Singapore was, in large part, the result of the incompetence and poor leadership of Percival. But I

think this perspective of events is rather uncompassionate because I would argue that Percival was used

as a convenient scapegoat by the British Government to hide their own shortcomings. I believe that the

failure of defences in Singapore was largely the culpability of the British war office who ignored Percival’s

pleas for increased ordnance. While no one can definitively say who was accountable, it was interesting to

see and hear different perspectives.

After moving on from the beach, we soon found ourselves at the Changi Museum. The exhibit offered a

unique and first-hand insight into the life of the prisoners interned at Changi Prison. To see in real detail,

the dehumanising conditions and unimaginable hardships endured at Changi was an incredibly poignant

experience. It highlighted the immense power of the human spirit to endure and overcome in the face of

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adversity. I found the pragmatism and ingenuity of the prisoners to be particularly inspiring, with the men

learning to live under such unforgiving conditions and oppression with the limited resources available.

An example of this resourcefulness was illustrated by a brass cross crafted from scrap metal and artillery

shells by the men at Changi. The cross was used in the Changi chapel and soon became a ‘symbol of hope

in the shadow of death’ for the POWs, illuminating the asylum from torment the POWs found in God during

their darkest moments. Faith was of monumental importance to the men and to see the effects religion had

in keeping their spirits alive gave me a new outlook on the power of belief.

As we were leaving the museum, the sky above suddenly seemed to swell with the monotonous gloom of

tombstone-grey clouds. The almost black sky above began to turn violently and soon we found ourselves

caught in the middle of a tropical deluge. As the graphite sky lit up in the chaos of the ensuing lighting

storm I couldn’t help but think of the symbolism - the dark pandemonium above reflecting the solemn and

earnest tones of the day’s events and underscoring the personal agony and hardship endured by all those

75 years ago, under the sinister regime of the Japanese forces.

Day Four: The Legacies of War

The events of today’s historical tour began in the Old Ford Motor Factory museum, the site where British

forces officially signed Singapore over to the Japanese on 15 February 1942. The exhibition recounts the

events and memories surrounding the British surrender and the Japanese occupation of Singapore,

adopting multiple differing perspectives from the period to create and eye-opening and insightful

experience.

The museum incorporated various pieces of archival footage, published material and oral history accounts

into the exhibit to project the diverse array of experiences from this crucial time period. However, it was the

often overlooked civilian perspectives that I found most compelling. In one particularly confronting oral

account, an elderly woman recalled the horrific and utterly unforgivable scenes of brutality she saw during

the Japanese occupation of Singapore. One scene described how a young, defenceless baby was

bayoneted through the torso, still alive, kicking and screaming while the Japanese soldiers watched on and

laughed. Another story depicted how a Sikh man was randomly targeted by the Japanese, “they cut off his

head and I remember seeing his head rolling… his turban uncoiling... and this guy’s body was still walking.”

I found these incredibly graphic and intimate civilian stories of the Japanese cruelty to be both confronting,

and extremely eye-opening. During my research into the Fall of Singapore, I had heard of other atrocities

such as the Sook Ching massacres, but nothing on a personal level comparable to what I experienced at

the Old Ford Motor Factory. Hearing these unimaginable accounts of cruelty inflicted on citizens by the

Japanese, elicited a personal response in me that was indescribable. I had never before heard such horrific

and real stories from the Syonan-to period and the experience made me consider the true extent of the

horrors of war because as I realised, the Japanese brutality was not just limited to POWs. After the moving experience at the Ford Factory museum, we shifted our focus away from the sombre

sentiments and marched over to the serene jungle slopes of the Labrador Nature Reserve. Here, at the

highest peaks of the forested hill, lay the old WWII remnants of the Labrador Battery. The once proud and

fortified fort, now stood as a relic of the site’s long, important history and offered the group a unique

opportunity to walk through time.

It was also an enlightening escapade, giving us the chance to put ourselves in the shoes of those soldiers

who courageously battled similar terrain during the Asia-Pacific conflict. As we trekked through the steamy

jungle trails, there was a deafening roar of cicadas, accompanied by the howl of forest animals in the

distance filling the air with both wonder and unease. As we trudged deeper into the dense green

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undergrowth, this discomfort swelled and the jungle began to take on a claustrophobic quality, flanking us

from every direction and slowly consuming us in vaults of leaf and limb. This angst was only exaggerated

by the thick jungle canopy above which cast dancing shadows onto the groves below, creating an

overwhelming feeling of paranoia. To think that our men lived in these conditions, combating rain, mud and

disease for weeks on end, made me consider and appreciate the unforgiving environment that our soldiers

endured. Realising that, while tranquil, the jungle could be a very scary place, especially for our service

people considering they also lived in fear of an unseen, brutal enemy.

Day Five: Strategy and Surrender

Contrary to popular belief, Singapore’s history did not begin 50 years ago and as we would soon discover,

the city has been shaped by a long and prolific past dating back more than 700 years.

After a later than usual start, the group made its way across the street to the Fort Canning park, an iconic

hilltop landmark of the Singaporean landscape. The park has been witness to many of Singapore’s greatest

historic milestones and as we would learn today, has been the site of much ambition, humiliation and

tragedy. Of particular focus for the group was the Fort Canning hill itself, a place where Malayan royalty

once ruled and where the decision was made by the British chain of command to surrender Singapore to

the Japanese forces.

Our historical expedition through time began with the

story of the ancient Kingdom of Singapura. As the

tale goes, a Malayan prince known as Sang Nila

Utama landed on the shores of Temasek (nowadays

Singapore). In his historical annals, the prince

recounts how upon landing ashore he spotted a

strong and powerful creature moving at speed into

the forest. Likening the animal to a lion, the prince

took the sighting as an auspicious omen and

founded the settlement of Singapura, or “Lion City”,

where he erected a citadel on top of Bukit Larangan

(Fort Canning hill).

Many years later, the same hill was used by the

British as a strategic location to establish their headquarters of the Far East Command Centre and British

Army Barracks. However, hidden beneath the dense undergrowth that now envelops the hill in a cascade of

dark green verdure, there exists a secret underground military bunker, known today as the Battle Box. The

bunker was completed in 1938 to serve as the nerve-centre for British military operations during WWII. It

was here, in this nine metre deep labyrinth where commanding officer, Sir Arthur Percival, and his senior

officers made the fateful decision to surrender Singapore to Yamashita and his troops.

Winston Churchill had requested an unconditional fight to the death, noting how a surrender of this scale

would dishonour the empire and damage its reputation irreparably. But with a dwindling water supply, little

ammunition or petrol, and no way of implementing a counter attack, Singapore’s command had no choice

but to surrender the stronghold. The tour of the Battle Box painfully illustrated the humiliation of the Allied

defeat and reflected the desperation and hopelessness of the high command during those final moments.

To see the recreation of the final conference and the dejection of their demeanour as they realised

surrender was the only option, clearly put into perspective the personal agony and shame they must have

felt.

Throughout our tour, it was also interesting to note how, despite history dismissing the Japanese as

arrogant, our inquiry showed they were actually masterful tacticians with a strong command of the

49

battlefield. In one especially compelling archive clip, General Yamashita could be seen driving down a

street lined with the defeated allied soldiers, the men stripped of their dignity, hanging their heads in

shame. This theatrical display of power was no doubt intended as propaganda for a larger audience, but

what I noticed was how it insulted the men of the Allied Forces. To see the tens of thousands of soldiers

lining the streets, knowing that over 120 000 of them became POWs, imbued the video with an

overwhelmingly disturbing and sombre sentiment. Not only were they humiliated by an enemy they believed

to be inferior, but now they faced a fate even worse than dishonour - one condemned to ignominy.

Day Six: Witnesses of History

There was much anticipation leading into the events of today at the Hwa Chong Institution (HCI). Having

previously exchanged ideas and sentiments with the students of the prestigious academy, I was eager to

meet them and see what prospects their school held. Arriving on the 72-acre campus, I was immediately

taken by the scale of the landscape and by the mixture of colonial and contemporary architecture that

seemed to fluidly merge together, forming HCI’s identity. This identity values the possibilities and

opportunities of the future while still celebrating its rich history and distinguished heritage.

One of the most thought-provoking parts of today was the discussion with the Hwa Chong students about

war from a Singaporean context. As part of gaining cultural insight and expanding our historical

understanding, we were split into two groups and encouraged to discuss what we knew about the Fall of

Singapore and share our personal voice on the matter. The discussion was a great opportunity to see the

perspective of the Japanese occupation from the viewpoint of the younger generation of Singaporeans and

allowed many interesting stories and perspectives to flourish.

One particularly compelling story was told by one of the students whose grandmother lived during the

Japanese occupation of the Lion City. As he opened up about the personal effects the war had on his

family, he recounted how when his grandmother was a child (only three or four years old at the time) she

was dressed to look like a boy. The reason? Because her mother feared that she would be targeted and

raped by the Japanese soldiers. This story opened my eyes to the civilian perspective of the Japanese

occupation and revealed another layer of the callousness, fear and oppression imposed on civilians by the

Japanese. While incredibly shocking and horrific to imagine a situation where this could happen, the pupil

went on to explain how, much of his family had now reconciled with the horrors of the past and no longer

held resentment or anger toward the Japanese people. Although this compassionate mindset was not held

by all the grandparents of the HCI students, I found it comforting to think that even after the atrocities

endured throughout WWII, the people of Singapore were able to forgive and move on.

Day Seven: Environmental Experience

Today we shifted our focus away from the earnest tones of war and bloodshed to visit one of Singapore’s

most famed attractions, Singapore Zoo. The zoo is home to over 300 species which culminate to form the

over 2,800 mammals, birds, reptiles and insects which call this rainforest menagerie home. Within the

confines of the park, there are creatures that roam from every corner of the globe, animals from as far north

as the icy tundra of the Arctic Circle to those that inhabit the wide open grassy plains of the African

savannah. The zoo even hosts some prehistoric fauna, allowing park guests to traverse through time with

their Jurassic themed dinosaur attraction.

As we skipped between the various animal enclosures and watched in awe as exhilarating live animal

shows unfolded in front of our eyes, I began to notice a common theme that beset the otherwise serene

appearance of the zoo. As we walked through the green paths connecting the zoo, banners and posters all

condemning the illegal pet trade (prevalent throughout and Southeast Asia) could be seen. Each presenting

passers-by with confronting images of the cruelty endured by animals subjected to this callous trade. At the

end of each live show, zoo staff made it a priority to draw viewer attention to ecological issues currently

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facing humanity, driving home powerful messages about animal conservation and the need to protect all life

on earth. Be it the mighty elephant, the gentle orangutan or the majestic Phengaris butterfly.

This emphasis on promoting environmental conservation was admirable and the zoo’s sincere value for the

environment and the creatures of this earth

was heart-warming. What soon became

evident was that the zoo itself paralleled

many aspects of the city it was sheltered by -

a dynamic microcosm encapsulating the

characteristics of the famous Lion City. The

dazzling diversity seen flourishing in the park

confines seemed to reflect the cultural and

ethnic diversity that prospered within

Singapore itself. The harmony between man

and nature witnessed at the zoo, mirrors the harmony between the man-made, concrete structures and

natural green verdure that envelopes the Singaporean cityscape. Leaving the zoo, I was reminded of a particularly powerful quote which underscored the themes of the day.

This quote from Chief Seattle illuminates our need to better appreciate the environment, and to protect and

conserve our blue marble planet, the only home we’ve ever known.

Day Eight: War and Peace

Today saw us travel to several historic sites across Singapore’s south-west, unraveling more of

Singapore’s wartime stories. We travelled to Sentosa Island, known as a place of fun where you can find

the famed Universal Studios and enjoy the pristine white sandy beaches that line Sentosa’s shores. Yet

hidden beneath the paradise that is this small island weekend getaway, there lies a dark past scarred by

the horrors of war. Here we visited Fort Siloso, an artillery battery used by the British during 1942 and then

as a POW camp by the Japanese after the fateful Fall of Singapore. While on Sentosa we also visited

Madam Tussauds and the Images of Singapore exhibit, an immersive experience which highlighted the

history of Singapore’s post-colonialism period. However, it was our morning visit to the Bukit Chandu

Museum that moved me the most.

It was here where I learned of the Royal Malay Division and their heroism and courage during the Battle

of Pasir Panjang. During the final moments of this battle, the Japanese launched an all-out banzai charge

in great numbers against the Malay regiment. Overwhelmed by the size of the Japanese forces and by the

ferocity and immediacy of their advance, the Malayan defence line was shattered. Greatly outnumbered

and short on ammunition and medical supplies, the Malay Regiment faced an unquestionable defeat. But

rather than run or surrender, the Malays rallied together in a common cause of camaraderie and patriotism

to make one last heroic stand against the Japanese. They chose against overwhelming odds, in the face of

a relentless enemy, to continue fighting. Claiming both their honour and loyalty to the Malayan homeland,

the regiment resorted to using bare hands to fend off the Japanese, engaging in a fierce and bloody assault

which ended with the slaughter of the entire Malay regiment.

Although tragic, the story of the Battle of Pasir Panjang illustrates the immense courage and bravery of

those valiant soldiers and underscores the undying passion and power of the human spirit to endure in the

face of overwhelming adversity. This trait characterised much of WWII and is one that inspires and

motivates me to endure and persist, no matter how hard the situation at hand may seem. While at Bukit Chandu, our amazing tour guide, Chris, made an interesting point about the Anzac legacy in

the modern day context, one which resonated deeply with me. He read aloud an article published in The

New Daily about the Anzac Day football games in Australia. In it, a reporter asks Richmond player, Jack

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Riewoldt to unpack the parallels between the record of the Anzacs and the games that they commemorate.

In response, Riewoldt expresses his discontent in drawing parallels between “running around a footy field

against running into enemy fire,” with the article going on to raise questions about whether or not the Anzac

games are exercised with the purest of intentions. Saying how it’s, “a bit of a liberty, and nudging right up to

egregious disrespect of what they endured and what they achieved, to invoke the Anzac legend every time

you want to boost your ratings or sell some tickets.”

This article evoked serious questions about my fellow Australians' understanding of the Anzac legacy. In a

world where so many of our returning veterans are plagued with insidious illness and mental afflictions,

causing them to take their own lives in light of the horrors of warfare, it seems rather inappropriate and

disrespectful to make comparisons between war and football. While the games do bring to light the

sacrifices made for us, I don’t think many Australians fully understand why it is that they bow their heads in

one minute's silence. In saying that, I think that commemorative tours such as this one equip the younger

generation of Australians with the knowledge and understanding to appreciate the Anzac legacy and the

unimaginable sacrifices made for their freedom.

Day Nine: A Trek Through Time

We began today with a visit to the Australian High Commission where we learnt about the importance of

Australia’s strong influence in Singapore. While there, we met with Colonel David Hay of the Australian

Defence Force (ADF) who talked about his role as the Australian Defence Adviser in Singapore and walked

us through his day-to-day duties. Dressed from head to toe in his formal military attire, Colonel Hay was

easily recognisable as a member of ADF and when asked why he wore his hat indoors his response

seemed to evoke a sense of pride in one’s nation that characterised the spirit of those first Anzacs. He

mentioned the iconic style of the Australian slouch hat, sloping khaki brim, emphasising its significance as a

symbol of Australian identity which makes him, and his nationality, easily recognisable to all those around

him.

Colonel Hay went on to illustrate the significance of wearing the hat with pride when he recounted stories

where foreigners had come up and personally thanked him and the ADF for their service in conflict and

peace keeping operations across the globe, both past and present. His words reinforced the idea that the

hat is truly an iconic symbol of the Australian identity and of the noble Anzac spirit. Colonel Hay’s words

resonated strongly with the ideals of the Anzac spirit especially in being proud of one’s origins and in being

proud to serve your nation for the greater good of your fellow countrymen. Before leaving, he expressed the

opportunities available for determined young individuals such as ourselves in the ADF, and left me

pondering the prospect of pursuing a career in the Royal Australian Defence Force, a profession I feel

would both challenge and reward me.

Following our visit to the High Commission, we toured one of Singapore’s modern architecture marvels, the

Art Science Museum. The museum showcases a wide variety of artistic content integrated with elements of

science, design, media and technology that launches visitors into an immersive world of dancing light

shows, 3D projected images and impressive visual displays. While a fun experience, the museum

represented Singapore’s transformation from a developing nation to its current modernised and

technologically affluent metropolis. Thus, showcasing the spectacle and ingenuity that a balanced mixture

of science and art can generate.

As we left the exhibit and walked back to the museum foyer, my eye was caught by a quote on the wall

which encapsulated the experience and the purpose behind it, paralleling a message I think can be related

back to the theme of war. The quote read, “Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your

senses – especially learn how to see. Realise that everything connects to everything else.” After seeing the

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brutality imposed on human life by both sides of the war, I think this ideal of everything connecting to

everything else, embodies the idea that all human life is connected.

At the end of the day, when the fallen servicemen on each side of the conflict are laid to rest in foreign soil

and their bodies wither away, then we realise that we’re not so different after all. Underneath the skin that

shelters us, we are all the same and no matter how different we may appear on the outside, we share a

common ancestry and connection to the earth which unites us to one another. If we can look past each

other’s differences, be it physical or ideological, and if we can accept one another and draw understanding

from those differences, then maybe we can end the plight of human suffering and cease our fervent hatreds

toward each other. If we took guidance from this quote and learn to recognise our interconnectedness to

the world around us, then maybe we will deal more kindly with our earth and with one another in the hope

of a better tomorrow.

Day Ten: Anzac Day

After walking the trials of time for the last ten days, the climax of our commemorative journey was finally

coming to an end with the Anzac Day dawn service steadily approaching. We awoke early at 4:30am to a

dark sky, our eyes stale and tired and our bodies still hugging the warmth of our beds. Despite our

discontent about abandoning cosy sheets, there was a growing sense of eagerness for the day’s events,

filling the rooms with an energy that motioned us to ready ourselves for the dawn service. Dragging

ourselves downstairs from the hotel, we made our way to Singapore’s north where we arrived outside the

Kranji War Cemetery.

To reach our final destination would involve a long and silent walk down the cemetery road, a walk that set

the tone for the events that would proceed. Making our way past the dark walls of vegetation that lined our

path to the right, the soft murmur of sleeping forest animals could be heard. No deafening roar of cicadas

nor drowning cries of the forest birds, just the tranquil purr of the jungle and the steady march of tired feet.

As I began to notice this so too did I notice the staleness of the air, thick with humidity and entirely

motionless, not even a gentle breeze dared to rattle the forest canopy. The silent stillness of the Singapore

dawn mirrored the minute of silence held during the “Last Post” and established the respectful, yet earnest

tenor of our setting, and of the service that was soon to commence.

Not long after we had found our seats, the ceremony began. We were welcomed by a New Zealand Air

Force Officer and the typical proceedings of a dawn service followed. However, a strong theme present

during the ceremony was that of reconciliation, evident during a reading of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s

Gallipoli speech by the Turkish Ambassador to Singapore. What particularly struck me were the words,

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives. You are now lying in the soil of a friendly

country…after having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well”. These words not only

remain true for the Australian, British and New Zealand servicemen that lie buried beneath the Dardanelle

earth but true for all those soldiers that lie unknown throughout the Asian landscape. The Japanese bones

which nourish this region of the world, are now friends to the Malayan people, just as the Australian bones

lying next to the skulls of Turkish men are sons of the same land, with hearts at peace under the same

heaven.

Shortly after the service, once the masses of people had moved on, we were free to walk the Kranji hill.

Poignantly lined with rows upon rows of stone crosses, the opportunity gave us time to further reflect and

pay our respects to all those who gallantly gave their lives during WWII. Between observing the names and

dates etched in permanence onto those headstones, I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of

sacrifice that characterised the white stone hill. In the darkness of our predawn assembly and between the

crowds of people, I had hardly noticed all the graves that covered the cemetery grounds. With some 4,470

headstones located at Kranji War Cemetery, I was only now comprehending the endless amount of death

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and bloodshed that characterised war, now realised in surreal detail by the seemingly endless number of

crosses. Each headstone symbolised a son, brother or husband lost in the fight for freedom.

While incredibly moving and oddly beautiful, the service provoked in me a sense of pride. A sense of pride

similar to the pride Colonel Hay felt wearing the iconic slouch hat. Pride not only in my nation but in the

Australian men and women who came before me, answering their call to duty in the hopes of safeguarding

our great nation from all those who would see it collapse.

After seeing and hearing the stories of the hardship and suffering endured by Australian soldiers during

these last ten days, I entered this dawn service with a more candid and sincere appreciation for the

sacrifices made. This year, I forged an understanding of the true meaning of the Anzac legacy and the

importance of remembering and reflecting on the past so that we may learn from it.

Day Eleven: Returning Home and Reflections

Stepping off the Singapore Airlines plane and walking through Perth International Airport after our five-hour

flight was a bittersweet sensation. I was glad to be back on recognisable soil, realising that I would soon be

in the arms of loved ones, serenaded with kisses from my pooch. As well, I was eager to share my

experience with friends, family and teachers and the prospect of sleeping in a familiar bed again filled me

with relief and drowsy excitement. Yet as I continued to walk further and further away from that Singapore

Airline plane, I began to sense the bitter farewell that was upon the group.

Sitting now at my desk, a week on from that final day together as the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour group,

I am filled with the purest feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment I have known. My certificate of

acknowledgement still proudly hangs over my desk. While I am saddened to be away from the friends I

made during those ten days in Singapore, I stay hopeful believing that we will remain friends, content

knowing that from our sad departure great things came about. One of which is my deeper appreciation for

the Anzac legacy and for the ultimate sacrifice made by so many under such terrible circumstances all

those years ago. An appreciation fostered by the experience of the tour and nurtured by the passion of our

tour guides and all those involved with making this incredible experience possible.

I believe I left Singapore a more mature and understanding person than when I first arrived. Bringing back

with me a unique and more compassionate perspective on the events of WWII, and with an understanding

of the terrible consequences and hardships endured on all fronts of the Asia-Pacific conflict. Be it Allied,

Japanese or civilian, they all suffered immensely during the bloodshed and carnage that characterised the

war, and after my experience in Singapore I strongly believe that when we look back on history we should

be mindful of our harsh criticisms, knowing that those brave men and women who fought, regardless of

their alliance, were only human after all.

Conclusion and Acknowledgements

The Premier’s Anzac Student Tour 2017 has been the most eye-opening and constructive experience I

have had the great privilege of being part of. Not only have I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the

Singaporean culture and history, but I have been fortunate enough to gain a unique insight only a few

Australians will ever have the chance to experience. In doing so, I have fostered a deep passion for our

collective past allowing me to unravel the events WWII. I have learnt how these events shaped the

Singaporean landscape and how they ultimately changed our world forever. The experience was also an

invaluable character-building tool, encouraging me to believe in myself more and to have confidence in my

abilities. Further developing my interpersonal skills and teaching me to draw understanding and

compassion from not only history itself but from each other and our differences.

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In reflection of the extraordinary opportunity I was honoured with undertaking this year as an ambassador

for Western Australia, I thank all those who contributed to my journey and to this tour. First and foremost, I

would like to acknowledge the State Government for delivering this initiative. In saying that, I would also like

to express my gratitude for the premier for WA, the Hon Mark McGowan and to the Education Minister, Ms

Suzanne Ellery for your continued support of historical commemorative student tours. Special thanks are

owed to the tour staff, Samantha Boswell, Mery Jones and Norman Paini for their tremendous effort and

commitment to this tour and its participants. If not for your hard work and dedication, this tour wouldn’t have

met the high standard it did.

Thanks are due to the various organisations that we encountered in Singapore, including the students and

staff of Hwa Chong Institution and Stanford American International School, and also to the numerous

museum exhibition staff, tour guides and chaperones, Chris, Joe and Ni, who made my experience

unforgettable. I would also like to recognise and extend my thanks to the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion for

graciously accepting me into their community and to the Returned & Service League of Western Australia,

the Department of Veterans Affairs, members of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia (WA) and Honours

Avenue Group who devoted time, resources and effort to make this tour as immersive and insightful as

possible.

I would also like to acknowledge my Year 10 Humanities teacher, Ms Crystal Wieringa and the work of Ms

Susan Thomson, and to my family and friends who encouraged me to set my aspirations high and to

pursue this prestigious position. Without your persistence and undying belief in me and my abilities I would

not be where I am today, and for that, I am truly thankful. On a final note, I need to express my sincere

gratitude to the student participants who accompanied me on this tour. Never have I met a more

determined, diligent and welcoming group of kids and I am confident that your high calibre of character will

lead every one of you to pursue great things.

Thank you all for making this incredible experience possible. After all, it’s not the places you go, it’s the

people you meet along the way which makes the experience so special.

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Mya Kordic

Year 10

Manjimup Senior High School

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Introduction

I first discovered I had been selected as a student ambassador for the 2017 Premier’s Anzac Student Tour

on Remembrance Day at school. Months of hard work and anticipation led to this morning where my nerves

could barely be contained.

Completing the essay and interview process was a valuable learning experience, and the thought of being

chosen to represent my school, community and state while honouring the Anzacs overseas, was a privilege

I would be proud to undertake. I was sitting in my HASS class in the library learning about the history of

Remembrance Day, when the Head of the HASS Department for my school, Ms Birmingham, entered the

room. Ms Birmingham had given me amazing guidance along the journey, so when she silenced our class

to announce the news, the butterflies I felt were taking off.

As my class congratulated me, a million thoughts ran through my head. I had been selected! I felt very

honoured and excited for the upcoming adventure. The representation of my school and community was

really put into perspective that day when I received congratulations from my peers, friends, teachers and in

the weeks following I also received letters from politicians around the State. As soon as I returned home

from an eventful day at school, I shared the news with my parents and siblings who had been notified

earlier in the day. With joy and pride, my family talked excitedly about the months ahead. It is the start of a

journey I will never forget.

Before embarking on the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour, I look forward to enhancing my knowledge of

Australia’s involvement with Singapore during WWII. Writing my application essay was just the beginning.

As part of the tour, I have been researching historical figures, and preparing a tutorial about an aspect of

Singapore as a nation. I am looking forward to meeting everyone at the March Briefing - yet another

opportunity to learn by visiting sites around Perth to help us with our journey.

I am excited to embark on the tour into a new, vibrant culture, with a rich history - I have so much to

discover while visiting. Honouring the Anzacs overseas as a youth ambassador for Western Australia is an

extremely exciting privilege, and I hope to share the importance of the Anzac legacy upon my return. This

prestigious educational opportunity will be fulfilled with pride and honour; not only do I represent my school

and community, but the wonderful state of Western Australia. I am so grateful for what is to come,

overseas, on the trip of a lifetime.

March Briefing

Over the three days between 2-4 March, I was privileged to attend the 2017 Premier’s Anzac Student Tour

March Briefing. I was accompanied by my fellow tour participants, teachers and coordinator. The briefing

included prestigious events such as our presentation ceremony and a private service at Kings Park. It gave

me a chance to get to know each other and prepare for our fast-approaching tour.

The highlight of the briefing would be the knowledge of history, and people’s experiences of the Fall of

Singapore and WWII. I gained a great deal from listening to different individuals over the three days which

expanded my own knowledge and helped prepare me for the tour.

At the Presentation Ceremony on Thursday the 2nd, we were very privileged to be in the presence of 2/4th

Machine Gun Battalion veterans Mr John Gilmour, Mr Dick Ridgewell and his son Jim, where Jim spoke on

his father’s behalf. We were very lucky to hear of Dick’s experiences during the war and how he has

achieved longevity at the impressive age of ninety nine.

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On Friday 3 March, we visited the Army Museum of Western Australia in Fremantle to attend a tour of the

museum following the history of the Fall of Singapore and Prisoners of War with our guide Brian King.

Brian’s expansive amount of knowledge was incredibly helpful as we walked through the insightful exhibits.

Our last stop in Fremantle of that day was at the WWII Tunnels with a tour led by the impressively

knowledgeable Barry Ellis, a former member of the military himself. I was amazed by everything he knew

about Perth during WWII and the city of Singapore; we couldn’t have had a better person to lead us through

the twisting tunnels underneath Leighton Battery.

Later in the afternoon, we were delighted to be acquainted with Jenny Knight and Jan McLeod from the

War Widows’ Guild of Australia (WA). We learnt of their roles in the association and the importance of

acknowledging the lives of widows as they continue to lead through hardships and heartbreak. Both guests

offered another incredibly emotional perspective into WWII, and likely changes to their organisation in the

future.

On Saturday morning we were excited to learn communication skills with some fun exercises we practiced

as a group, and valuable information on public speaking and speaking to the media. Later on, we travelled

to Kings Park and received a tour of some of the memorials for Australian soldiers, and then a walking tour

along plaques beneath their own trees. This walking tour was followed by a solemn wreath laying ceremony

at the Sandakan Memorial, with moving words from our guides asking us to remember the importance of

reconciliation after the events that have occurred during war.

The March Briefing has helped me realise more clearly the role I am undertaking, and the historical,

commemorative privilege I feel so honoured to have been given. I am very grateful to the amazing

presenters during the briefing who gave their own time to share information with us so passionately. They

were exceptionally helpful in preparing us for our own upcoming journey.

These few days, although short, have allowed me to broaden my knowledge extensively, and meet my

remarkable peers who I am so lucky to travel with from April 16.

Day 1: 16 April 2017

Nerves, anticipation and excitement. Three emotions bubbled up inside me as I entered Perth International

Airport with my family on Sunday, 16 April. As the clock ticked past 11:30am, everyone joined together in

one large huddle. I checked off everything I was supposed to have packed, as I waited to check in my

luggage. Once we filled out an international travel form, it was time to say goodbye to our families. As we

bid our farewells, I was sad to say goodbye, but excited for the trip ahead knowing their support and pride

in me as I headed for departures.

My first time exiting the country led to the first experience of international security checks. Before long, my

fellow participants and I were relaxing in the boarding area, our Singapore Airlines plane in all of its

magnificence outside the glass separating the bustling airport from the tarmac that lay below. After one of

the quickest games of Go Fish I had ever played, and a photo with the crew of flight SQ226, we were

boarding to travel from Perth to Singapore.

While flying over the Indian Ocean, I began to realise what all of these months of preparation and hard

work had been leading up to. It is a privilege to represent our state of Western Australia, my community and

school overseas in Singapore. I excitedly counted down the hours and eventually the minutes until we

landed on foreign soil. I pictured a vibrant, urban jungle as we slowly descended to the ground, and the

twinkling lights of the city already glowed around the aircraft.

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After a wonderful flight with Singapore Airlines, we made our way through the enormous building that is

Changi International Airport. Super speed was gifted to us as we travelled along a human-sized conveyor

belt that led the way to a Singaporean security check point. With our fingerprints checked and passports

stamped, we made our way to collect our suitcases that made their own journey under the plane. “The

Garden City” as Singapore is well known, even written on their bank notes, was already becoming very

obvious as we made our way to the exit. Vegetation was displayed everywhere possible, including

alongside fountains where white orchids bloomed.

We were given a sneak preview of the city we are visiting in all of its glowing glory, as we rode our bus with

tour guide Joe towards our accommodation. Now writing this from Fort Canning, I cannot wait to experience

what this historically fascinating, constantly evolving island city has to offer.

Day 2: 17 April 2017

When I awoke in the city of Singapore this morning, I could hardly believe we would finally get to explore

“The Garden City” in the sunshine. “Garden City” it truly was. As we walked to our first daytime bus trip,

different shades of green foliage hung over the busy motorways, leaves dripping with moisture from the

humidity as if we were in the middle of a jungle. One of the most fascinating things about the environment

in the city is how they work together so harmoniously. The gardens are kept extremely neat and are

landscaped in such a way that they blend into their urban environment as well as standing out as a feature,

like the towers crowding over them. Tree roots migrated across walkways, while greenery crept up

skyscrapers; it is a sight that is simply spectacular.

Subsequent to passing through parks and underpasses, we found our way to a pedestrian bridge that

crossed a waterway - the Marina Bay Sands and Singapore Flyer together made up the magnificent view

ahead of us. Fog magically clouded among the height of the most expensive structure built in Singapore;

the hotel’s boat shaped rooftop was a sight in itself. There were many tourists crowding along the bridge

taking photographs of the views and of each other, even

including selfie-stick photos with some of us! As we

made our way further along the walkway, the Merlion -

symbolic of Singapore’s “Lion City” - loomed over

tourists, ourselves included. It was placed proudly on its

pedestal spurting a stream of fast running water from an

open mouth. I could see the whole city represented

through architecture viewed from that walkway - a

recent billion dollar project, countless glass panels

gleaming in the sun, and a symbol of Singapore that

dates back to its foundation. This small section of the

city’s architecture represented Singapore’s unique

contrast between the old and the new.

After witnessing such an enchanting view, our tour guide, Joe, led us to Arab Street, Little India and China

Town. Much like Australia, Singapore is a multicultural-nation. I discovered that all of these religions have a

tolerance of each other, meaning no conflict and respect between them. The Islamic mosque had an

interior design based on its respective culture, beliefs and traditions. We removed our shoes before

entering the building, and females covered their legs in long gowns, while the males had a floor length wrap

around their waists. For some of the other religious buildings we visited, we dressed in similar clothing

according to the sacred beliefs of the religion visited. The Hindi and Chinese temples were also very

compelling religions to learn about and it was an insightful experience to visit their sacred, heritage sites.

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Following a mouth-watering assorted lunch, we were ready to tour the National Museum of Singapore. As

we walked through the interactive, visually entrancing exhibits,

information about the formation of Singapore was presented to me

in a way that pulled me into a tour through the museum of history

dating back hundreds of years ago to present day.

Contemplating today’s events, the theme of Day 2 on the Premier’s

Anzac Student Tour really resonates with the things we

experienced as a group on a cultural tour of the magnificent

Singapore. I look forward to the upcoming days where we will be

able to dig further beneath the present surface into an eventful

history. Starting tomorrow we will be studying events that occurred

in Singapore during WWII becoming witnesses of history where the

events occurred, many years ago.

Day 3: 18 April 2017

Events of WWII have had a profound impact on the island city of Singapore, as we discovered on Day 3 of

the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour. This theme of events that occurred during WWII carried out through the

day at each stop; a theme that worked alongside another - perspective. Perspective in this case during

times of war and how we view these events now, is part of “moving forward by looking back”. This quote is

taken from the knowledgeable Chris, our tour guide today. He claimed this is the reason why he finds

military history so interesting - it can be perceived in so many different ways. This thought resonated with

me throughout the day, and allowed me to look at things from a different angle.

The first activity listed on our itinerary was to travel to the area of Changi on the east of the island. As we

made our way along the foliage-lined, pristine motorways, Chris told us about the shortness of the distance

we were travelling, and how that has become a problem for the city in terms of a fight for space. This

leaves the government with the option to decide whether a building is a heritage site and needs to be kept,

or removed to make way for future development. When we arrived at Changi Beach, Chris showed us an

old map dating back over 50 years ago depicting the island of Singapore during that time. It was intriguing

to see a side-by-side comparison of the old map with one from recent years that showed how much has

changed since events of WWII and the impact it has had on the nation’s islands. Changi Beach was the

place where Chinese people were horrifically murdered by Japanese soldiers, otherwise known as the

Sook Ching massacre. Perspective comes into play when we learnt that the Japanese believed they killed

five thousand people, while others believe it could have been over twenty thousand. Most believe it was an

unjustifiable act, while General Yamashita believed what he did was right, as revealed through Caitlyn’s

informative narrative that she shared with us.

Our visit to the Changi Chapel and Museum was particularly moving. The chapel itself was a place to

reflect on the pain and suffering these brave individuals went through, something no human being should

ever have to experience. The museum focused on many personal stories of prisoners of war in Singapore,

which were incredibly sad to read. Artefacts from the prison were put on display including letters sent home

to families or received under captivity. It was heartbreaking to read the touching words exchanged, both

sender and recipient unsure if they would ever see each other again. Different perspectives of what

occurred at the prison were shown through Australian quotes and Japanese records of the events.

Transformation was another theme that was portrayed very clearly throughout sites visited in the city’s

centre. We discovered many of these magnificent forms of architecture had been reincarnated many times

before. An example of this would be the Singaporean Parliament House, now a museum and public space.

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The main room of the building had transformed from a Scottish merchant's home, to a court of law, then a

House of Parliament and presently an entertainment space where poetry readings are performed.

Today’s experiences have helped me realise the power of many different perspectives. In some cases it

has divided and in others united. Today we learnt what impact the events of WWII had on the nation of

Singapore, and how they have viewed these occurrences in order to make progress and move forward.

Day 4: 19 April 2017

Day Four of the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour began, with a nourishing breakfast then a bus trip to the Old

Ford Factory, now a museum under the National Archives of Singapore. The Old Ford Factory Museum

has many interactive, insightful exhibits that depict the Fall of Singapore, the city during Japanese

occupation and life for Singaporeans after the war ended. As well as holding significant present time

exhibits, the Old Ford Factory is also the location where the British formally surrendered to the Japanese

Army. The exhibits start with life at the Ford Factory and Singapore post - WWI, with a vintage promotion of

Singapore archived from the 40s, a clever way to begin a journey through Singapore’s history.

We explored rooms full of artefacts and interactive areas showing two sides of the Fall of Singapore. One

perspective presented was the Japanese view, shown through Japanese written documents, artefacts and

quotes with the same for the British with the exception of being written or spoken in English. A particularly

memorable and fascinating component of the exhibits would have to be the mock up room of surrender;

inside was a replica wooden table and the actual chairs used when Britain formally surrendered. A video

was projected above the room displaying footage of both forces meeting together, with great tension clearly

exhibited through their body language. The next room we visited focused on Singapore under Japanese

occupation starting with oral accounts of the Sook Ching massacre, which proved a confronting experience

to assimilate. Compassion was shown during this time however, by the most unexpected individuals. These

people included some empathetic Japanese soldiers who would tell people to escape at opportune times,

or local children who would risk their lives to give a Prisoner of War a piece of bread.

The Anzacs’ stories in Singapore during the Fall of the Nation, were told at three different locations

throughout the city. The first being the Operation Rimau Memorial, where the Anzacs were secretly

sabotaging Japanese ships in the Singapore Port until they were discovered and tragically murdered by the

Japanese Army. A second area in Singapore was the Labrador Reserve an area heavy with the greenery of

a small tropical rainforest. As we made the small trek through dense foliage, we were given a sense of what

the Anzacs went through as they protected Singapore shores, sleeping amongst potentially dangerous

creatures and suffering from exposure to unbearable weather conditions. The final stop we made for the

day was at the Alexandra Hospital, previously the British Military Hospital. During the time of the Fall of

Singapore, Japanese forces attacked patients, nurses and doctors of the hospital.

The theme of Day Four 19 February, was “one place many stories”. Our tour guide Chris was telling a few

of us during the day about his international travel and how you can have connections with certain locations.

Sights we visited today certainly followed this theme: the Old Ford Factory opened our eyes to the different

people and perspectives of a war-enthralled Singapore; while we learnt of Anzacs’ stories at the Rimau

Memorial, Labrador Reserve and Alexandra Hospital.

Day 5: 20 April 2017

As I entered the Fort Canning Battle Box led by tour guide Nancy, I knew we would be given an insightful

excursion through the rooms where important and highly influential decisions were made. We began in a

room discussing the beginning of Singapore and how the Battle Box came to be, thus showcasing reasons

for the location and time its operation. As we walked through the small, concrete rooms, Nancy told us that

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between 300-500 people can be underground at once which, I’m sure, would be a most unbearable

situation. On top of the pressure of defending the island of Singapore, there were no comfortable places to

rest nor the time to do so. We went into a room where an office was set up with a wax figure of General

Arthur Percival seated with a concerned expression on his face. We discovered it was during the time

where the British had realised that both their sea and air defences were outnumbered by the Japanese with

their superior equipment. However, the British had nearly 130 000 soldiers including the Anzacs defending

Singapore with the Japanese force were a mere 60 000 men. What the Japanese lacked in numbers they

made up for with clever tactics carried out through General Yamashita’s planning and instruction. Such

tactics included an image we viewed of a sacred structure which Yamashita managed to rise above in a hot

air balloon to gain better vantage of Percival’s own plan of attack. The British therefore were unable to fire

ammunition at him, as they wouldn’t dare target such a building.

An amazing artefact I found walking through communication rooms, was some preserved Japanese

calligraphy sketched onto the walls. It was moving to view the videos and walk through the Battle Box

where these men of high military stature were making a decision that would impact their life, their country’s

reputation and the future of Singapore. Standing in the room where a final meeting was held before the

official surrender, seventy five years after the stressful and humiliating decision was made to lift the white

flag, was the most incredible feeling while being a witness of the history that occurred in the tunnels

beneath Fort Canning.

The second part of our day was led this time by tour guide Johanne who started our journey around Fort

Canning Hill with a visual that stated “Many believe Singapore’s history began fifty years ago, it dates back

to over seven hundred years”. This quote stuck with me throughout the tour as we learned of some ancient

tales of the kings who lived on the hill.

One of the stories I found to be quite

captivating was the tale of a King who

had stumbled across the island of

Singapore while exploring. Stopping

for a rest on his journey, his hunting

dogs cornered a mouse-like creature

that awoke the King from his slumber.

What the King witnessed was a

courageous act by the creature

Malacca, who fought off the dog. The

King realised he wanted his reign to be

courageous like the mouse which he

named Singapore after, and the name

stuck for hundreds of years. We also

heard stories about the founder Sir

Stamford Raffles - behind his

achievements and hard work in

building the foundations that have

structured a present Singapore,

tragedy lay. After losing his first wife, and then all of his children with a second marriage, Raffles too died at

a relatively younger age. Johanne mentioned that when he died, he wished to buried amongst the great

kings of Singapore in the hill. Unfortunately, his wish was never granted, however through his incredible

work alongside others he has helped make Singapore the modern, bustling city it is today.

Our tour of the Fort Canning Battle Box set the tone for the rest of the day. There is more than meets the

eye when observing Fort Canning as an outsider; whether you explore the rooms deep under the hill where

incredible stories of army failure played out, or on the surface where people from ancient kings to colonial

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settlers have lived and died in the area of Fort Canning. The Battle Box also captured the narrative of

strategy and surrender where we became witnesses of locations underground, where one of the largest

military defeats occurred. Today has again displayed the courage and the spirit of Australians through

times of chaos that have all contributed to helping our country learn from its mistakes and sustain peace in

the Pacific region.

Day 6: 21 April 2017

Warm and welcoming. Those were the accommodating attributes the students at Hwa Chong Institution

radiated as they led us through their incredible school. We began with an introduction from the students

and their history teacher where we learnt their names and ages, and were able to share our experiences in

Singapore so far with them. Next was a tour around the grounds where a rich ninety eight year history lay in

the architecture of the school. We learnt of the different roles each building played, beginning with the

library. I attended a grade seven history lesson where we learned about the separation and merging of

Singapore along with the infamous bus riots and examination riots in which students from Hwa Chong

interestingly participated in nearly fifty years ago. Their lessons were open discussions with friendly

communication between student and teacher. Visual aids were used to help us understand the riot’s

impacts on its participants and society.

After experiencing lunchtime in an Asian cafeteria, we all wished we could have noodles and curry every

day at school! We then congregated once again with our student tour guides and the history students we

had been communicating with on Kid Blog. We questioned each other and discovered new things we

never would have guessed occurred at the school and explored things we had in common. I was impressed

by their school values and the videos made by the students. An entrepreneurial mindset, foresight,

optimism and courage were just a few values that really stood out for me.

Studying the Anzacs’ role in the Asia region before we were selected for the tour has continued to broaden

our knowledge on this topic, yet exploring ideas on this topic in even greater depth in Singapore was

fantastic. We realised that sometimes as Australians we focus on the Japanese military skills and planning

while disregarding the British military’s failure to defend the civilians of Singapore.

For a few of the local students, their grandparents were living under Japanese occupation and have

memories of the pain that it caused. Comparing the different ways we analysed the Fall of the island city,

raised our awareness to the different factors we may not previously have considered. This was an

incredible meeting: we entered a school where students welcomed us with such an approachable manner

and open arms. Much like the essay question we had tackled, our exploration of the conflict in Asia has

most definitely impacted on the relationship we shared with students.

The Hwa Chong Institution’s hospitality and friendliness was a credit to themselves and school, and a

memory of the tour I will treasure. Discussing the momentous Fall of Singapore with Singaporean students

was sensational. I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to meet students from an international

school who have the same passion for history as I do..

Day 7: Singapore Zoo

“Only after the last tree has been cut down

Only after the last river has been poisoned

Only after the last fish has been caught

Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten”

- An old Cree Indian saying found on the walls of Singapore Zoo

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The environment we live in on planet earth is different for everyone. Some people live amongst heavy

foliage and clear skies while others inhabit the urban jungle, yet we still forget to recognise the entities

living alongside us - animals.

Singapore Zoo is located at the most northern point of Singapore, as

was pointed out by bus guide, and therefore one of the longest

drives you can take travelling through Singapore. When I entered

the zoo, camera ready for entertaining encounters, I was confronted

with a small monkey. I was amazed that the animals' fences give

them an incredible amount of freedom. Such open enclosures allow

the zoo’s visitors to get up close and personal with the animals.

Visitors are able to interact which helps them understand the

importance of our environment and why conservation of animals is

an issue that needs to be addressed.

I fed an Asian Elephant along with a few other student participants. I learnt of each elephant’s story before

they came to the zoo and their personalities. I learnt facts that were previously unknown to me about these

beautiful creatures which, sadly, are being targeted in the wild.

I commend the zoo for its acknowledgement of the vital message of animal conservation, displayed around

the zoo to help everyone who visits understand the critical role animals play on earth.

Much like the city of Singapore itself, designers had ensured

the animals had sufficiently large homes to inhabit. The

enclosures were especially suited to each animal’s needs,

ensuring an environment similar to the one they would

occupy in the wild. Under the care of incredibly

knowledgeable zookeepers, these animals are able to be

playful, yet resourceful when they hunt for their food instead

of getting directly fed. The “Garden City” theme followed

through the zoo expressing also the vital role plants play in

our ecosystem, and what will happen if they are all cleared

out. The zoo is a place of continuous education to those who

visit, and today I was a student. When I applied for the

Premier’s Anzac Student Tour I wanted to learn more about

the topic I was writing my entry for, to be able to do that overseas on a historical, commemorative tour has

been a spectacular experience. As a visitor at the zoo, you are able to learn about the nature surrounding

us with its greenery and creatures, and how we can help keep them in our embrace.

Day 8: 23 April 2017

Pearls of wisdoms are spoken by many unique individuals. Whatever the quote may be, and whoever may

say it, they are jewels of life that we hold onto tightly and refer to when we need them. Throughout the

Premier’s Anzac Student Tour, we have been lucky enough to meet three incredible tour guides in Joe,

Chris and Ni. They have all provided us with an impressive amount of information about the island city that

is Singapore throughout our trip. Their contribution to our different visits, to various locations around

Singapore has helped develop understanding of these historical sites and the city.

The pearl of wisdom or quote of the day for me, was when we visited the Bukit Chandu Museum, previously

a battle front during the Fall of Singapore. Chris said; “By the end of the Battle for Singapore the British

Fruit bats enjoying lunch

The zoo habitat

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were more reactive than proactive”, thus meaning they were fighting with vengeance not strategically.

However, even if they had fought more proactively, the outcome wouldn’t have changed, perhaps only

extended the pain and bitterness of surrender. I learnt that the small victories won by the Allies before

surrender, boosted their confidence and morale in defending the island. However this confidence just

wasn’t strong enough to match the Japanese in hand to hand combat with the Malay regiment. The virtues

of sacrifice and honour embodied by these men were inspirational, especially given the horrific

circumstances. When asked to surrender himself to the Japanese, the leader of the Malay Regiment

refused to go against his values. This made the Japanese furious over his stubbornness, which eventually

led to retaliatory acts such as the Alexander Hospital massacre. This spirit in fighting for the defence of

Singapore was fascinating to learn about from different viewpoints.

Today our group travelled over the land bridge to the island of Sentosa, a family friendly island of fun.

Theme park structures tower over gently swaying palm trees, while beachgoers frolic in the warm ocean.

We caught the island bus to a location called Fort Siloso. Fort Siloso is Singapore’s only preserved fort,

which has been maintained for over seventy five years. We took a lift up a thirty metre tower that was a

lookout, and connected to a bridge through the trees which led all the way to the Fort frozen in time. As we

made our way through the underground section of the Fort, history of the location appeared in perfect order

with insights into the events and myths that occurred over 75 years ago.

After observing the impressive replica guns and the breathtaking views from Fort Siloso, we travelled by

bus back to the hub of the island. We visited the Images of Singapore exhibition that depicted the history of

Singapore from a small fishing island to the modern, innovative nation it is today. The interactive show

began with an introduction from an actress playing a commoner of Singapore from over 100 years ago. The

show then developed over time to WWII, when we were involved in escaping the Japanese bombing of

Singapore. The tour ended with a boat ride through a deconstructed Singapore, its famous attractions like

the Merlion proudly perched above us.

Our visit to Sentosa Island proved that there is more than meets the eye when you explore a location.

Sentosa Island is more than just a tourist attraction of Singapore. Behind the visible structures offering

entertainment lay years of history, preserved in time. Fort Siloso provided an incredibly interesting

perspective into a location that prepared itself for the defence of Singapore. The theme of war and peace

suited the location as Sentosa was once a battle ground of sea defence but now a playground for families.

A place of history and reinvention.

Day 9: 24 April 2017

At the High Commission of Australia we were welcomed warmly by Colonel David Hay, Clele White and

Sharifah Khairunnisa. These three individuals explained their roles, and outlined the career opportunities

this pathway offers. Their presentation began with a speech from Colonel Hay explaining the importance of

his role in the High Commission, especially on Anzac Day. One thing that resonated with me from his

words, was that the Australian slouch hat he wears continues to be a symbol of those who served for our

nation. He explained that he is easily identifiable, and on occasions people have approached and

emotionally expressed their thanks to him and the Australian military for the work they have done and

continue to do. This story reminds me how the Anzac legacy remains forever in the heart of our nation.

We were then briefed by Clele and Sharifah who work for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and

AusTrade. Clele explained how a practicing lawyer became someone who organises foreign dignitary visits,

planning their days and making sure everything runs seamlessly. Sharifah then discussed her promotion of

the Australian education system, how it can be used in Singapore and the promotion of our nation as a

future university pathway. Their roles ensure that Australia is positioned globally and sustains a strong

relationship particularly with Singapore..

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After our briefing at the High Commission of Australia, we travelled over the river to Marina Bay to visit an

exhibit at the Art and Science Museum. The presentation of the exhibit “Future World - Where Art Meets

Science” was magnificent. The exhibit featured light technics projected strategically to create illusions,

moving illustrations of the ocean and included many family-friendly parts of the presentation like a digitally

operated slide and room full of dangling crystals that lit the mirrored walls. A quote printed on the wall at the

conclusion of the presentation perfectly described the exhibit; “The digital realm, free from physical

constraints, allows for unlimited possibilities of expression and transformation.”

After our spectacular experience at a futuristic exhibition, we were delighted to be given a tour of the

Stamford American International School. The extensive multi-million dollar campus, was an incredibly

impressive educational experience for attending students from as young as 2 all the way to 18. Their

facilities however, were overthrown by the fantastic students we were acquainted with when we visited.

These passionate history students were just as welcoming as the extraordinary students from Hwa Chong

Institution. We exchanged stories and compared our schools and the cities or towns where we lived.

The experience today, particularly our school visits, allowed us to explore the opportunities for adventure or

studying abroad that lie beyond Australian shores. Meaningful relationships between countries such as

Australia and Singapore help us both follow our pursuits for constant development, beginning with a child’s

education that can help them potentially become a leader in their nation.

Day 10: 25 April 2017

Anzac Day, the commemoration and reflection of the ultimate sacrifice made by our service men and

women who fought and continue to serve for the freedom we have in Australia today. As we walked up the

hill of the Kranji War Cemetery lined with thousands of headstones, my emotion was indescribable. Being

in a place where so many have been laid to rest due to war is a phenomenally moving experience.

Anzac Day has different meanings to different people and I knew that as a result of today, the meaning of

Anzac Day for me would evolve. Today I remembered the men and women who laid down their lives during

the Fall of Singapore to ensure peace in our own country during WWII. As a Youth Ambassador

representing Western Australia, I was acknowledging the ultimate

sacrifice they made.. I was commemorating these courageous

individuals, overseas where they once stood, hoping to defeat the

danger coming towards them from the Malaysian coast we looked

outwards, during the service.

Sorrow, violent emotions were evident among everyone in

attendance at the service. Touching words were read and

performed by Australian school children of Singapore, each note

sung with the poignant meaning following, evoking emotion for all

of the individuals listening like myself. Tears flowed along with the

spread of goosebumps as I listened to the familiar sound of the

Last Post ringing through the crisp, dawn air. Starlings circled the

memorial's structure above as the sun began to rise over the

cemetery, marking the new day.

The representation of different nations and cultures was prominent

today during the service. Seated in front of us were the

representations of different religions of Singapore and foreign dignitaries from countries such as Russia,

Turkey and Japan, all paying their respects. Today's service was hosted by the New Zealand High

Kranji War Cemetery

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Commission, their country represented through the New Zealanders in attendance, much like our own

representation of Western Australia. The New Zealand aspects of the service included New Zealand's

national anthem and the traditional Haka dance performed later in the morning. This presentation of the

different religions and countries gave me an idea of how these commemorative days like Anzac Day bring

people together in harmony, to remember the fallen no matter who you are, or where you come from.

After the service we were given a tour through the cemetery with a guide who explained how the

memorial's structure symbolised the different components of military: column at the base of the building

bearing the names of soldiers who were never found after the war, represented the army, the roof of the

building or the component lying horizontally over the columns representing the air force, and finally the

infrastructure that stood vertically represented the navy. One thing explained by our tour guide that really

resonated with me was that these people who are remembered and buried here, were all someone's loved

one. They were someone's father or mother, someone's husband or wife, they were someone's child. As I

placed my poppies on the headstones of these fathers or an unknown soldier of the war, the inscriptions

underneath their title, or name reminded me that they are more than their military persona. All these

individuals who sacrificed their lives were loved by someone, and that is what we need to remember as we

reflect.

Today’s Anzac Day service was the pinnacle of our tour, the day we had all been waiting for - the reason

we applied to undertake this historical, commemorative journey. Anzac Day was the day where all our

research and experiences

of the tour would help give

us a greater

understanding of the

meaning of the Anzac

legacy. Throughout our

journey, hearing the

incredible stories and

events that occurred

during a dark time for

Singapore as a nation,

has expanded our

knowledge on the history

of the Anzacs, and the

significance of the legacy

they left behind for us to

follow. The values of

courage and mateship not

only resound with the

spirit of the Anzac, but

with the meaning of what

it is to be an Australian.

I will continue to remember the individuals who make the ultimate sacrifice for the peaceful society we are

lucky to live in today. The spirit of the Anzac lives in these individuals is passed on to our nation, helping us

understand how these values have made us the Australians we are.

Day 11: Returning home and reflections

Once again I am flying over the ocean dividing Australia and the nations of Asia, giving me time to reflect

upon the magnificent journey that has been the 2017 Premier’s Anzac Student Tour.

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Before embarking on this historical, commemorative educational opportunity, I knew that I wanted to learn

more about the conflict that was the Fall of Singapore. After months of preparation, it was phenomenal to

be in the locations where our Anzacs fought for the defence of Singapore. To be able to take our learning

beyond a textbook in a classroom, to another country where the Anzacs have campaigned is an opportunity

for which I am immensely grateful.

Partaking in the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour has opened my eyes to the many different perspectives one

can gain from looking at things in a different light. As well as the Allied perspective of the Fall of Singapore,

I learnt of the strategic cleverness of the Japanese and the atrocious treatment of civilians as they suffered

through Japanese occupation. I also learnt of the different cultures and religions that are practiced in this

nation when visiting mosques and temples, and how they get along harmoniously. Learning of the

international relationship between Australia and Singapore through visiting places like the High

Commission of Australia and the schools of Hwa Chong Institution and Stamford American International

School allowed me to see just how much our relationship with Singapore has blossomed and continues to

be strengthened today.

During our final day in Singapore on April 25, I was honoured to represent my school, community and State

of Western Australia at an Anzac ceremony in Kranji War Cemetery during a Singaporean dawn. Anzac

Day was the day I commemorated the lives lost during the Fall of Singapore, with an emotional dawn

service that allowed all of us from different countries and cultures to pay our respects. My research of this

battle, reading about and listening to the personal stories of this tragic event, was a source of reflection as

we walked among the resting place of thousands. We were reminded that these individuals could have

been any one of us in a different time and place, and they were all someone’s loved one. At the conclusion

of the tour, the knowledge I have gained about the Anzac legacy has shaped my understanding about what

it means to be Australian, with the Anzacs playing a very large part of our nation’s history. This important

message is something I intend to share with the younger generation, now that I have returned.

Once acquaintances, I now have long lasting friendships with 9 other individuals, all from very different

places in Western Australia. I never could have imagined returning to Perth International Airport would

make me so emotional. Tears and hugs were plentiful as I was saying hello to my family, but goodbye to

the people who I became so close to. As I look back on the photos I took, I can’t help but smile and think

about what we experienced, and all the memories we have made that I will treasure. These amazing

students along with our incredible teachers in Mr Paini, Mrs Jones and Ms Boswell, have made my

Premier’s Anzac Student Tour journey everything I could have hoped for and more. To be accompanied by

the most wonderful people who have the same passion for history and interest in the Anzac legacy has

been the most spectacular privilege.

Our wonderful tour guide Chris shared the view that it is the magic you feel in the place you visit that makes

it such a special experience, not what the majority believes about the location. The Premier’s Anzac

Student Tour in Singapore has been the most magical experience for me, not only because Singapore is

spectacular, but the people I shared it with made the journey unforgettable.

Conclusion and Acknowledgements:

I would like to sincerely thank Mr McGowan, Premier of Western Australia, for his support of the Premier’s

Anzac Student Tour, and also the Western Australian Government for providing this incredible initiative that

gives students a life-changing educational opportunity, like my own. I feel so privileged to have been

selected as a student member of the tour. The pride I feel representing our beautiful State as a youth

ambassador has been the most incredible honour.

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The Premier’s Anzac Student Tour wouldn’t be possible without the organisations and individuals who

support this incredible educational opportunity for students with a passion for history and the legacy of the

Anzacs. The unconditional support from organisations like the RSL, Rotary, Department of Veterans Affairs

and the War Widows Guild of Australia (WA), ensure this magnificent tour continues.

Before we even began our journey to Singapore, we were extremely well prepared by many different

presenters including tour guides from the Army Museum of Western Australia and Leighton Battery Tunnel

Tours, Lorraine Scorer, Kings Park Memorial tour guides, and 2/4th Machine Battalion veterans Mr Dick

Ridgewell and Mr John Gilmour, who we were extremely lucky to have in our presence at our March

Presentation Ceremony.

Throughout my Anzac Tour journey I had the incredible support of my school, including my Principal Ms

Mather and Vice-Principal, Mr Miolin, my Yr 9 humanities teacher Miss Kingston and my Year 10 history

teacher, a wonderful support through every step of the way, Ms Bermingham.

To all of the individuals who approached me and wished me well, or gave me advice before my travels, I

am thankful for your support and the interest you have shown to me and in the tour.

My experience of the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour wouldn’t have been the experience it was without my

beautiful family, who gave me their unconditional love and support along the journey.

Finally these amazing students I travelled with, alongside our incredible teachers Mr Paini, Mrs Jones and

Ms Boswell, have made my Premier’s Anzac Student Tour journey everything I could have hoped for and

more. Once acquaintances, we have now forged a long lasting friendship. Being accompanied by the most

wonderful people who I have become so close to has been the most spectacular privilege and joy.

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Cale Wilcox

Year 12

Mount Lawley Senior High School

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Introduction

Upon returning from Thailand late April from the Quiet Lion Tour - a tour dedicated to the Prisoners of War

who worked and died on the Thai-Burma Railway - my history teacher, Ms Noack, told me about the

Premier’s Anzac Student Tour. I took the opportunity to enter into the competition shortly after. I worked

diligently with Ms Noack for several weeks, adding new points and taking out old points or points which had

already been stated. After finishing the first draft of the essay about 1000 words over the word limit, Ms

Noack began to “slash and burn” cutting my essay down to the limit. We sent the essay in with high hopes,

and waited.

It was a surprise to find out I had been selected to take part in the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour as I had

been part of a misunderstanding; Ms Noack had taken part in previous tours, and claimed that the students

were notified a couple of days prior to the official announcement. She said that we were all to be notified on

November 9 and meet in Kings Park the following day for a photo-shoot which would feature in the West

Australian newspaper on Remembrance Day. As a result, I believed I had not been selected for the tour. It

came as a complete and utter shock on November 11 when I went to log on to my school email in my

Modern History class to see an article on the Education Department’s website listing the winners. Curious

to see who had been selected, I decided to read the article. Seeing my name listed among the winners took

me by surprise. The feeling was something that I cannot describe. The feeling of discovering I had

achieved something I thought I had failed after putting so much work into was indescribable.

Having already travelled to Thailand on a tour much like this one, I intend to use the tour as an opportunity

to learn about the experiences of the Anzacs, to learn more about Southeast Asian culture, as well as

represent the Government of Western Australia.

March Briefing

On 2 March 2017, the 10 student and three teacher participants of the 2017 Premier’s Anzac Student Tour

were summoned to the RSL Offices on St Georges Terrace in the Perth CBD. The ceremony that followed

featured each of the participants being presented with a certificate officially acknowledging our acceptance

into the prestigious tour. The feeling of being presented with the certificate by the then Minister of

Education, Hon Peter Collier, in front of the assembled families, school representatives and two veterans,

was a feeling that was exciting yet humbling.

Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, the participants returned to the offices of the Schools of Isolated and

Distance Education (SIDE), where we would be sleeping over the next two nights. After we got settled into

our dorms, we enjoyed a barbeque with the families. This was a reassuring experience, to know that not

only there are others going on the tour, but they are also nice people who are easy to get along with.

The following day we set off for a brisk 5am walk to Lake Monger. The surface of the lake was as smooth

as glass and the air frosty, setting a calm, respectful, mindset for the day ahead. Following the walk and a

quick breakfast, we headed off to Fremantle where our first stop was the Army Museum of Western

Australia, where we were shown around by tour guide, Brian King. His knowledge of the Fall of Singapore

was extensive to say the least, with nigh on every question being fielded by him to his best knowledge. The

knowledge we were privileged enough to receive from Brian will be invaluable during our time in Singapore.

Following the tour of the Army Museum, we travelled to Leighton Hill where, hidden in the scrub, are a

series of tunnels built by the army during WWII to defend Fremantle Port from invasion. Our guide, Barry

Ellis, with his seemingly infinitely deep pockets full of decommissioned rifle cartridges and other knick-

knacks, had an innate depth of knowledge not only of the batteries themselves but of ballistics in general.

Barry’s way of communicating his wisdom not only painted a clear picture of what went on in the musty

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tunnels but made it clear why tours such as this one are so important. Soon people like Barry will no longer

be with us and it will be up to the next generation to pick up the baton and continue the legacy.

After returning to SIDE, we got the chance to hear the bitter-sweet stories of Jenny Knight and Jan

McLeod, who represent the War Widows’ Guild of Western Australia. The passion with which they spoke

showed us another side of war, the home front and what was experienced by the wives of soldiers when

they failed to return home. To be able to see what the extended effects of the war were was a revelatory

experience.

The March Briefing was, above all else, an eye opening experience. To see the effects that the wars have

had on families and those who served, further emphasised the need for tours such as the Premier’s Anzac

Student Tour. It was humbling to see the amount of effort these men and women had put into maintaining

these museums and organisations.

The message that I have taken from this experience can be summed up by a quote by Dame Mary Gilmore

on the Sandakan Memorial which reads: “They are not dead, not even broken. Only their dust has gone

back home to the Earth, for they, the essential they, shall have rebirth whenever a word of them is spoken.”

Day 1: 16 April 2017

There was a sense of anticipation and excitement as the tour group gathered in the grand foyer of the Perth

International Airport, some weary from long journeys, some not so much. We all chattered about what we

expected to come, with our families gathered around. After check-in and a brief stop in the cafés upstairs, a

final goodbye was said to our loved ones before heading through customs and into the waiting lounge. The

anticipation was building.

After a quick game of cards in the waiting lounge, we boarded Flight SQ 226 to Singapore, leaving at

2:05pm. The flight felt faster than it was, with only mild turbulence about halfway through, landing at

Singapore’s Changi Airport at 7:15pm.

The transfer through Singaporean customs was smooth, comforting in its gentle ebb and flow. The foliage

and water features scattered around the bag carousels helped facilitate the sense of ease and comfort.

After collecting our bags we met our tour guide, a friendly man we now know as “Uncle Joe”, before

stepping out into our first taste of Singaporean weather, the 30 degree wet heat enveloping us like a hug.

We stepped onto our bus for the night, ablaze with neon lights guiding our feet before commencing our

drive to Fort Canning Lodge.

This was our first opportunity to see Singapore at night, and it was worth the wait. We coasted down the

roads, marveling at the high rise buildings. We drove past a giant Ferris wheel, its outside ringed with a

constantly changing neon glow. When we arrived at our lodgings, there was a sense of achievement - we

had made it. After a brief explanation on how to use the lifts, we headed up to our rooms to settle down.

Showers were had, shirts hung, and devices charged. The sense of anticipation had reappeared, only this

time for the events that lay on tomorrow’s horizon.

Day 2: 17 April 2017

Today we finally got to see Singapore in its full light. No longer were the shadows that whipped past our

bus last night shadows, now they took form as buildings and verdure. Our journey through the “garden city”

was informative, with Uncle Joe narrating our trip. Once again his local knowledge was invaluable, taking

the form of little factoids and a proficiency of knowledge about various religions practiced in Singapore.

The religions of Singapore are just one side of the vast array of cultures on display. Everywhere you

looked, there was a representation of a different culture. We travelled to a select few of the dozens of

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temples scattered around Singapore, a Mosque, a Chinese temple, and a Hindu temple. They all displayed

their respective religion with grace and virtue, and Uncle Joe did an excellent job of giving all the respect

they deserved, regardless of his own religion.

To be granted access into all but the most inner of the sanctums gave me a different view of religion. Prior

to the tour I had been a staunch atheist, questioning how someone could believe in something that has no

basis in fact. But after today’s experiences, my eyes have been opened. To see that religion was not the

mind controlling scripture I had painted in my mind is a facile comment; my mind had been opened to new

ideas, new opportunities.

Before saying goodbye to Uncle Joe, we ventured through the National Museum of Singapore, the interior

of which was clad with white marble. The exhibits were incredibly informative and educational, going into

depth about the history of the island nation without falling into the trap that belies most museums - being

droll.

Day 3: 18 April 2017

We started off today with a presentation by our new tour guide, Chris. He was excited to be able to show off

his impressive collection of maps dating from as far back as 1902. He spoke with such energy that the

stories he told came to life, dancing about on the maps in front of us. His depth of knowledge is unlikely to

ever be rivalled, with his speaking at length about the various batteries of Singapore.

After our presentation by Chris, we were granted a precious insight into the life in Changi Gaol for the

prisoners of war. Memories from the Quiet Lion Tour (QLT) were dredged from the deep recesses of my

mind. To see the exhibits in the Changi Chapel Museum induced feelings of sorrow, affecting me more than

I had anticipated.

Whilst the QLT had focused on the treatment and holding

of Prisoners of War along the Burma-Siam Railway, the

museum placed priority on the occupation of the

Japanese in Singapore and the conditions in Changi

Gaol. It was incredible to be able to see the start of the

men’s horrific journeys through what can only be

described as hell on Earth.

Their descent into hell began in Changi Gaol, where they

were kept four to a four square metre cell. Efforts had

clearly been made to make the place more hospitable to

the POWs, with magnificent murals being painted in the

chapel. The recreation of the chapel in the courtyard was

also incredibly touching to visit; to be able to sit in a

setting identical to that the POWs sat was beyond words.

As we exited the Changi Gaol Museum, storm clouds

began to gather. We ate lunch, wary of the encroaching

clouds. We barely made it aboard our bus before the sky

began to fall. It started slowly then intensified beyond

anything most of us had experienced, initiating us into

the club of Those Who Had Been In A Tropical

Thunderstorm. Ponchos were broken out, half of us morphing into grey blobs, half of us raising an umbrella

to halt the unstoppable fall of the heavens. We marched around the National Art Gallery, a building which

had been made by the connection of the old Supreme Court and old Town Hall. We stood in the room

WWI Memorial in central Singapore

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where the Japanese surrender was accepted and gazed out through the doors where it was officially

announced. To even be given the opportunity to stand in such an important location is incredible.

Day 4: 19 April 2017

After a filling breakfast we headed off to the Old Ford Factory to start today’s journey. The Old Ford

Factory is a museum on the civilian story of the Fall of Singapore and the following occupation. To see

such a potent symbol of consumerism turned into a symbol of lives lost, lives remembered was incredibly

moving. The stories of those who had suffered through the Japanese occupation were even more so. The

graphic descriptions of the violence accompanied by the highly emotional voices emerging from the

speakers combined to generate an incredibly real image.

One of the exhibits invited the visitor to play as one of three characters who lived during the occupation.

The visitor was required to make a series of choices based upon events. An example is: playing as a

teacher, when the Japanese tell you to start teaching Japanese at your school (a language you do not

know) do you keep teaching English or teach Japanese? If the visitor selected to keep teaching English,

their character would be beaten and tortured; if the visitor chose to teach Japanese, the character learns

some Japanese, and remains unmolested. This exhibit was incredibly effective at showing that seemingly

small choices can make big differences under occupation.

The Old Ford Factory also focused on the surrender itself with the first official (not intended for

propaganda) surrender of the Empire to the Japanese. The room included a setup identical to that on the

15th of February, and a transcript of the surrender. To stand in the room and see the transcript of what was

exchanged on that fateful day brought the events to life, almost to the point where Lieutenant-General

Arthur Percival and General Tomoyuki Yamashita appeared at the table, discussing the terms of surrender.

After the moving experience, we travelled to Labrador Park, where we visited the Labrador Battery and saw

some older fortifications dating back to the turn of the 19th century. In order to get to the batteries, we

needed first to climb up the foliage-covered hill. Thankfully there was a path laid out in beautifully carved

stones. As we ascended the hill, we became overcome with the sounds of the forest, cicadas filling our

ears with their shrill call. Upon our cresting of the summit, we enjoyed beautiful views out over the sea

before heading back to our hotel.

Day 5: 20 April 2017

After a later than usual start today we headed across the road from Fort Canning Lodge to Fort Canning hill

proper. After meeting Nancy, our guide for the first of our Battle Box tours, we defended down two flights of

steel-clad stairs into it. The smell of musty air entered our nostrils as we passed through a glass security

door, stepping into the cold interior of the war-time bunker. Nancy led us through room after room of

artefacts, manikins, and information boards, telling us about not only the history of Singapore but also the

events of late 1941 and early 1942.

Walking through the claustrophobic corridors and into the cramped rooms where up to 500 men sweated

over some of the most important decisions of WWII was an experience unlike any other. Treading the paths

of men who changed the course of history in such a high-pressure, fear filled environment is confronting.

Watching the film footage of the surrender, seeing the Allied soldiers lined up being inspected by General

Yamashita, with Lieutenant-General Perceval saluting the “Tiger of Malaya” was an incredibly moving

experience. To say it was moving and unlike any other is a big step for myself, as having travelled along

the Burma-Siam Railway in 2016 I’ve walked across ground men have died upon, where men have

sweated and spilt blood, where friendships were formed. The tour of the Battle Box has tied together the

five main parts of the Fall of Singapore in my opinion: the battle, the surrender, the incarceration at Changi

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Gaol, the experiences of the civilians, and the experiences of the POWs along the Burma-Siam Railway

and across Asia. Although the tour is only half way done, it has already shown me more than I could ever

hope or wish for, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Following the tour of the sunken Battle Box, we walked around the Spice Garden on Fort Canning, taking in

the local spices, even trying a few. We followed this up with a second tour around Fort Canning, this one

focusing on the history of Singapore. We learnt about the five kings of Singapore who were the first to

name Singapore “Singapura”, which means Lion City in Malay. After trying a local dish, we concluded this

second tour with another walk through the Battle Box, this time seeing the aspects of the rooms in a

different light.

Day 6: 21 April 2017

Day six saw us travel to Hwa Chong Institution, a prestigious school in Singapore that plays host to the

smartest among Singapore’s young population. Whilst the education of the school was new, the school

itself was not, with the school turning 100 in two years. The students were incredibly friendly and happy to

field any questions asked by us. The school’s age was evident in its colonial-style architecture, however

there were a number of modern additions that would be hard to find in any Australian public school.

Fountains were plentiful and beautiful; the gardens that shadowed the paths were immaculate. The

fountains were there not only to help de-stressing but also, as one of our guides noted, were there to

remind the students of the maxim “When you drink water, remember its source.” Meaning that in order to

fully appreciate our current privileges, we must be aware of our past, a message acutely relevant to the

Premier’s Anzac Student Tour.

We sat in on a class, taking note about the differences and similarities in the teaching style, the

organisation of the class, and the lesson. The desk space available for the students was minimal, conjuring

images of American high school desks. After enjoying the privilege of sitting in on a lesson, we walked to

the “Entrepreneurship Room” where we got to know the student guides in more detail, having brief

conversations with most of them getting to know what a typical school day is like for them, what their tests

and curriculum is like.

Following this, we sat down for a serious conversation about the Japanese occupation of Singapore and its

implications. It was an extraordinary experience to be able to understand what it was like under the

Japanese from the mouths of people whose grandparents lived through the violent occupation. We talked

for over half an hour, exploring both perspectives of the occupation ours, a foreigner’s perspective, and

theirs - the perspective of descendants.

After the mentally tough conversation, we stood to say our farewells, exchanging gifts and social media

handles before we jumped back on the bus to head back to our hotel. Waving goodbye to the students as

the bus rolled past, seeing the smiles on their faces made me realise that sometimes it is necessary to be

open to others, even if it is just for a brief time.

Day 7: 22 April

We spent today at the glorious Singapore Zoo, full of natural curiosities. We walked the paths, the 28

hectare space over flowing with flora and fauna of nearly every kind. We were given the opportunity to view

many species as they roamed about in their enclosures. We watched a lion seal, one of the fiercest of

ocean-going creatures, balance a bright green ball on its nose as it swam around a pool. We watched

lemurs and monkeys run across vines strung ten metres above the crowd, drawing oohs and ahhs as they

danced.

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As we walked through the zoo, awareness dawned on a number of us. The heavy green foliage located

throughout the zoo, the propinquity of the animals, and the synergy between species was a microcosm for

the slightly larger space of the Singapore island nation. The sense of a microcosmic comparison was

deepened with the appearance of sustainability posters around the zoo, sometimes visceral in their

appearance.

The visit to the zoo was, however, soured somewhat by the appearance of a sole polar bear. The polar

bear has been the source of much discussion within the Singaporean community. Its birth and existence in

the same cold concrete enclosure has been the source of controversy. The mere thought of the existence

of a polar bear in a tropic environment is laughable. Whilst the thought behind the presence of the apex

predator, to raise awareness over global warming finds its origins in the purest of intentions, the

environment in which the beast is held is, for lack of a better word, callous.

Day 8: 23 April

Another day, another perspective, another story.

We began today’s story with a visit to Bukit Chandu Museum, taking in the interpretative “Reflections at

Bukit Chandu” exhibit, which tells the story of the final stand of the Malayan Regiments. The museum is

placed atop Bukit Chandu hill, where the last stand of the Malay Regiment took place in the Battle of Pasir

Panjang. The last stand of these Malayan troops is the story fit to sit among the legends of Achilles and

Hercules. The men from the Malayan regiments fought under the flag of the British Empire with a ferocity

only paralleled with the Japanese, fighting under the Jawi motto “Ta'at Setia”, meaning “Loyal and True” in

English.

They were led by the heroic 2nd Lieutenant Adnan bin Saidi, who refused to honour the Japanese in

defeat, preferring rather to be tortured and slain before being hung by his feet on a tree. The story of the

Malayan regiments is inspirational, as they fought until they ran out of ammunition, before fighting with their

knives, and when their knives ran dull, they fought with their fists before being overcome with sheer weight

of numbers. Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival honoured the Malay troops saying “The Malay Regiment

showed what esprit de corps and discipline can achieve. Garrisons of posts held their ground and many of

them were wiped out almost to a man.”

Following the humbling visit to Bukit Chandu Reflections, we travelled to Sentosa Island, a place well-

known among Singaporeans as a “State of Fun”, but its history is scarred with the deep wounds of war. It

plays host to a number of historical sites, with the most prominent being Fort Siloso, which hosted both

Allied and Japanese artillery crews and Prisoners of War. The Fort has now been turned into a museum,

educating the public on the largely unknown efforts of the artillery crews of Sentosa Island.

The museum consists of a large amount of ex-artillery pieces, ranging from 6-pounders to 9-inch

behemoths. The museum also, interestingly, possessed two 5.6-inch artillery pieces of Japanese origin.

The presence of these pieces provided an insight into the Japanese army few are able to see. Nigh-on all

of the artillery pieces scattered around the Singaporean nation are of Allied origin, but to see the Japanese

pieces provided a refreshing change of perspective. The museum at Fort Siloso gave a glimpse into a

place of pleasure’s painful history, giving those who travel for pleasure an insight into what was necessary

for such a place to exist.

Day 9: 24 April 2017

Our day started with a trip to the Australian High Commission, where we met Colonel David John Hay from

the Australian Army. Listening to his story, I realised how all the little things added up to create an image,

whether it be of a man, nation, or organisation. He spoke fondly about his time under General Cosgrove,

and how he was inspired by the General’s signature slouch hat. He spoke of a time he was overseas and

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was embraced by a local woman, and how she identified him as Australian because of his own slouch hat.

Hearing his efforts to uphold the image of the Anzacs wherever he went was truly inspirational.

Following our audience with Colonel Hay, we went to the Art-Science Museum near Marina Bay Sands

where we explored how science and art are not so different after all, how they can work together to break

“free from physical constraints” (Toshiyuki Inoko, co-founder). The museum wove art and science in a truly

beautiful manner, filling its walls with interactive exhibits for the young and young at heart.

The tour group then travelled to Stamford American International School, where we gained an insight into

what schooling was like for the ex-pat population of the island nation. We walked through a school that

showcased the very best schooling available to those who weren’t native Singaporeans, and thus learnt a

lot about what it was like to live in a country other than the one you were born in. We spoke to numerous

students our own age, gaining an insight into what life would be like if we lived in Singapore.

Day 10: 25 April 2017

Anzac Day was a storm cloud of emotion that brewed on the horizon as we made our way around

Singapore, and now it was upon us. Arriving at Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery in the pre-dawn dark

and walking in silence half a kilometre to the cemetery was a hauntingly familiar sight. Having been to the

Hell Fire Pass Dawn Ceremony the previous year, I knew what to expect but, as always, expectations were

shattered. The air of Singapore, usually hot and steamy, sent shivers down my spine with its

uncharacteristic chill, almost as if the very air of the island nation had stopped to remember the fallen.

We took our seats towards the front of the open space, and waited. At 6:31am a New Zealand Air Force

officer took the podium and began to speak; his voice echoed over the crowd of 300 people who had risen

early to be there. With a sharp Kiwi accent, he spoke with a kindness rarely seen in military personnel. The

national anthems of Australia and New Zealand rang out over the crowd; the gentle murmur of the crowd

singing in time was eerie.

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While the ceremony was conducted on land where men had fought and died in WWII, the ceremony also

paid respect to service personnel who had fallen during the First War War. The Turkish Ambassador, His

Excellency Mr Mira Lutem quoted the founding father of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who fought at

Gallipoli: “Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives ... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly

country. Therefore rest in peace.”

Relations in the Asia Minor area may be unstable at this moment, but his words showed the everlasting and

unbreakable bond between Turkey and Australia.

Following the service, a Gunfire Breakfast was served. After a coffee, two Anzac biscuits, and a few spring

rolls, we were interrupted by the sounds of a haka being performed. We rushed up the hill to see about 100

New Zealand sailors in full dress uniform beating their chests and stamping the ground. The haka had the

desired effect, forcing me take a step back in reverence.

Following this awe-inspiring display of force, we commenced a tour of the cemetery, walking amongst the

4,467 headstones that are located in Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery and up and down the rows and

rows of 24,000 names of dead soldiers who bodies were never found. We were able to see the headstones

and names of men who we had heard about over the past 9 days, bringing them out of the stuff of legends

and into real life.

Day 11: 26 April 2017

Whilst the tour had been a wonderful experience, it was time for events to come to a close. The feeling of

leaving the people I had spent the past ten days with is bittersweet to its core. On one hand, I get to see my

family again, my mother, my father, my brother, and my dog. On the other hand I was saying goodbye to

some of the best friends I had ever made. I would be saying goodbye to the people I had laughed with,

cried with, learnt with. Thank God social media exists, otherwise I fear I would have tied myself to all of

them in order to never let them out of my sight.

The tour is an experience I will never forget. I have learnt so much, not only about the “Lion City” and its

history but also myself and the people I went on the tour with. The history of the small island nation is a rich

one, going all the way back to the 14th century. The modern city-nation was borne through a baptism of

fire, with its quest for sovereignty taking several step backs before their premier President Lee Kwon Yew

took power in the 1960s. The tour gave me opportunities I would never have been given if I had just sat in a

classroom and read a textbook. It has been the seed for a great personal growth, one that was watered by

the excessively humid Singapore weather.

Thank you, my friends, for making what could have been an incredibly painful experience one of pleasure. I

leave you now with Errol Flynn’s final words, spoken in 1959. “I've had a hell of a lot of fun and I've enjoyed

every minute of it.”

Conclusions and Acknowledgements

I write now four days on at my dining room table, still surrounded by little knick-knacks I have picked up

over the course of the tour; the koala bear, the stickers which now adorn my AirPod’s case, my metal scale

models, my tour bag. All of these things represent a story, a tale, which I will never forget. However as

Chaucer said in 1374, “all good things must come to an end”.

The Premier’s Anzac Student Tour of 2017 is an incredibly humbling and informative experience. The tour

allowed me insights into Singaporean history, both peaceful and otherwise. I was able to gain an insight

into the Fall of Singapore that no textbook could ever give. To stand on the ground that men fought, bled

and died on is an experience that will stay with me forever. The events of the Fall of Singapore stand alone

in military history as the largest capitulation of Allied soldiers. The tour also provided me with a great

personal growth. I have been inspired to further explore the stories of those who fought for Australia, and to

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persevere with my own personal struggles. My role as a youth ambassador for Western Australia has

contributed to this growth and given me a greater sense of duty. An unexpected revelation of mine that

came from the tour was a change in perspective on religion. Prior to the tour I was a staunch atheist, now

the prospect of religion seems more open and accepting than ever before.

Before I sign off on this incredible tour, I wish to extend a series of thanks to all those who made everything

possible. I would first like to thank the Government of Western Australia without whom this initiative would

not take place. This thanks is extended to the Hon Mark McGowan and the Education Minister, Ms

Suzanne Ellery, for their support of this initiative.

Special thanks are also extended to the teacher participants of the tour, Ms Samantha Boswell, Ms Mery

Jones, and Mr Norman Paini. Your level of dedication and effort was remarkable to watch, willing to read

through entry after entry, searching for any and all errors. I cannot even begin to think about the level of

effort that went into this tour for it to achieve such a standard. Thanks are extended to all those who worked

behind the scenes.

The next series of thanks goes to all those who reside in Singapore and made this tour so informative.

Special thanks go to our tour guides, Joe, Chris, and Ni, your combined knowledge on the Fall of Singapore

and Singapore itself will never be rivalled. Your local knowledge gave the tour a depth that could never be

matched. Ever. To those at Hwa Chong Institution, thank you for inviting us into your privileged school to

give us a glimpse of what makes Singapore’s future so bright. To those at Stamford American International

School, thank you for meeting us in your school and giving us a view into what life is like for the ex-pat

population of Singapore.

I would also like to extend thanks to the other student members of the tour - without you the tour wouldn’t

have been so enjoyable. The synergy between us will be something I will never forget.

Finally, I would like to extend thanks to those at Mount Lawley Senior High School for making my entry

possible. Thank you for sorting out paperwork and cutting through red tape to allow my entry into the

competition. To Mr Milton Butcher and Ms Lynn Noack, thank you for putting in hours of your time to ensure

my selection in this prestigious initiative, reading through draft copy after draft copy and preparing me for

the interview stage.

Thank you all. You all have a special place in my heart and will never be forgotten.

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Janka Reynders

Year 11

Narrogin Senior High School

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Introduction

The day of the Premier’s Anzac Student 2017 Tour interviews for me signalled the start to an amazing journey. Dressed in my school blazer, I left home early to make the journey to Perth. Arriving in Leederville and after a pep talk with my dad, I entered the interview room, where I spent the next fifteen minutes discussing my essay and passion for history with the selection panel. Despite feeling nervous at the beginning of the interview, I was immediately set at ease and time flew. After the interview, I was happy that I had done my best, and grateful to have had the opportunity to speak about my essay. I knew that no matter what happened from here on, I had done my best.

The weeks leading up to November 11 were filled with nerves. In almost compulsive fashion, I checked the Department of Education website for anything relating to the Premier’s Anzac Tour. As the weeks progressed, anticipation of what was to come grew steadily, and each day my head was filled with "What if....”

Not until Remembrance Day did I receive THE news. I was in my online Society and Environment class, and as I half-heartedly tried to listen to the lesson, I went onto the Premier’s press release website, refreshing every minute to see if the list of students who would be attending had been released. As soon as the statement from the Premier’s office was made, I scanned the list, first noticing my school’s name then doing a double take - as it was followed by my own. Ecstatic with joy, I sat on the floor, attempting to process how privileged and honoured I was, unable to comprehend what a huge opportunity had just been bestowed upon me.

As a student ambassador, I am most excited about experiencing a whole new culture and delving into Australian history with an amazing group of students who are just as passionate about history as me. I also think it is an amazing experience to bring back to my own community and, through sharing my experiences, I hope to inspire a fascination with history in others.

March Briefing

Thursday March 2 would see

the beginning of the new,

exciting chapter of our

Premier’s Anzac Student Tour.

Arriving at the RSL Office on St

Georges Terrace, I finally met

the 9 other amazingly talented

students who would be joining

me on a journey of a lifetime.

The coming days would see us

meet amazing people, soaking

in the information gifted to us

by people with a passion for

history we all shared. However,

what struck me most was not

the individual events of facts

we were granted with, but the similar passion everyone I met during the March Briefing shared; a great

passion for history, and remembering the past in order to progress forward.

Day One would see us travel to the Army Museum where we met Mr Brian King. What impressed me most

was the passion that oozed from Mr King and that engaged me throughout the tour; his fountain of

knowledge was testimony to his passion for history.

Meeting the other tour participants at the Presentation Ceremony

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The second day we went the

Leighton Battery in Fremantle

to explore the guns and

underground tunnels

scattered beneath the

surface. Here we met the

animated Mr Barry Ellis. I

think we were all blown away

with how informative and

passionate Mr Ellis was, as

he knew everything and

anything about guns,

ammunition, service within

the military and much, much

more. Later that afternoon

the ladies from the War

Widows’ Guild - President Ms

Jan McLeod and Executive

Officer Ms Jenny Knight -

enlightened us with stories

from the Guild. What really

had a lasting impact on me was how the impact of war resonated across continents and generations.

On the final day, we ventured to Kings Park. After laying our wreath at the Sandakan memorial, we headed

back to SIDE to be collected.

During the course of this weekend I realised the duty we had been entrusted with. The stories of those

affected by war; these are the stories that need to be passed on, not only through the history books, but

through the people who are passionate about remembering history. On reflection, I realised that these

wonderfully passionate people who we met through the Briefing, like all of us, are not immortal; now that

they have passed on their experiences and information, it is our duty to share. What I take away from the

March Briefing is a realisation of how important my journey is in preserving Australia’s wartime history.

Day 1

After months of anticipation, the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour officially began when we boarded the plane

which left Perth International Airport at 2:05 pm. During the descent to Changi International Airport, we

broke through the clouds just as the sunset cast a pink glaze over the anchored ships. After passing

through the friendly and orderly border security, we collected our bags, and met our tour guide for our ten

day stay in Singapore.

Settling in after a long day of travel, the realisation of my role preserving Australia’s wartime history became

a reality. As we made our way to the Fort Canning Lodge, our home away from home for the next ten days,

I took the time to breathe and take a few moments just to consider the amazing experience on which I was

about to embark.

Day 2

The second day of the tour began by looking at the cultural diversity of Singapore’s society, particularly at

the different ethnic groups that call the city-state home. The Sultan’s Mosque was the first stop. We gained

an understanding of the religious beliefs of the predominately Sunni Muslim population within Singapore,

before continuing onwards to our next destination; a Hindu temple honouring many of the genderless gods.

Afterwards we stopped at a Taoist temple worshipping the local goddess of the sea, before continuing to a

Buddhist temple honouring the resting ancestors of the Chinese population. Despite a vast array of

religious beliefs, the Singaporean community continues to thrive in cultural harmony.

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It is this acceptance of the different ethnic groups that greatly contributes to the cultural diversity and

success of the nation. Although originating as a system for separating the various ethnic groups within

Singapore under Sir Stamford Raffles, the

districts are geographically so close

together, and have since blended into one

another, thus symbolising the harmony of

beliefs within the sovereign state.

After wandering through Arab Street and

Chinatown, we continued to the

Singapore National Museum. With

amazing displays and range of exhibits,

the Museum gave a clear, compelling

story of Singapore’s history: From humble

beginnings in the 14th Century, to the

arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles and

subsequent rise of colonialism; defeat of

an impregnable fortress on the 15th of

February 1942 and, ultimately, to a

beautified Singapore with a totally new,

physical and social landscape thanks to

Lee Kuan Yew’s government.

As mentioned by Brandon in his speech about the cultural diversity of Singapore, it is the mutual

understanding of different cultures which allows diverse ethnic groups to live in such a harmonious fashion.

I learnt about four new religions that I only had a rudimentary understanding of before. With this new

knowledge of the Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Taoists, I am now more aware of these groups within my

own community. On reflection, I believe that embracing cultural diversity and gaining a better understanding

of global cultures improves the social capital of a nation. What struck me was how much the acceptance of

cultural diversity in Singapore contributes to its success as an independent nation.

Day 3

Day three saw us consider the events of WWII that significantly impacted upon Singapore. Our tour with

guide Chris explored the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, and the fall of the city in 1942. On route to

our first destination, we briefly looked at the original wall of the old Changi prison, before arriving at Changi

Beach. Here we looked at Chris’s maps, all of which contextualised the Japanese invasion of Singapore,

and how the campaign was geographically set out on the island.

Afterwards, Chris took us to the Johore Battery Guns, where the 16-inch calibre anti-sea vessel guns were

displayed together with the 800 kg shells used as ammunition. It was interesting to note that of the seven

anti-naval guns distributed across the British Empire, five were located on Singapore, cementing its

importance as a naval defence post within Southeast Asia. We continued to Changi Chapel and Museum.

Within the chapel, what touched me was the faith that comforted those lost during WWII. Housing a brass

crucifix, made by a Prisoner of War from old shells and shrapnel, the chapel was a highlight of the day. I

could feel the faith and belief of those who had lost so much, their pain and suffering lifted by their belief in

God.

Every harrowing aspect of the consequences of the Fall of Singapore, followed by the Japanese occupation were elaborated by the many exhibits in the museum. Filled with personal stories of triumph, tragedy and loss, I was reminded of what Chris had said on the bus ride down; “You gain more from failure than success.” The overall failure of the Malayan campaign, which resulted in the Fall of Singapore, highlighted the shortcomings of the military administration at the time. This failure led to the imprisonment of over 130,000 troops, along with many civilians who were forced to endure horrific conditions. A mild downpour of rain welcomed us as we journeyed back to the city centre, forcing us to quickly adapt to

the rapid change in weather. Arriving at the National Singapore Gallery, we looked at the old Town Hall

Sultan Mosque on Arab Street

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which, in addition to the Supreme Court, had been combined to form the gallery. We saw the original

ballroom where Lord Mountbatten received the Japanese surrender in August 1945, after the Hiroshima

and Nagasaki bombings. We moved onward to the old Parliament House, which has since been re-

purposed as a performance hall. The Lim Bo Seng memorial, and the World War One memorial, which had

been damaged by Japanese machine guns shortly before the Japanese surrender, were our final stops.

I was struck by how the events of WWII had so significantly affected Singapore’s social structure and

identity. Forced to adapt, Singapore had to rise above oppression, learning from past failures, to eventually

achieve success. Relating to the POW experience, the nation needs to adapt to survive, and it is through a

study of the events of WWII, that this was made possible under a unified, diverse Singapore.

Day 4

Today, we looked at how Singapore can promote many different perspectives. Journeying to the Old Ford

Factory, the exhibitions told the story of Japanese occupation of Singapore, together with European and

local perspectives.

From the Japanese perspective, the Fall of Singapore was a morale-boosting achievement for the

Japanese troops. By swiftly conquering Malaysia, they continued this momentum to capture Singapore.

After the British surrender was signed at 6.20pm at the Old Ford Factory, Japan renamed Singapore as

Syonan-to, which translates to “Light of the South”.

Looking at the European perspective, the loss of Singapore was described by Prime Minister Winston

Churchill as the “biggest defeat, and largest capitulation in British history” (1942). Before the Japanese

directly threatened Singapore, the British believed themselves to be vastly superior to the “little men in

coke-bottle glasses”. Believing that the racially inferior Japanese would never beat them in a battle for

Singapore, the Allied forces were caught unprepared. Another important perspective to consider in

Singapore, was the local and civilian point of view. As often found in war, locals and civilians were caught in

the conflict, and had to bear the hardship during wartime. The Old Ford Factory exhibits were very insightful

in providing sources of local experiences. An example of how the locals would suffer was the cost of a

dozen eggs using the Japanese “banana money”. Before occupation, a carton of eggs would cost around

15c; but towards the end of 1944, one dozen would cost over $420 for locals.

The loss of the major naval base in Singapore left Britain’s Southeastern assets completely vulnerable to

Japanese invasion. The Japanese occupation of Singapore was marked by atrocity; Prisoners of War were

tortured and abused by their

Japanese captors. However, with the

end of WWII turning in the Allies’

favour, it was the British perspective

that became enshrined in history, with

the Japanese perspectives being

villainised.

We trailed along narrow paths in

Labrador Park, which was situated

within dense tropical vegetation. It

was hard to imagine how the

Australian troops must have adapted

to the significantly different climate

and vegetation, as the extreme

change from the sparse scrub found

in Australia would have left the

Australian men unprepared for the

dense jungles of Singapore.

Walking around the defences at Labrador Reserve

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Day 5

The theme of Day Five was strategy and surrender. We went to the Ford Canning and Battle Box tunnels to

look at the strategies used by the Japanese and Allied forces.

The Battle Box base, used by General in Command Arthur Percival and squeezing up to 300 orderlies and

officers, prepared against the Japanese advancement. The Japanese naval and air forces were vastly

superior to the British air and sea forces. After the British requested 300 airplanes to deploy in Singapore,

they received only sent 181 planes. About 50% of these planes were destroyed in bombings and dog fights.

Of the three airfields on Singapore, none of them were used to their full capabilities, with the planes flown

by the British being out-dated and useless against the faster more mobile Japanese aircraft. The British

navy was also no use during the defence of Singapore. Despite having a huge naval base in the north of

the island, Britain’s naval presence in Singapore was also non-existent. The bombing and destruction of the

battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battle carrier HMS Repulse, completely removed any British presence

on the water.

With the Japanese conquering Johore on February 1st, 1942, Japanese commander, General Yamashita

ordered his troops to rest while he prepared his attack upon Singapore. Percival, expecting the Japanese

attack to come from the North-east of the island, sent most of his experienced troops to defend that front.

General Yamashita, seeing that this was the British strategy, sent a diversion to an adjacent island.

However, on February 8, under the cover of darkness, he launched the main attack upon the north-west

coast. This area was defended by only three Australian battalions, in contrast twenty-one Japanese

battalions. Pushing the British troops southward to the city itself, the Japanese troops conquered Bukit

Timah Hill, and established their headquarters at the Old Ford Factory.

Forced to decide between surrender or prolonged fighting, Percival had to consider some very important

factors when making the crucial decision. With the underground reservoir half empty, due to water being

lost from bomb damaged pipes, the city lacked resources. The defence forces also lacked ammunition and

oils to power their equipment. The human loss also had to be considered as Singapore was home to over a

million civilians. On the island, there were 130 000 troops who would be taken prisoners of war. To

appease the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, who declared that leaders stand with their men, and

never stop fighting in an attempt preserve British military honour, Percival gathered twelve of his most

senior officers on February 15 1942, to discuss the decision to surrender. Choosing to surrender was

favoured by two of Percival’s most senior leaders - Lewis Heath, leader of the Indian Corps, and Gordon

Bennet, leader of the Australian troops. In just fifteen minutes, the decision to surrender had been made at

the Battle Box.

What was most interesting was the pressure Percival faced when deciding whether to surrender. The

stigma and blame that was attached to his decision later turned Percival into the scapegoat for the failure of

the Malayan campaign. However, I believe that in considering the lives of civilians and the welfare of his

men, surrender, albeit difficult, was the right decision considering the circumstance. Percival was, in that

way, very brave to risk the staunch

pride of the British Empire for the

humanity on the island.

Day 6

Day Six signalled the mid-point of our

commemorative tour, reaching the

Hwa Chong Institution. This was an

academically elite school originally

founded for Chinese boys, but now

enrols boys of all ethnicities. Arriving

at the campus, we were astounded

by the sheer size and infrastructural

elegance of the facilities at HCI. Led

by the HCI liaison, Madame Chan, we Our guides - the Hwa Chong Humanities students

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were taken to the Entrepreneurial Room where we met the first of the students with which we would spend

the day.

After watching a short video on the history of the school, the Singaporean students arrived to greet our tour

group. The boys led us to a Year 7 history class to view a lesson about Singapore’s merge with Malaya to

form Malaysia. After the lesson sit-in, we went on a guided tour of a portion of the school, shown around by

Nathaniel and Shaun, two student leaders. They taught us the values of the school, and referred to the

Chinese proverb, “remember the water source” which reminds students to remember the origins of their

nation, and to give back to communities they come from. Afterwards, we formally introduced ourselves to

the Humanity Program students before going to lunch.

Following lunch, we separated into groups and discussed how the Japanese invasion had impacted on

Singapore, and how personal perspectives have changed over the decades. What I found most interesting

from our discussions with the students is how Singapore is still to discover its own identity as an

independent nation. This is unlike Australia, whose identity which has been shaped by over 100 years of

experiences, particularly the first combat in Gallipoli.

Through its ancient history, Singapore has been predominantly “owned” by other more powerful nations. It

is only since Singapore’s independence in 1965, that the nation has had to start to develop its own,

uniquely Singaporean identity. The technological, economic and environmental advances made by

Singapore in the last fifty years have astounded the world. Yet in building a nation, Singapore is still

establishing their own set of characteristics that make them uniquely Singaporean.

Day 7

The day started with a light drizzle, as the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour made their way to the Singapore Zoo, arguably one of the best zoos in the world. Upon arrival, we made our way to the epicentre of the zoo and watched a very entertaining sea-lion show. We then split off to explore the corners of the grounds.

Singapore itself has a vast variety of unique animals, from the tundra biosphere to the African savannah. The zoo attempts to caters to the needs of animals by limiting traditional fences and security measures and replacing it with natural flora as barriers. With animals such as the orangutan free to climb over the public, this approach to zoo keeping was refreshing to see in a

cosmopolitan city.

The importance of conservation embodied throughout the zoo was obviously over the course of the day. By interacting with the public, the facilities stress the importance of conserving the natural habitat of these animals, many of which were critically endangered like the orangutans. With a strong emphasis on conservation, the zoo encourages visitors to do more to help our four legged friends. Already seen in Singapore’s city, with the development of land bridges for the animals, the green city pays a strong emphasis on the sustainability of our natural environment.

For me, the obvious bond between keeper and animals was interesting. It is stirring to see this bond

fostered at Singapore Zoo. For example, the trusting bond between the deceased orangutan matriarch, Ah

Meng and her trainer Alagappasamy Chellaiyah stretched 37 years before her death in 2008. The strength

of the bond between Ah Meng and Alagappasamy Chellaiyah was demonstrated through when she would

come to train Ah Meng, and the orangutan would gladly hand him her babies. Another example of this was

during the elephant exhibition, trainers and elephants alike would snack on peanuts through the show. This

bond between animal and human is what I believe is essential to better care for our environment.

Day 8

Today we visited Bukit Chandu, the site where the brave Malayan C-division outwitted the Japanese.

Getting close and personal to the animals

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Events described here show that in war,

the pride and honour of your regiment

relies of the unity of your brothers;

together, the last of the Malayans fought

off the Japanese until they were captured.

Forced to admit defeat and strip their

uniforms, the Malayan C-Division

survivors refused to take off their uniform,

honouring their fallen comrades, and

were subsequently executed by the

Japanese.

Unity and honour highlighted to me that in

war, the only factor of life is survival.

During war, there is no social conscious

of morally right and wrong; those who are

oppressed must find a way to survive, or

die trying. It is in this sense that the

perspectives formed during peacetime and wartime cannot be compared. There is no way during a time of

peace, that people who have not lived through the horrors of war can truly understand brutality of combat.

During war, you can only trust your comrades, your brothers who fight, and die beside you. Like the

Malayan regiment, deciding to die for the pride of your regiment is a wartime decision which can only be

understood during that period of conflict.

After this, we went to Sentosa Island, a time dedicated to peacetime leisure for both local and tourists.

What I noticed when at Fort Siloso was that the actions and decisions of those in charge are looked at

differently during a time of peace. The perspectives of war change as one moves from war to peace, and

this change of perspective is directly related to the level of national security. After war, the people question

wartime decisions, an example of this being the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Causing over a million Japanese deaths, the atomic bomb swiftly ended the war. But at what cost? After

the bomb was dropped, and especially from a modern perspective, the dropping of the atomic bomb could

only be seen as a horrendous war crime, as many of those killed in the bombings were civilians. The

wartime decision has faced scrutiny during peace, because the perspective of the level of security has

drastically changed between now and 1945. During war, the bombing of Japan seemed to be the only

option, which is why we must remember that under these circumstances, there is no equality or morality,

only a sheer will to survive and triumph at

whatever cost.

Day 9

We were briefed on what to expect on Anzac

Day by Colonel David Hays, whose personal

tale of service also prompted me to look a

little deeper at the connections the past has

with the present.

Next, we travelled to the Art Science

Museum in Marina Bay in the Lotus Gallery.

With the theme for the day being ‘A trek

through time’, the Art Science Museum

introduced us to the future. Filled with

glittering lights and interactions, the museum

uses modern technology to create interactive

exhibitions which awe and inspire audiences.

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Not only did the museum look to the future with its use of LEDs and special effects, but it still linked to the

past, especially through and exhibition called ‘Crystals’, which was inspired by ancient myths and legends.

Similarly, the Asian Civilisation Museum displayed work by a Korean artist who used multi-media to bring

her artwork to life. A sculptural wall was pinned with plastic buttons to create an overall image of traditional

cherry blossoms which moved and shifted as colours were projected on the wall. In both exhibits, artist use

future technologies to present us with past cultures.

Before going to the Asian Civilisation Museum, we visited the Stamford American International School

(SAIS). Here we met the Year 11 History class, and set about sharing our experiences on history, travelling

and visiting foreign lands. Our visit to SAIS looked at how we can best impact our present, and through

networking with the students here, I realised that as future leaders, we have the greatest opportunity to not

only learn from the past, but to move forward into the future even as we trek through time.

Day 10

With an early beginning, today was destined to be

the most important of our 2017 tour to Singapore.

Leaving our hotel at about 5 am, we travelled to

Kranji War Memorial Cemetery, where the Anzac

Day ceremony was organised by New Zealand. As

one of the most inspiring moments on tour,

listening to the service as the sun rose above the

headland, I reflected on all that we have learnt

during the past days, realising that in this moment,

the love and gratitude for those who serve live on

in us. What was interesting for me was the wide

variety of religions and nations represented at the

ceremony, with ambassadors from all over Europe

and Asia paying their respects, along with

representatives from the four main religions in

Singapore all giving a sense of peace to the fallen. For me, this diversity and inclusivity is representative of

Singapore’s own cultural diversity, and it was refreshing to see this at the commemoration.

Following the ceremony, we wandered the graves, paying our respects to the fallen by placing poppies and

crosses on the graves. For me, the most emotional memorial to discover was the Bangka Island nurses.

Massacred on the Japanese-occupied Bangka Island, as non-combatants and prisoners of war, of the

twenty-two nurses who were machine gunned, only one survived - Ms Vivian Bullwinkel. Finding the brave

nurses who were cut down on Bangka was

personally important, as in the original

essay which began my Singapore journey I

wrote about them, and their surviving sister,

Ms Bullwinkel. After almost a year of

researching and writing about these

women, finding their place of remembrance

was very significant, more so as not only

was one of the nurses killed a local of a

community very close to my own, but

another woman was the great-aunt of my

Humanities teacher, whose story inspired

me to find out more about the Bangka

nurses. For me, I feel as though the

Bangka Island nurses are who inspired me

to enter the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour,

so seeing their grave for me was not only

emotional, and personally validating.

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Day 11

Finally, after ten days in Singapore, it was time to return home. As duty student for today, not only was it my responsibility to take care of our mascot Private Ernest Harvey, but I would be the first of the 2017 tour members to host him for a week in our home towns.

Leaving our home away from home, the Ford Canning Lodge, at 6:30 am, we made our way to Changi airport to catch our flight at 9:30 am. All a little sleep deprived, we made our way onto the plane to complete our flight home. Eventually around 2:30 pm, we made it home safely, with the journey across the sea being enjoyable but a tad bumpy. Once we made through customs back on Australian soil, we had a quick debrief, followed by thank-yous to Ms Jones, Mr Paini and of course, Ms Boswell. Afterwards it was time to reunite with our parents, and make our way home.

I believe that in some way or another, we were all changed by our time abroad. In taking time to consider

the people and perspectives of the past, our own perceptions were being continually challenged and

renewed. Through the course of ten days, ten strangers transformed into ten friends. All of us may have

been on our own historical

journey, but we were all

together in rediscovering the

history that led to the Fall of

Singapore, and together, not

only did we get the facts and

figures of how many captured

and how many had died,

but we saw the devastation,

we saw the graves, we felt the

suffering. For me that is what

was most significant about my

tour to Singapore. Not only

was I there, in the places of

some of the fiercest battles

and defeats, but I was there

with an amazing group of

people, who all brought their

own insights to the tour.

Coming back to my community, I believe that I have been tasked to spread my new-found knowledge and

experiences. Like all of us, I have been given the tools, facts, figures, memories, experiences, to educate

and changed certain perspectives within my own community. At the March Briefing, at the start of our

journey, we were told a story about school children who had brought back seeds from the Lone Pine in

Gallipoli. These seeds were then brought back to Australia, and given to selected schools, so that each of

them could have a piece of history growing within their community. In such way, I hope to plant the seeds

of my experiences in both my residential and school communities, hoping to inspire a new generation of

ambassadors to take the journey on future Premier’s Anzac Student Tours.

Tour reflections

Upon reflection, I know that the 2017 Premier’s Anzac Student Tour has forever changed my outlook on

history. What started as a passion to learn more, to gain a better insight into the lives of the past, sparked

into the realisation that not only must learn and understand the past, but I must also share this knowledge.

By sharing what I have learnt, not only do I teach others of the past histories that have shaped our identity

as nations, but I enrich their own personal understanding of times gone by. It is my hope that being on the

tour means I am able to inspire others with my experiences as an ambassador in my community.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to sincerely thank the

following people who have all

greatly contributed to my

commemorative journey with

Singapore.

First and foremost, the tour

wouldn’t go ahead without the

support of the Premier, the Hon.

Mark McGowan, along with the

Minister for education, Ms Suzanne

Ellery. I would also like to thank the

2017 tour coordinator, Ms

Samantha Boswell, with special

thanks going to the teachers who

accompanied us on this tour, Mr

Norman Paini and Mrs Mery Jones.

I would like a huge thank you to go

to my Humanities teacher, Mrs

Susan Thomson, whose support

encouraged me to enter. My

gratitude also goes to all the

wonderful museums, exhibitions and memorials we visited before and during our visit to Singapore.

Thank you also to New Zealand for organising the Anzac Day Dawn Service we attended, at the Kranji War

Memorial Cemetery. Thanks goes to the Hwa Chong Institution and the students at the Stamford American

International School, and our special speakers, Mrs Jan McLeod and Mrs Jenny Knight from the War

Widows Guild and Colonel David Hays, Clele White and Sharifah Khairunnisa. My deep gratitude also goes

to all our tour guides throughout the trip: Mr Brian King, Mr Barry Ellis, along with Joe, Chris and Ni, who

took us on their own personal journey through history and friends of the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour.

Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank the other student tour participants: Ming Hui Gao, Mya

Kordic, Kaitlyn McKenzie, Cobie Menzie, Mitchell Murray, Patrick Reilly, Brandon Rowe, Bryce Taylor and

Cale Wilcox. Without this amazing group of people, my study tour would not have been the same, and I

know that this group of young leaders will go on to do great things.

The 2017 Premier’s Anzac Student Tour to Singapore

90

Ming Hui Gao

Year 11

Rossmoyne Senior High School

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Introduction

The 11th of November, being a Friday, was already a much anticipated time of the week. For myself,

emphasis on anticipated as the countdown to the announcement of the selected tour participants drew to a

close. However, what I had intended to be a climactic end to the beginning took a turn for the unexpected.

Paralleling Caesar’s determination, “I waited, I hoped, I logged on to the Department of Education to

encounter technical difficulties and was denied access to the list of selected students.” I weighed my odds

then, and decided they could be better.

For the rest of the day, I tried to settle into a passive attitude, steeling myself for news of any quality or

nature. So much so that when the principal asked to see me during Period Three, I only experienced a mild

attack of nerves for two very different reasons. On one hand, my chances at being selected for the

Premier’s Anzac Tour seemed to improve. On the other hand, I didn’t remember having violated any school

rule to the degree where trial by school principal was necessary. (Given that this is my journal, readers can

infer that events followed the course of the former).

This year’s destination for the Premier’s Anzac Student Tour is close to home, and perhaps more so for

myself as Singapore was the country where I was born. But though I was born Singaporean, I was very

much bred Australian and had never delved deeply into the history of my birth country until the opportunity

to enter the Anzac Tour competition arose. Having the good fortune to be selected on this tour, I wish to

make the most of this opportunity. I would like to better understand the shared past between Australia and

Singapore - the uncertainty, losses and motivation that drove both the Anzacs and citizens of Singapore

alike during the midst of Japanese invasion. Given the Lion City’s determination during war, I hope to see

for myself how this tiny island nation with virtually no natural resources to boast of transformed itself into

one of the leaders in the new war of trade and economics. It never ceases to amaze me that Singapore can

be the smallest empire by land but the largest by scope. I am both grateful and excited to have been

selected as a WA Ambassador on this tour and look forward to visiting my first home as a tourist of history.

March Briefing

I find the most difficult aspect of history is

empathy. I can study the statistics and research

the facts to appreciate the magnitude of

historical catalysts such as the Treaty of

Versaille or the Fall of Singapore, yet the

experiences of the individuals involved has

always eluded me. Perhaps due to my lack of

connection with the historical roots of Australia

or the lapse of a century, I viewed the sacrifices

of the Anzacs objectively; as feats deserving of

respect and commemoration but rarely with

any further personal reflection. In fact, I used to

wonder why Australia commemorated an

undoubtedly strategic failure. At this year’s

March Briefing, however, hearing the

perspectives that each of the other tour participants brought to the table has given me a chance to examine

the Anzacs within a more personal context. (At the risk of sounding vague or completely incomprehensible,

may the reader give me a chance to explain myself).

Ten students, ten different schools

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In the days leading up to the March Briefing, it is difficult to say what affected me most: anticipation or

anxiety. The gravity of the tour had had time to sink in and as I stood up to speak at the Presentation

Ceremony, I had doubts whether I was fit to be a representative at such a solemn - and personal - event. I

doubted whether I could do justice to the veterans, ministers and the War Widow’s Guild when I myself,

while respecting the achievements and actions of soldiers during conflict, do not hold such personal loss

and empathy as they would have. This uncertainty only grew as I moved to meet the rest of the tour

participants.

Ten students, ten different schools, 9 chances to work out an impressionable introduction. We were all from

different areas of Western Australia - some of us live 4 km from city centre while others a full four hours’

drive from Perth; my only connection with them being this tour. I believe I had good cause to be nervous,

yet during those three days lodging together the ten of us managed to go from pleasure-to-meet-you

strangers to at the very least close acquaintances. They shared their thoughts and passions for history, and

I in turn was gratified to hear what gave them inspiration - what made them empathize with the stories of

the Anzacs. I learned about veteran family members; a school with history dating back to WW2; the story of

Nurse Bullwinkle’s triumph against all odds. What I learned I hope will aid me in my own understanding of

the Anzac legend. If anything, I am now friends (fingers crossed) with dog haters cat lovers, a funeral fan

and people with uncanny reflexes.

I’ve opened with this anecdote on friendship as this is how I imagine the mateship between the Anzacs

were built. It is humbling to consider men and boys our age - perhaps younger - enlisting from all over the

state; introducing themselves to people they’ve never seen, coming from places they’ve never known. For

them, the strangers they trained with were the ones with whom they would entrust their lives. While touring

the Army Museum and the WW2 tunnels under Fremantle, what I felt certain was the urgency, fear and

fervour as the Allied defences retreated steadily to Singapore and Australia prepared itself for a war they

thought they’d joined to fight for Britain. This fervour translated to the determination which excavated 300m

of tunnel up to 10m below ground. Seeing the crosses lined along May Drive at Kings Park - telling the

death of soldiers in action and in accident - brings to reality the cost of a war that started half way across

the world and should have ended with the First. Hearing Jan from the War Widow’s Guild speak about her

own husband now passed made me wonder at the fortitude of the women who let their husbands go to war

all those years ago.

Mark Twain once said that courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. I hesitate to

say whether I would have been brave enough to have done the same in their place.

Day One

Ten students, ten different schools

This was one of the first pictures we took as a group. Seeing the other participants again after more than a

month, I was confident and looking expectantly to fire up the conversations. At this point, however,

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communication was still tentative (but search for Wi-Fi desperate). Resisting any inspiration, my

imagination yielded the same questions:

1. Have you been overseas before? 2. You haven’t been overseas before, right? 3. Did I ever ask whether you’ve been overseas? Before?

Repeat with topics school ball, last day of term and drive to airport. Put it down to nerves. A homecoming without the home?

I was in Singapore only last December, not as a resident returning to a familiar bustle and culture but just

another tourist passing through. Walking out of Changi Airport into the humidity I had recreated from past

memories, the climate was nevertheless still unexpected.

On the plane I watched Lion and saw Saroo leave India as a child and return 25 years later. When asked

whether he barracked for India or Australia in cricket, he responded “Australia”. For what it’s worth, I

support Australia over Singapore at the Olympics.

I am eager to learn about this city; to seek out its history, its culture, its secret to success. Looking outside,

the one thing I’ll have to get used to is that the lights never seem to go out in Singapore.

Day Two

Both Australia and Singapore pride themselves on being multicultural, however, though they share this

same principle each nation has taken a different approach to maintain their diversity. While touring the side

streets and alleyways of Singapore, it was an eye opener to discover the importance Singapore placed

upon preserving their heritage. At one end of the scale, the nation is wary of division and strives to

incorporate all four major languages into the layout of the city; a tourist can find street names ranging from

Stamford and Amoy to Sin Ming and Ang Mo Kio.

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In state owned apartments, the Singaporean Government implements a housing ratio policy that regulates

the cultural demography of residents within the building to mirror the nation’s demography — even if 70% of

the population is of Chinese background, the other (comparative) minorities will not be disadvantaged. In

regards to the judicature, whereas Australia only has a Civil Court, Singapore facilitates both a Civil and

Sharia Court to accommodate the different laws governing those practising Islamic faith.

For an island only 42 by 27 kilometres with almost 8000 people living per square kilometre, I can

understand how this depth of control and consideration is necessary to avoid conflict. What struck deeper

was the evident thought put into preserving each culture’s individuality and, to some extent, I am able to

empathise with the pride each culture would hold in themselves. Yet, an alternative perspective to this

protective attitude also exists.

Having grown up with a Singaporean mother and belonging to one of the three main races; the Chinese,

Malay and Indian; if given the chance, I could eventually settle into Singapore with no shortage of links to

my Chinese heritage. This would also be true for the Malay with Kampong Glam and Indians with Little

India. In contrast, it is illegal for cultures that are not considered to comprise the majority of the

Singaporean population — for example the Koreans, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thais — to set up their own

cultural “towns”. While streets may be

dedicated to Korean, Japanese wares,

these “foreign” minority cultures will not

be officially recognised as a part of

Singapore’s demographic landscape. And

it seems that Singapore’s cultural unity

continues to be an issue of hot debate;

when I questioned our tour guide on this

point, he recounted an incident where the

distribution of a brochure written in

Filipino raised debate within the

neighbourhood — Filipino not being one

of the four main languages. Given the

perspectives of both sides, it is hard for

me to form a definitive stance on this

issue.

When comparing Singapore’s multiculturalism to Australia, it becomes obvious that space and density is

not a concern at home. There becomes no need to regulate or allocate cultures into distinct sectors -

Australia, comparatively, gives free reins to how each culture wishes to develop and settle. This story then

leads to different endings. While I am not a second generation Australian, many of my friends, school

mates and my younger brother are, and identify strongly as Australian. When we speak to our parents, we

intermingle our mother tongue and English. Without a

strong presence of cultural “towns” in Perth, I look

forward to Christmas more than to Chinese New Year.

On the other hand, the free rein given to different

cultures has caused some to worry whether Australia

will lose its individuality - its unity, to parallel the

situation in Singapore.

Having experienced both Australia and Singapore’s

take on multiculturalism, it is even more difficult to

decide what is defined as multiculturalism. Both nations

are unique in their circumstances and whether their

respective attitudes towards diversity will lead to

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harmony or conflict, I cannot even begin to say.

Day Three

“You learn more from failure than success”.

Not the words you want to hear after scoring a slim pass, but nevertheless applicable to history. In

reminiscing, it is easy to criticise campaigns such as Gallipoli and the Battle for Singapore as mere failures

while re-envisioning each commanding decision for success. Yet, just as Gallipoli solidified Australia’s

identity, so, too, did the Fall of Singapore act as a catalyst for Singapore’s independence from colonialism. I

came by that first quote through our Singapore battlefield tour guide, Chris. Not only does his knowledge of

the campaign tell the story of Singapore’s struggle, but his own personal perspective offers insight into the

country’s development to nationhood.

At our first stop at Changi Beach, Chris adeptly explained the chaos during the Allied retreat and the terror

felt by civilians in the beginning days of Japanese occupation. On the other hand, he also mentioned the

lack of emotional connection between those past Singaporeans and the soldiers who died in that campaign.

I describe them as Singaporeans,

however, prior to WWII they were only

known as a collection of Chinese, Malay

and Indian immigrants with limited

attachment to the piece of land under

British colonial rule; they came, they

worked, they returned home - not to

Singapore but to China, Malaysia or

India. If the British had won that battle,

there’s a high chance this would have

continued to be the case. With Allied

defeat, not only did the immigrant’s role

in Singapore develop significantly, but

the relationship between the British

colonial rulers and native civilians also

underwent change.

One of my highlights of the tour today was the Changi Chapel. Told in quotes, the facts are lifted out of

textbooks and imbued with meaning. One European POW spoke of his changed attitude towards the native

civilians. They supported Britain in their loss and when the POWs were marched to prison, many of them

braved Japanese wrath and came out to offer the prisoners water. The native's involvement in bearing the

yoke of Japanese oppression didn’t end there. Erected in the Esplanade is a cenotaph dedicated to a

successful Chinese merchant, Lim Bo Seng. Seng contributed to many community projects and, escaping

Singapore prior the fall, he later came back as part of a guerrilla task force through Malaya. Although the

monument commemorating Seng’s brave actions (he was later captured and executed) was the initiative of

other local Chinese businessmen and not of the British administration, his active role in the liberation of

Singapore led to a sense of growing independence in the citizens. This was best demonstrated when we

heard the recording of former PM of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew’s speech in Singapore’s old parliament

house; in a nutshell, the natives had always looked to Europeans to assert control and upon finding the

Europeans as lost as them, they took the future of Singapore into their own hands.

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Today, Singapore stands as a republic, not a colony. When hearing our tour guides speak about the city-

state, it is evident that Singapore sees itself as a country and not simply a motley collection of cultures.

Chris talks about Singapore as “my country” and takes pride in Singapore’s rather unique tongue, Singlish.

As we passed the Singapore Flyer and were told how the ferris wheel was raised on a platform which made

it taller than the London Eye, Chris jokingly commented that Singapore is trying to one up the British. If

Australia had been successful at Gallipoli, perhaps our nation would not have been united in grief. If the

British had won the Pacific War, I doubt Singapore would be as independent as it is now.

Day Four

Prior to the two World Wars, conflicts were restricted and resolved between the military. Total war tactics

only became necessary when war spread to encompass nations around the globe - civilians were

integrated into the war machine and became fair game. Commanders no longer held just the well-being of

their troops in mind but must also consider the repercussions on the locals. Too often, the people who hold

the highest stakes and suffer the most in conflict are not the soldiers fighting in the field, but the civilians

whose homes are the battleground. This reality is no better demonstrated than by looking at the

Singaporeans living under Japanese occupation.

Although the Japanese and British were enemies on many fronts, the military of both sides were common

in their singular arrogance. Listening to the tutorial presentation on Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival, it

became clear that neither Percival nor the British forces he headed could acknowledge any form of

Japanese superiority over Great Britain. Neither did the colonial soldiers hold the locals in any great

esteem. Ironically, Tomoyuki Yamashita and his Japanese troops were just as staunch in their belief in

Japanese cultural superiority and their 日本精神 [Nihon Seishin], Japanese spirit. This confidence is

captured particularly well by a map of Singapore exhibited in the Old Ford Factory. This map of the newly

named Syonan-To, complete with a list of Japanese owned businesses, was published in Tokyo just 12

days after the city’s fall, suggesting that the Japanese had prepared beforehand for a victory they took

forgranted.

It is a famous saying that pride goes before fall. Whether or not both sides were arrogant in their own right,

the result is nonetheless the suffering of civilians. Having chased the British out of Singapore, Japanese

soldiers swiftly rounded up Chinese residents and over a period of weeks, enacted the Sook Ching

massacres. Aside from physical oppression, locals were often humiliated by Japanese troops who

arbitrarily slapped them depending on mood. Not to justify the actions of the Japanese soldiers, but in war,

priorities are essential and brutally asserted. More often than not, the safety and comfort of locals - in

regards to treatment or food - are second to the welfare and effectiveness of the army. Civilians, in austerity

after committing to one war machine, are inevitably crushed by another machine with a different label.

Day Five

Perhaps what was most bitter about the Fall of Singapore was that it was not an unpreventable loss. Nor

was it unforeseeable. The commanding officers at Singapore had been aware of the citadel's shortfalls and

had requested support to cover these gaps. By the time General Yamashita triggered the Malaya-

Singaporean campaign, however, the Allies were still unprepared. Touring through the Fort Canning Battle

Box where the British held headquarters during the Battle for Singapore, it becomes obvious that

information was gold. Both sides having already been dealt their hand, it is astonishing to see how each

used it to their advantage — or disadvantage.

While Yamashita’s ethics are questionable, it is hard to deny his skill as a strategist. He was true to Sun

Tzu’s maxim, if you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.

Yamashita was dealt the odds of 60 000 Japanese against 130 000 Allied forces, yet he made full use of

the upper hand that he did have. Realising he was disadvantaged in infantry, Yamashita prioritised

knocking out Britain’s air and naval power. Japanese troops targeted airfields and as soon as their planes

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spotted British ships Repulse and Prince of Wales, bombers were flown out. Before the two ships had seen

battle, they were sunk. Having eliminated Britain’s reconnaissance ability, Yamashita was able to second

guess Lieutenant General Arthur Percival’s choices. From then on, the ball was in his court. In planning for

Singapore’s fall, Yamashita set up headquarters in the Sultan’s Palace across the Malaya-Singapore

causeway. Counting on Percival’s reluctance to risk bombing the Palace, Yamashita was able to scout the

land ahead from a balloon suspended clear and visible above. The Japanese, aware that the British

expected an attack from Singapore’s northeast, sent 400 men as a feint and concentrated large numbers

on crossing from the northwest. In defence of the British and Percival, there was no means of ascertaining

Yamashita’s intentions from the air.

From the very beginning, the British were left unorganised. The superior officers could not predict when

Japan would attack and the headquarters which they finished establishing at Sime Road, Singapore on 6

December 1941 had to be abandoned and moved further down as the Pacific War was initiated the next

day. Though the Allies were advantaged in numbers, they were short on equipment; the requested number

of tanks, airplanes and ships to match the Japanese could not be provided. Once Britain lost control of sky

and water, they were left in the dark. Yamashita initiated his own lightning war which meant events were

escalating too rapidly for the British to catch up.

From the base under Fort Canning Hill, it

took Percival 45 minutes to contact Lewis

Heath, commander of the 3rd Indian Corp.

By that time, Japanese soldiers on bicycles

would be on the move and whatever

information was passed on would be

obsolete. It is difficult to imagine 130 000

surrendering to 60 000, yet under pressure

with no information, facing no food, no

water, no reinforcements, it is likewise

difficult to imagine the state of mind of

Percival. Having walked through the battle

box, I can appreciate the discomfort it must

have been when packed with anywhere

from 300 to 500 men. Not only was Percival

facing supply problems, he was also in strife

with commanders Heath and Bennett. In a

way, Percival is the personification of the

British during the whole Singaporean campaign — no information, no supply, no friends.

Given these odds, I do not blame the British for making the decision to surrender in 15 minutes. Having no

information to go on, if they were going to come to the same decision it might as well have been made as

early as possible. Information wins wars. Alternatively,

at that point, it is perhaps safe to say that Percival

would have lost anyway — knowing that the cards were

stacked in Britain’s favour but still managing to lose the

hand is small comfort.

Day Six

All I can say about today is that I am glad I had the

opportunity to meet the students from Hwa Chong

Institution. I am happy for the laughs we exchanged,

grateful for the discussions we held and humble for the

Former headquarters of British command

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new views I was exposed to today.

Prior going to Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), I had worries about visiting an all boys’ school and meeting their

students. It is hard, however, to stay high strung when given the chance to sit in on a Year 7 history class. I

found it fun to see how the same subject in Australia could be taught differently in Singapore. We took the

class in a lecture style room and the curriculum naturally changed to focus on Singapore. The teacher

interjected with jokes and more than once, we laughed along as her students ‘roasted’ each other. Of

course, the teacher repaid their compliments. She jokingly referred to her Year 7s as “the future leaders

you will have to do deal with”. Despite the fun I had, I still managed to learn about the merger and

separation in Singaporean history.

Skipping a few grades, being able to later meet with other Humanities students our age opened up a whole

range of discussion. Over lunch, we compared and debated the contrasts between Australia and Singapore

on topics from housing and government systems to the education curriculums and television shows. I found

myself envying aspects of their lives as well as being grateful for aspects from my own. At Hwa Chong, the

students dedicate every Friday afternoon to what they call CCA, co-curricular activities. The institute offers

fencing, judo, cadets to name a few. Another point of envy was the comparative cleanliness of HCI — due

to the Singaporean Government’s ban on gum, not a single piece could be seen on the floor, under

furniture or stuck on walls. The grounds were spacious and the fixtures arranged symbolically. Embodying

the Chinese proverb 飲水思源, meaning to drink the water and remember its source, the school built a

fountain to commemorate Singapore’s past and founding fathers. In discussing the pros and cons of both

nations’ approach to education, I was surprised to hear that Singaporean students specialise very early in

their school years. By the Australian equivalent of Years 8, 9 and 10, the students had already started to

select specific subjects such as Chemistry, Physics, History, Chinese Studies etc. and are expected to

maintain the path they chose. While I like the idea of starting early, I am grateful that I was given time to

experiment (and fail) during lower school. Listening to the comments of the Humanities students, it also

seems that schools in Australia offer a wider range of subjects; from Philosophy to Politics and Law. On the

one hand, Singapore allows students to start and specialise early, while Australia encourages dabbling and

variety. I learnt much about the lifestyle in Singapore, but what was more humbling were the students’

personal perspectives and outlook on Singapore’s past and future.

Hercules triumphed over his Twelve

Labours, but I doubt whether he would

have bowed down to humility. For

myself, being humble and curbing my

pride in the face of other people’s

knowledge and opinion was, still is,

difficult (to the point where I wonder

whether I wasn’t the most arrogant snob

on Earth). Though I feign indifference, I

compete with my brother academically

and in sport, and will find it hard to

accept advice from his quarter even if

he is better. Listening to the Hwa Chong

Humanities students talk about their

aspirations, ideals and understanding of

Singapore’s past (and to what future)

has given me insight not only into the

history that I’ve gathered in the past few

days, but also into Australia’s own story

of nationhood. In exploring national identity, one of the Hwa Chong students noted that Singapore’s values

are constantly shifting — as if each event since founding is a milestone to be remembered, but not to be

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riveted to. Singapore is always moving on and it is this forward thinking matched with pragmatism that has

allowed the city-state to succeed against larger, older countries in the Southeast Asia region. I cannot help

but contrast this to Australia.

Whereas Singapore is like a ship that flows onwards, Australia anchors its identity to a past defining event,

the Anzac landing at Gallipoli. Where these two attitudes will lead I am unable to say, yet the fact that the

student had such depth of thought and understanding in his answer humbles me. The students’

perspectives on the Fall of Singapore were no less insightful. Two of them shared the personal experiences

of their respective grandparents under Japanese occupation; one felt reconciliation, while the other to this

day has not forgiven the Japanese for the atrocities committed. Finding out about these two different

viewpoints — two different consequences of the war — created a whole other level of complexity to this

period of history. Without having met these students from Hwa Chong, I would not have been provoked to

re-evaluate my values and way of thinking, nor would I have been exposed to another side of WWII.

Here’s to Max, Shaun, Sean, Kevin, Nathanael, Hao, Ying Zhi, Charlton, Tony and Francis from Hwa

Chong Institution. Thank you for the laughs, discussions and new angle of thought. :D

Day Seven

Remembering my excitement when I was younger at the Perth Zoo, I looked forward to seeing the animals

unique to the Singapore Zoo. I wanted to see the white tiger, the polar bear and notorious red-cheeked

baboons, yet I walked out turning over thoughts that hadn’t come to the mind of my younger self.

There is little doubt that Singapore excels at compromising between the needs of an urban metropolis and

the animals of the natural environment. On the way to the zoo, our tour guide pointed out an overhead

bridge covered with jungle. It spanned the highway, connecting the stretches of forests on opposite sides

— a single link built exclusively to allow animals to cross safely between both forests. This push for social

awareness and responsibility for the environment was also a prevalent theme in the Zoo. Placed around

the exhibitions were poster boards advocating the protection of endangered species and choices towards

an environmentally friendly lifestyle. The open orangutan area and the close bond between zookeepers and

animals speak of the care the Singapore

Zoo invests in their creatures. Yet, while I

admired the effort put into such care, I

could not help but notice that my response

differed from when I was younger. Visiting

again a couple of years older, I realise that

we still don’t know that much about the

animals we want to save and protect. We

guess at their feelings and interpret their

actions from our point of view — their

restlessness as excitement, indolence as

exhaustion — I cannot help but wonder

what they would say if they could speak.

Would they be brave enough to ask for

freedom? The polar bear living in the tropics, the lions behind glass walls, the white tiger rolling in the dust.

It is with envy that I think back to the time when my eyes looked past the bars and only saw the animal

within. As I gain empathy, however, perhaps realism also comes with the package. Compared to some

animals’ survival chances in the wild, the zoo is a relative safe haven from human activity. Polar bears are

threatened by starvation and exhaustion as their habitat melts down in the north, while no orangutan is

likely to survive against bulldozers in the rainforests. It becomes a question of die safe or die free. What is

most confronting is that we forced this choice on them.

White tiger lounging in the dust

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Day Eight

Although the Fall of Singapore is perceived primarily as a campaign fought by Great Britain, this does not

truly reflect all those who were engaged in the defence of Singapore. One of the less well known

participants was the Malay

Regiment. Beginning as an

Experimental Company, the

regiment’s effectiveness led to

their expansion and involvement

in the battle against the

Japanese at Bukit Chandu. A

war memorial now marks the

site where one of the fiercest

confrontations in the whole

campaign was fought.

Winston Churchill’s expectation

that Singapore “must be fought

to the bitter end at all costs”

brings to my mind a line from

Lord Alfred Tennyson’s ‘The

Charge of the Light Brigade’,

“Theirs not to reason why; theirs

but to do and die”. This is one form of honour and I respect the British for holding their ground in a foreign

country. However, after watching a re-enactment of the Battle of Bukit Chandu at the memorial, and

witnessing the brave actions of the Malay regiment, I’ve come to regard honour in another light. The Malay

Regiment, unlike the British, had an emotional connection to the land that they fought to keep. Such was

their resistance against the Japanese that the regiment halted the enemy’s advance for two days;

considering the campaign only totalled eight days, this struck me as a remarkable feat. As their guns rattled

out their last bullets, the regiment’s Captain Lt Adnan Saidi encouraged his men not to give in — when they

couldn’t fight with bullets, they would fight with hands and knives. The regiment defended their position to

the death and even after they were overrun and captured by the Japanese, Saidi and his men refused to

take off their uniform and surrender. In anger, the Japanese commander ordered Saidi to be shot and his

body strung up by his feet under a tree. This was the fate of many other soldiers who refused to surrender.

Their actions truly embody the phrase “death before dishonour”. It is the Malay regiment’s dignity and

courage that strikes me just as much as — or perhaps more than — the fearless charge of the Light

Brigade.

Day Nine

Today was an action-packed day, where we visited many places and explored many different insights.

Art and science are typically categorised as the

antithesis of the other. Even in university, students

are separated into those graduating with a Bachelor

of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. Looking at the

museum’s interpretation of both, however, it was

hard to distinguish where one started and the other

ended. The pieces featured were each a blend of

technology and colour.

Art and Science Museum

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My most favourable response was to the first exhibition, which combined music and digital graphics in a

light show to immerse the audience in a story about a three legged crow, the embodiment of the sun in

Japanese folklore. It is hard to frame in words something that was meant to be animated and life-like. What

I experienced at the museum is a testimony to Singapore’s ingenuity and aspirations (despite the injustice it

suffers from my photography skills).

We tend to perceive Asian history through a European lens - where Asia’s story began at the planting of the

British, French or Dutch flag. In this sense, Australia and Singapore are considered young nations. Yet, a

pre-colonial Asia existed and was just as advanced in its culture and arts. At the Asian Civilisations

Museum, I had the chance to learn about the ancient history of Korea, a nation which, at least in Australian

textbooks, is rarely touched upon. The Joseon Dynasty reigned as one of the world’s longest and one of

their artefacts which surprised me was an elaborately carved glasses case - surprising as I hadn’t expected

something I wear everyday was invented in the 1300s. A quick internet search showed that glasses were

first invented in Italy in the 1200s. Reflecting on this, I found it interesting to think that two completely

different dynasties/empires separated by half the world came up with the same idea, similar to the way in

which Pi was simultaneously discovered by mathematicians around the world.

Our visit to the Australian High Commission was actually the first event of the day, yet it was the last

remaining thought in my mind as our group sat down to talk about our impressions of the day. One

comment that Colonel David Hays made stuck in my mind. He said that for a period following the Vietnam

War, the returning soldiers were reluctant to identify themselves as veterans.

Australia’s anti-war sentiment had coloured society’s attitude towards those who participated in the war

effort.

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My first impression was one of disapproval, thinking that the Australian population had carelessly estranged

the people who, despite their own grievances against the war, still fought overseas in Australia’s name. On

this point, however, I had the chance to gain another perspective from Norman, one of our tour supervisors.

His perspective, as one who was fortunate to be too young to be conscripted but participated in the peace

marches against the war, made me reconsider my opinion. I am able to understand the public’s outcry

against Australia’s participation in a foreign war, and at the same time, I realise how complex and far-

reaching decisions such as war can have on a nation’s very core values.

Day Ten

When I first entered the PAST

competition, I was unsure whether

they would accept someone who had,

prior to her application, taken minimal

interest in Anzac commemorations.

Beyond the ceremony held at school, I

had never been to a public dawn

service. I had no relatives with military

service to boast of, and even if I had,

perhaps there would be such a lapse

of time between our two lives that I

would view them with the same

respect that other veterans deserve,

but (and here I am guessing) none the

more nor less. It is said that time heals

all wounds, and probably more so for

the wounds that one never felt.

Given that the dawn service at Kranji was to be my first, it is needless to describe my uncertainty. I hadn’t

known what to expect and in retrospect, I think I had imagined the ceremony to be not unlike a funeral.

Following that train of thought, I wondered what my response would be? What should it be?

When Chris told us that Singapore did not really have a day for commemoration like Anzac Day for

Australia, the other tour participants seemed surprised by this (if I read reactions correctly). Yet, in all

honesty, it was what I expected. Going by personal experience, my mother who grew up in Singapore does

not hold any strong feelings towards the soldiers who died on Singaporean soil. Neither is the Fall of

Singapore a public holiday for Singaporeans. To a Singaporean, then, Anzac Day would be rather unique

in its purpose and execution.

The term Anzac started as an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp, but has now

broadened to encompass all service people who have fought for Australia and her allies. As I walked

around Kranji War Memorial Cemetery, I saw graves of soldiers from WWII. Since then, Australian troops

have passed through Korea, Vietnam and more recently, Afghanistan and the Middle East. Australia has

entwined its national identity with the Anzac legacy from as far back as more than a century ago. We

anchor our values in the conflicts which we have endured, but it makes me wonder what happens when the

last conflict to speak of occurred fifty years ago, or a hundred. If time heals all wounds, who will remember

the wounds of the past?

Day Eleven

Coming home was bittersweet and it was a shock to think how ten days could pass by so rapidly. Before I

knew it, we were peering down at a scene not unlike that when we flew out of Perth.

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It was with a disrupted sense of time that I looked out to see the familiar curve of the Swan River. Though

there was no time difference between Singapore and Perth, coming back from a tour where every day was

packed with new knowledge made the return trip seem as if it was suspended in time.

If anything, this photo will remind me that

ten days is enough for ten people to

become fast friends. Even as I take home

the knowledge imparted by our tour guides

and insights from the Singaporean

students, I want to remember the thoughts

that each and every one of the students

shared at our round table of discussion in

closing the day’s activities.

Conclusion and Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I want to express my

gratitude to my HASS teacher. Without her

willing advice, my essay would most likely

have been rejected on receipt.

I would also like to thank:

The Premier Mark McGowan and the State Government for funding the program and giving me the

opportunity to participate in this historical commemorative study tour of Singapore.

The Returned Services League, the War Widows’ Guild of Australia and Department of Veterans’

Affairs for supporting the PAST 2017. Special thanks to the DVA for donating a collection of books

to each of the tour participants.

Chris, our battlefield specialist, for his fathomless well of expertise. Benjamin Franklin once said

that ‘an investment in knowledge pays the best interest’. If so, Chris would be one of the wealthiest

in the world. I enjoyed listening to every single story he told.

Uncle Joe, our tour guide around the city, for his funny insights into Singapore.

The Humanities students from Hwa Chong Institution for their warm welcome. I don’t know if it

means much coming from someone the same age, but they were wise beyond their years.

Last, but not least, a big thanks to Sam, Mery and Norman for organising, supervising and guiding us on

tour. It is a testimony to their expertise that none of us got lost in the world’s third densely populated

country.

It is thanks to all of the above that I am able to share my experiences with my friends and family, my school

and the community.

Reflections and Memories

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Mitchell Murray

Year 12

Wesley College

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Introduction

November 11 2016 was a much anticipated day for me; a day of remembrance and the announcement of

the winners who would be bestowed the honour of attending the Premier's Anzac Student Tour to

Singapore in 2017. The essay-writing process was lengthy, engaging and required a lot of application in

terms of research, not just of the historical events that took place but, more importantly, the people who

lived and experienced those events and their accounts. Eventually my research led to a telephone interview

with the daughter of a POW whose father worked on the Thai-Burma Railway.

On the day of the Premier's announcement, I was very excited but nervous. The interview process I had

long anticipated went extremely smoothly, but I was by no means confident I was the person for the job.

Initially, the interview appeared daunting but as the interview progressed, I felt as though my words were

flowing naturally and I had established a respectable rapport with the panel doing my best to gauge the

room and respond accordingly. In my mind I knew I had to present the best I had to offer, this was an

opportunity to pursue my interests and passions - history, international relations and Mandarin. I’d

envisioned the other candidates interviewed to be extremely competitive but was left hopeful from my

interactions with the judges. With these thoughts in mind, I waited for the announcement.

At the end of lunch, I received a phone call. Surely enough it was a call that would either confirm I had

either succeeded or failed valiantly in my efforts to become a student ambassador. As you can imagine, I

was pleasantly surprised to say the least, feeling a rush that had me feeling elated, confident and buzzing

for the rest of the week! This was followed with me sharing my achievement with my friends, visiting the

offices of my teachers and a barrage of thankful phone calls to those who aided my efforts.

I feel both privileged and honoured to be selected and I intend to honour my role as student ambassador by

putting 110% effort into preparation for the tour, and promoting my Tour experience. It has been wonderful

getting into contact with many journalists and members of parliament who have been willing to work with

me in promoting and sharing my achievement and later, my tour experience with as many people as

possible. As I have a strong interest in history and international relations, the Premier's Anzac Student Tour

will be a worthwhile experience and provide me with a greater understanding of the past and the impact the

past has on our present.

I can hardly express my gratitude to everyone who helped make the Premier's Anzac Tour possible,

especially to those who aided me in securing my position on the tour. I'll also look forward to bonding with

the tour group and, no doubt, making lifelong friendships. Not only will I be provided with the opportunity of

having an amazing historical commemorative tour, I will also be able to put my Mandarin language skills to

use. I will learn about the history and culture of Singapore, as well as the marvels Singapore has both

developed and preserved for the future.

March Briefing

On 2 March 2017, ten student participants commenced the March Briefing. Anxiety and excitement filled

the room as we waited for the Minister for Education, Hon Peter Collier MLC to present us with our official

certificates in acknowledgement of this achievement.

The Minister spoke well of the tour and there was a strong feeling of gratitude towards those who have

provided such a life changing experience. Two veterans from the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Mr Dick

Ridgwell and Mr John Gilmour, were also present. These veterans kindly shared their experiences with

keen listeners after the ceremony. They both recalled their experiences and provided a very real picture of

the treatment of POW's by the Japanese and the nature of the Japanese military. He recollected the

rebellious nature of the POW's at the dockyard, stories of dumping or sabotaging valuable resources

coming into the country such as iron or rubber, and filling their pockets with stolen imports, such as rice and

sugar. Apparently, the men learnt which were the valuable containers and the Japanese never caught on.

This story resonated with me because, despite the severe consequences of punishment and death, the

men continued to resist the Japanese and didn't give in both physically and mentally.

For the rest of the day, the focus was getting to know one another with a combination of fun icebreakers

that helped us become a more cohesive group. We played historical charades which involved us dressing

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up as historical figures and asking each other questions to figure out who was who - a great opportunity for

us to use our historical knowledge and critical thinking.

The next day began with a refreshing early morning walk around serene Lake Monger; a calming start to

the busy day ahead. Our first stop was the Army Museum in Fremantle, which was a strong reminder of the

nature of both WWI and WWII, with the devastating and defining impacts these events made both on the

global stage and their significance to Australia. The exhibits and sources on display relayed the tragedy,

hardships and struggles which not just Australian soldiers felt, but also their loved ones at home.

In the afternoon, we visited the coastal defence batteries and tunnels in Fremantle, where we were guided

by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable Barry Ellis, who displayed an extraordinary understanding of the

conventional warfare

at the time the

battery was built. I

was also impressed,

as Barry was able to

educate me about

the 155mm Howitzer

my Great Great

Uncle was stationed

at for the defence of

Port Moresby. Barry

talked to us about

the emplacements

built both for the

battery and its

defence, which

prompted thoughts

about Australia

requiring such

equipment to defend

our shores and the

sense of urgency the

situation demanded.

Later that afternoon, we were met by members of the War Widows’ Guild, an organisation dedicated to the

welfare of those who had been widowed in conflict. Their presentation to us was a compelling reminder of

the other, often overlooked causalities of war, the families left behind. The final day was one of much

significance with a sustaining theme of remembrance. The group toured around Kings Park, where we

heard many stories and experiences from war. I had a profound conversation with one of our guides, Rod

Halcombe, about the nature of war and the lessons we ought to learn and carry on. He said, "we should all

sit down at the table before throwing punches and shells at one another" which reinforced my view that,

when there are disputes between people, we should more often reach for the pen than we do the sword. I

was also given the opportunity to pay respects to my Great Great Great Uncle who fought in the 28th

battalion at his tree planted on May Drive. This made me reflect on the sacrifices that many people have

made for one another, that my Uncle died young for a cause he volunteered to aid, putting his life on the

line for the sake of others.

The March briefing was a great experience which gave us all breadth and depth of understanding about the

Anzac struggle, as well as the significance we find in their experiences and sacrifices which apply today.

Day 1

Feelings of excitement were peaking at home as I prepared myself for the journey ahead. When the group

came together at the airport, the reality hit us - we were finally about to begin the much anticipated tour.

After filling out forms and taking photos, it was finally time to depart for Singapore.

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The plane trip was smooth and

relaxing and the arrival in Singapore

was mesmerising. The tall buildings,

greenery and the trade fleet

immediately stood out as we

descended. I think it is the harmony

between beauty and development

that exists in Singapore - this

admirable balance - that stood out

for me. I wondered about the history

and development of the region and

how far this island has come. The

trade fleet we witnessed during our

descent and buildings marking

economic success were combined

with environmental beauty and ever-

present greenery. The island is an

inspiring marvel.

Arriving in Changi Airport was

exciting, an opportunity to see one of the best airports in the world. The flights at Changi run like clockwork,

seeing the many planes move one after another so efficiently seemed a logistical wonder. The airport was

orderly to say the least, allowing us to go through security in a timely matter with relative ease. The plants

and water features incorporated into the airport were heavily symbolic of the city and what we would see on

the way to the hotel. Our guide, Joe, gave a thorough introduction to Singapore which was insightful and

humorous, his talk making us more excited to learn about Singapore.

Day 2

After yesterday's excitement, we

were well and truly prepared to

begin our tour of Singapore.

Today was focused on getting to

know the culture and history

shaping the context of Singapore,

an important introduction to frame

the days to come.

Getting to know the cultures of

Singapore gave me a better

understanding of its people and

the significance of religion. We

visited a mosque, then Hindu

temple, followed by visits to a

Taoist temple and the largest

Taoist/Buddhist temple in

Singapore. The temples were

amazing sights and we learnt a

lot about the respective religions

and their deities. We also passed many Christian, Jewish and Orthodox churches during the day. The

places of worship we saw truly reflected the religious and cultural diversity within Singapore.

In the afternoon, we visited the National Museum of Singapore which illuminated Singaporean history,

specifically from the 1400's up until now. This gave an insight into the nation's colonial past, as well as its

path to independence. Given the politics and historical context of Singapore, we came to understand how

such a diverse nation is both united and accepting of one another. Singapore pays great respect to its

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cultures and past, through policy and governance. An example of how Singapore respects its roots, is

through the national anthem being sung in Malay. which reflects both the cultural and religious respect

within Singapore. Seeing Singapore as it is today, we are able to work backwards to discover how history

has shaped the nation.

Day 3

After learning about the context behind Singapore, we were ready to study the Singapore campaign more

in-depth as well as the effects of the Japanese victory and aftermath of WWII.

To begin the day, we studied maps of Singapore and were run through the battle plans and army division

placements. It was clear the British forces were poorly placed, under prepared and inexperienced

compared to their Japanese adversaries. The Japanese army were already battle hardened by combat in

China, Siam (Thailand) and Malaysia as opposed to the Australian forces who were fresh off the boat with

no more than 6 weeks training.. The Japanese were equipped to outgun and outmanoeuvre the Allies, from

the beginning of the campaign up until the formal Japanese surrender in Singapore. The prisoners of war

and the citizenry of Singapore were to suffer at the hands of the Japanese. Many were tortured, abused

and killed. The prisoners faced grim circumstances and the people of Singapore, particularly the Chinese,

were killed out of intense hate that the Japanese held for them.

During the day, we learned of the harsh Japanese occupation in Singapore. Japanese lessons were forced

upon students, Japanese films and newsreels were the only ones available. However, the main thing that

resonated with me was a mural painting, painted in 1941 depicting Jesus being lifted up by the Romans to

hang from the cross The mural was created by a priest with what few resources he had at his disposal

during the Japanese occupation. The mural reads: "forgive them, for they know not what they do". This can

be applied to the Japanese occupation of Singapore, both in a theological and non-theological sense.

Perhaps this could be interpreted as a request to not judge these actions. Regardless of atrocities that

were committed, we should focus less on retribution and more on forgiveness and acceptance for the sake

of a more peaceful future.

Day 4

The Old Ford Factory

enlightened us with detailed

exhibits, especially the different

perspectives of the British and

Japanese. In addition, we

learned of the civilian suffering.

Later, Labrador Park was

explored and seemed a very

different to the centralised

places we had previously

encountered.

The Old Ford Factory presented a

wealth of exhibits and audio

accounts, as well as many

historical sources that were

translated to English. I found

the audio accounts were the

most powerful. Most of these

audio accounts were after the Fall of Singapore and detailed executions, massacres, torture and other

abuse, particularly towards the Chinese. This was in-keeping with the exhibitions as well. These audio

accounts were emotional and vivid; being able to understand some Mandarin also helped me listen to the

words of the speaker, rather than the translation. There were stories of men who had survived executions,

but chose to swim out to sea because they would rather drown. Rarely, some were able to escape

through appealing to the humanity of the Japanese. The Japanese occupation was oppressive, subjugating

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the Singaporean people. They were free to slap, steal, torture and execute anyone who they saw fit. This

period of occupation was difficult and few citizens could meet the high and unrealistic standards enforced.

As a result of the occupation, many people were scarred, wounded or killed.

I saw an exhibit at the museum, a record I recall being marked “大家来杀鬼子”, which had been

scratched off the record during Japanese occupation. This was recorded in 1938, by the Singaporean choir,

outlining the tension between the Chinese and the Japanese in a Singaporean context, however, the

translation given on the exhibit is simply "Let's fight the enemy". I believed the title "Everyone come to kill

the demons" to be a more fitting translation from my understanding and certainly added to the exhibit as I

believe this title to be more accurate in describing the emotions between the Chinese and the Japanese at

the time

This lead me to ponder what other meanings could be lost in translation. I also considered how history is

written by the victor, ranging from the example of the removal of the label of a music record, to falsified

reports for justification, or even outright censorship. These are all options for those in a position of power.

With this new awareness, I believe that we should question rather than accepting things which may be

taken at face value.

Day 5

After learning more about the surrender at the Old Ford Factory and its implications, we would visit the

Battle Box and Fort Canning, the major sites of British operation. The Battle Box was an underground

bunker hidden on the high ground of Singapore where British command relayed orders to all forces on the

island.

The Battle Box was well fortified to keep

aggressors out and protect the people

inside. During the Singapore campaign

there would be anywhere between 300 to

500 men crammed in the concrete bunker

relaying orders, deciphering code,

recording aircraft movement and co-

coordinating command. It was here the

hard decision was made to surrender

Singapore to the Japanese. The reality of

the situation was that the Japanese had

seized superiority on land and in the air

while Singapore's supplies were quickly

exhausted. Both the weaknesses of the

British command and the strength of the

underestimated Japanese forces would

contribute to the surrender.

When the Commander in Chief, General

Percival, called the meeting to discuss

either a counter attack or surrender, the decision was quickly made. After being told that the water reserves

could only last a day longer due to the bombing, the chances of holding on were bleak. To add to this, there

was a strained dynamic between Percival, Gordon Bennett and Lewis Heath. While Bennett commanded

the Australian divisions, Heath commanded the Indian divisions and both disliked Percival. The

conversation lasted only 15 minutes before the surrender was decided along with the fate of 80 000 men

and the citizens of Singapore. Many would face extreme hardships as well as injury, if not death under the

Japanese occupation.

The weight of the decision was incredibly significant. The amount of pressure and stress was readily

sensed throughout the tour of the Battle Box and its exhibits. Putting myself in the shoes of Percival and

knowing the situation at hand, I would certainly be struggling to compose myself. The commanding men

were used as scapegoats; Gordon Bennett fled. Bennett’s actions meant he bore the brunt of shame and

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dishonour for their actions. These men were placed in an unfortunate position and were not in control of

their situation. They are not solely to be blamed for the surrender of Singapore.

Day 6

Today was filled with wonder, marvel and cultural exchange. We spent our time at the Hwa Chong

Institution and learned much about the school's education, its history and its students.

We toured the school campus accompanied by the local students who were extremely keen to meet and

greet us. These students were incredibly friendly and eager to share their knowledge with us, and the

feeling was mutual. We attended a history class at the school based on the independence of Singapore.

Judging from the students' actions and conversations, they were knowledgeable and engaged with the

subject matter. The classes were also very interactive and informative, with open discussion and links back

to how the content was relevant in a present day context. It was clear the class and the teacher were

enjoying the learning process. The school's values and attitudes were focused on servant leadership and

giving back to the community; evidently this culture is effective as the Hwa Chong Institution is one of the

top 20 feeder school to Oxford. We were also told of the many successes these students had in university,

achieving literature prizes or going on to serve in the higher ranks of the government.

Drawing a comparison between Hwa Chong Institution and our experience of Australian Schools was very

interesting. The academic culture at Hwa Chong was impressive, the students were enthusiastic and

committed in their pursuits, something that is less ingrained in Western Australia, however our education

system aims to cater for non-academic pathways and gives these avenues support and encouragement. I

believe there is much we could learn from each to cater for a greater variety and choice of careers. Shared

insights benefit both Australian and Singaporean education, global relations and our future development.

Day 7

There was a resounding message of preservation during our visit to the Singapore Zoo unlike anything I

had ever seen before. The sheer size and scale of the zoo was impressive; I was taken by an abundance

of beautiful flora and fauna of Singapore as well as a large collection of animals in habitats representing

different parts of the world.

The zoo has a strong stance on animal ethics, welfare and preservation, often promoting the ethical

treatment of animals and co-operation between people and animals. As an island nation, Singapore has

very little space to expand, with upwards of 5 million people to accommodate on an island around no more

than 4 times the size of Rottnest and both people and animals need to share this space.

This is important to keep in mind, as space

has to be set aside for preservation and

conservation, for the sake of living in

harmony with the environment as opposed to

using all the land for living, development or

industry. Despite the need for people to

occupy space, there has been much effort

towards the conservation of the environment

and wildlife in Singapore. This is evident

throughout the city through the deliberate

integration of parks and greenery in the

design of the city and its buildings, the zoo

and even the large Eco-Link Bridge, which

exists solely for animals to cross the highway

towards the zoo safely. This is in-keeping

with the Singaporean Government’s

environmental vision and policy, for example, the hefty fines for littering.

The futuristic outlook taken by both the zoo and the Singaporean Government is inspiring. This has

resonated with me and reinforces that Australia ought to uphold environmental preservation and ethics. We

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ought to preserve the environment, so as to better the living standards of both people and animals, bolster

our health and improve our disposition towards all forms of life. Seeing the large enclosures of Singapore

Zoo made me realise how important it is to preserve our environment for the benefit of all life and for

generations to come.

Day 8

Today we furthered our understanding about the Fall of Singapore and how it shaped and developed

Singapore and Malaysia. The Fall of Singapore and Malaya was swift and took less than 2 months to come

to a conclusion.

In the morning we attended the Bukit Chandu Museum where we learned of the Malayan Regiment who

defended the hill of Bukit Chandu and stood against the Japanese despite "for every Malay soldier there

were about 10 or 12 Japanese soldiers" (Lt. Penrod V. Dean, 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Australian

Division).

This regiment was brave and loyal with a strong sense of honour. The first engagement involved Japanese

soldiers dressing up as Punjabi soldiers, marching in lines of four. The commanding Malay Lieutenant

Adnan Saidi was credited with seeing through the Japanese trick, ordering the regiment to fire on the

soldiers, as British units always marched in lines of three. Merely hours later, the Japanese issued a Banzai

charge on the Malayans. The Malayan regiment continued to fight until they were out of supplies and their

commander ordered the men to continue fighting ferociously with their bayonets and fists in a counter-

charge. The Malayans fought well but suffered the inevitable, and were defeated. Their commander fought

bravely until he was beaten down by the Japanese and bayoneted multiple times. Some of the Malay

soldiers' bodies were hung from trees. The level of commitment, patriotism, grit and determination from the

Malayan regiment is remarkable.

In the afternoon we visited "Images of Singapore" and gained greater insight to the history of Singapore

over the past 200 years. When Singapore was granted to the British in the 1800s, it was little more than a

fishing village. Nowadays it is an advanced independent nation with its own national identity. This was

portrayed to us by actors who took on different personae and educated us through their acted perspective

and time. The actors took us on a historical journey through treaty signings, to dockyards and throughout

various periods of time. One aspect of the tour that resonated with me was that we were placed in a 1941

cinema, watching a news reel before a movie in Singapore. After the newsreel on the war, there was an air

raid and the cinema was evacuated. While the whole thing was scripted, it made me think about how

quickly daily life can escalate into an urgent situation, especially in times of war, disrupting daily business.

This reinforced that soldiers are not the only victims of war and defenceless civilians also have their lives

put at risk in these dire times.

It was evident how much Singapore has gone through and developed to become the place it is today and

how significant historical events have shaped the nation.

Day 9

Today we visited the Arts Science Museum

and Stamford American International

School. Both of these establishments are a

testament of Singapore’s progress in

education, attracting scholars across the

world to attend. After these tours, it was

easy to see why these facilities are worthy of

such prestige.

The Arts Science Museum is a place of

wonder and had me quickly captivated.

Many of the artworks at this museum were

interactive, or incorporated technology in

some way, from videos to interactive

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canvases. The dark rooms utilised brightness and colours to draw attention to the beauty of the exhibit. The

museum really captured my imagination; the wonders of the museum left me feeling like a child - enthused,

inspired, curious and full of wonder.

The Stamford American International School was an impressive new school built in 2009, standing 8

storeys high. The students at the school were from many different backgrounds and there was a strong

multicultural mix. The school facilities were amazing - saying it was well equipped would be an

understatement. The technology and design lab had a 3D printer, a live mock stock market program along

with many wires, tools and other things which could be used for engineering and robotics. We met with a

class whose age group was similar to ours. We mixed well and exchanged details, forging relationships for

the future. Meeting these students was interesting; they were academic and well-travelled and many who

had attended multiple schools in different countries ranging from Ireland to China.

Today stood testament to Singapore’s development, prestige and international reputation. There was a

constant reminder of this, seeing people from all over the world to visit Singapore. After spending 9 days on

the island nation it is no surprise that Singapore holds the reputation it boasts today as a place of

education, development and prestige.

Day 10

The day began with an early wake up for a powerful Anzac Day dawn service at Kranji War Memorial

Cemetery. After the service we would visit Sembawang Park and the Singapore Botanic Gardens to further

reflect on the natural beauty of

Singapore and see how it has

been nurtured since WWII. It is

remarkable to think of the growth

and development of Singapore

over the last 200 years and the

journeys that millions have

undertaken to get Singapore to

where it is today, whether

through defending Singapore and

its sovereignty or contributing to

developing the island in some

way, shape or form.

The Kranji dawn service was

deeply moving, as was visiting

the graves afterward. What

resonated with me was the fact

that many people, both soldiers

and civilians suffered during the

Fall of Singapore and its

occupation. The choir singing “All the fine young men” during the service helped me to remember that

many people had suffered and died, most long before their time. Their sacrifices were intent on building a

better future and their ultimate sacrifice was invaluable to everyone who has benefited in some way from

their selflessness.

They told all the fine young men, ah, when this war is over, there will be peace, and the peace will last

forever. These lyrics stuck with me because everlasting peace seems a difficult concept considering after

the first “Great War”, which was deemed to be the war to end all wars was only followed by more conflict. It

makes commemorating the sacrifices of those who aimed to keep peace an even more solemn occasion.

After the ceremony we went to Sembawang Park where we could see just how close Singapore is

geographically to Malaysia, which put into perspective the size of Singapore. From an Australian

perspective, this is an interesting concept, as there isn’t that same proximity between us and another

nation. It was also interesting seeing the size of neighbouring Malaysia compared to that of Singapore.

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Day 11

After seeing most of the wonders of

Singapore, it was finally time to return

home. This life-changing experience is

coming to a close and I feel as though I

am coming away from this more

enlightened about the Fall of

Singapore. There is no question that

this tour has been an amazing

opportunity and I would recommend the

Premier’s Anzac Tour to any student

who has an interest in history and

international relations. Not only did we

share and expand our understandings

about our history and past, we also

forged lifelong connections. I hope one

day to return to Singapore to see how

much further it has grown and reflect on

its past. I am leaving the tour feeling

more knowledgeable about Australia and Singapore and our places upon the world stage, as well as our

cultures, backgrounds and history. I am enthused to pursue a career in international relations, as I have

learned through the Premier’s Anzac Tour that building relationships is invaluable and can lead to a

collective prosperity, as we see in Singapore today through diplomatic ties that help form national identity.

Through these ties, Singapore has prospered and flourished.

Conclusion and Acknowledgements

The tour has been an enlightening journey, and a worthwhile historical and commemorative experience.

The knowledge and connections I have developed over the tour have been truly invaluable. I would like to

thank firstly our supervisors, Sam, Norman and Mery who did a fantastic job at helping us along our

journey. I would also like to thank the entire tour group who have been a pleasure to meet.

Thank you to the Premier and the State Government for offering this wonderful initiative. I hope this

worthwhile opportunity continues to be offered so other students can share the experience and enrich their

understanding of the world. I would like to thank Hwa Chong Institution, and Stamford American

International School and their students for being so hospitable. The RSL, War Widows’ Guild of Australia,

the veterans of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion have all been so helpful in sharing their stories to build our

contextual understanding.

There are so many people to thank and I am grateful for everyone’s efforts in making the tour so

enlightening. There are so many people who have assisted us in one way or another and I thank them all.

Lastly, I am grateful to my school and my family for supporting me through this process. To honour the tour,

I aim to share my experiences with my school and wider community because the tour has granted me so

much more understanding and this understanding ought to be shared. This has been an unforgettable

experience and I gratefully thank all those involved.

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Appendix

Strife & Struggle tutorial topics

1. Trade by Bryce Taylor Over the years Singapore has experienced many rises and falls with regards to commerce. The Fall of

Singapore to the Japanese in WWII deeply affected the trading nation economically; however it also

sparked independence for the Singaporean people and allowed President Lee Kuan Yew to push the

nation towards a future of prosperity. This perseverance and struggle in the face of defeat has allowed

Singapore to develop into the successful nation it is today. The true power of trade was ultimately shown

through reconciliation between Japan and Singapore after the war, whose bond will govern the way for

future trade relations.

Singapore has a long history as a trading settlement due to its richness in natural resources and

geographical position. The first major trade settlement came about with the arrival of the Prince of Srivijaya

(sri-vih-gee-ya) in 1320, who realised the significance of Singapore’s location. It became a duty-free

entrepôt (on-tre-poh) for the three-way trade between China, India and the Malay Archipelago, lasting for

almost 300 years. [An entrepôt is a city or port which acts like a checkpoint along the trading route; storing

goods for a time and then exporting them without any repackaging.] During the 1300s, the conditions in

Singapore were ideal for the growth of crops; a suitable climate, plenty of fresh water and most importantly

flat and fertile land. However the Sumatran prince didn’t realise this potential and eventually the settlement

fell to Portuguese invaders in 1613, leaving Singapore lost to the world of trade.

The arrival of Stamford Raffles in 1819

saw critical developments in the

Singaporean region. Sent over to

establish a fortified post, Raffles

immediately saw the potential of

Singapore’s natural resources and knew

it would also be a vital trading post

linking China and Great Britain. He soon

made a deal with a local village of just

1000 people and helped establish a

small trading colony. He focused on

using the land to his advantage to grow

rubber plantations and used its location

to initiate an entrepôt between

neighbouring countries. In his regulations

for the entrepôt he stated “the Port of

Singapore is a free Port, and the trade

thereof is open to ships and vessels of every nation . . . equally and alike to all”. Before long, Chinese,

Indian and Malay workers flocked to Singapore and a strong economic cycle began to emerge.

New developments such as the opening of the Suez Canal, ocean-going steamships and the opening of

the Chinese market created more and more job opportunities for immigrant workers. The workforce then

increased, thus boosting Singapore’s economy and allowing for the purchase of technological

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advancements. These new technologies were then incorporated into the labour force and attracted even

more workers, completing the economic cycle. By 1871 over 100 000 people were working in Singapore

and it had acquired a strong manufacturing and commerce sector. Singapore’s unprecedented economic

boom continued well into the 20th century and it was soon to become an important trading outpost for

WWII.

During WWII Singapore acted as a supplier of rubber and tin for the Allies. It stood as an important port for

trade and, thanks to its new naval base, a military harbour. Due to its location Singapore continued to act

as the major supply route between China and Great Britain, however as China became oppressed by the

Japanese, Singapore’s trading activity started to decline. In 1942 the Japanese conquered Singapore. All

trade was cut off with the Allied forces and Singapore’s main source of economy was lost. This led to a lack

of food supplies which triggered malnutrition amongst many and gave rise to a black market. A currency

known as ‘banana notes’ was printed in a seemingly endless supply by the Japanese and saw food prices

rise exponentially as the value of money dropped. On September 12 1945 the Japanese surrendered

Singapore, which reverted back to British colonial rule. There was no end to the devastation, however, as

people struggled to survive with limited food and water supplies.

Following the Japanese surrender, Singapore experienced a period of chaos and economic turmoil.

Lacking natural resources and trading ports due to Japanese bombings, Singapore faced both a declining

economy and a growing population which required jobs. Having failed to support them in their struggle with

the Japanese, the British leaders were rejected by the people. The departure of Britain from the island saw

a 20% loss of jobs and temporarily reduced trading between the two nations. Singapore’s economic strife

didn’t demoralise the nation as you might expect, but rather provided motivation for new leaders to restore

the trading nation to its former glory.

On the 22nd of December 1965 Singapore was declared a republic and a strong new leadership under

President Lee Kuan Yew was initiated. The government began promoting industrialisation and Singapore’s

export services in order to attract foreign investment and restore its status as a thriving entrepôt. Industrial

estates were set up and practical training was given emphasis in order to build up a competent workforce,

well-suited to the industry. This attracted many foreign investors as expected, including USA and Japan,

who were amongst the biggest. Japan’s long history with Singapore had been overcome and, thanks to

reconciliation through trade, a strong economic bond

between the nations is still evident today. As foreign

investment grew the service industry also began to

grow, due to the increasing commerce and demand

for services by ships in Singapore’s ports. During the

economic boom of the late 60s and 70s came,

Singapore experienced exponential GDP growth. By

the late 1980s Singapore was ranked as the second

most important Asian financial centre after Tokyo. It

was home to several thousand trading firms and its

financial service sector continued to expand its GDP.

Singapore had not only alleviated its unemployment

crisis but had grown exponentially in terms of

economy.

Singapore has always been destined for trade due to its geography and fertile land and, despite the

economic upset of WWII, has remained one of the world’s leading trade enterprises. Left economically

wounded after the Japanese invasion, the Singaporean people found a way to rebuild the country into a

trading empire. Its reconciliation with Japan through trade continues to inspire the nation into a future of

peace and prosperity.

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2. Southeast Asia by Patrick Reilly Southeast Asia, home to over 620 million people, is a diverse area with rich cultural context. It includes any

nation south of China, east of India, north of Australia or west of Papua New Guinea, and has two main

geographical areas within the region: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma and West Malaysia make up

Mainland Southeast Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia is made up of East Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore,

the Philippines, East Timor, Brunei, the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island.

With a large population from many different countries,

Southeast Asia is very culturally and religiously diverse.

Prior to the 14th Century, Hinduism dominated

Southeast Asia, which was then overtaken by

Buddhism. More recently, the rise of Islam has been

widespread, with more than 240 million people in the

area being Muslim today. Islam is most prominent in

Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia, while Burma,

Cambodia and Laos are mainly Buddhist nations and

over 80% of people in the Philippines and East Timor

are Catholic. Singapore and Vietnam are religiously

diverse, with no certain religion being dominant in

those countries.

With the region lying near an intersection of tectonic plates, it is an area of heavy seismic and volcanic

activity, especially in Indonesia. There is mainly a hot and humid tropical climate with plenty of rainfall, with

North Vietnam and the Burmese Himalayas being the only places with subtropical climates, having cold

winters and snow. Most of Southeast Asia has a wet and dry season caused by shifts in winds or

monsoons. Environmentally, Southeast Asia is known for its tropical rainforests and steep, mountainous

country as well as its shallow coral reefs, which scientists believe have the largest biodiversity in the world.

The rainforests are occupied by famous animals such as the orangutan, the Asian elephant, the Bornean

clouded leopard, the Philippine eagle as well the Sumatran, Malayan and Indochinese tigers. Despite the

fame of the rainforests and the animals that rely on them, the placement of rubber and palm oil plantations

has caused devastating amounts of deforestation, threatening biodiversity and destroying the habitats of

these famous animals. The situation of the orangutan is at the forefront of this issue, the gentle, rare

species is considered critically endangered and a loss of their rainforest habitat is largely to blame.

Southeast Asia is driven by agriculture and manufacturing. Its top five export sectors are electronics,

minerals and oils, machinery, vehicles and plastic products. This is mainly due to the large amounts of

these products coming out of technologically advanced Singapore and Brunei. It hasn’t always been like

this though, prior to the 1960s, Southeast Asia was mainly a producing region. With products such as rice,

spices, rubber, palm oil, sugar, cacao and sugar, products that Western nations have a large interest in, at

the forefront of their exports. In the early 1960s, the region began to industrialize and produce secondary

and tertiary products cheaply. The manufacturing industry has since grown significantly, with a large market

appearing for ‘re-exports’, which is when a nation imports a product, adds something to it, then exports it

again for a profit. Singapore, being the high-tech hub of Southeast Asia, manufactures a lot of electronics;

Vietnam and Cambodia are big garment producers; and rubber, palm oil, petroleum and oil are produced

largely by Indonesia and Malaysia.

Agriculture and manufacturing may be the source of the majority of Southeast Asia’s exports, but they also

create employment and livelihoods for nations that would otherwise struggle with creating jobs for their

people. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood in in every country except Singapore and Brunei.

Dominated by wet-rice cultivation and rubber and palm oil production, other products such as corn,

cassava, cacao, coffee, spices and tobacco are used for regional consumption as well as exported to other

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nations. Factories and manufacturing companies contribute largely to the nation’s GDP and also employ

many Southeast Asian people, helping economies continue to grow.

Southeast Asia has always faced it challenges, its people have been disadvantaged geographically,

politically, economically and socially. Different areas of the region have been colonised by different

European powers while others have stayed independent. Civil unrest has been encountered and

conquered. Throughout the Second World War, they endured a period of instability, while many of the

people experienced great hardship and brutality. The region has always managed to recover from its strife

and struggle and keep up with a fast moving world. Especially places like Singapore, which leads the world

in areas such as trade, technology and sustainability.

3. Cultural acceptance by Brandon Rowe Zdravo! Namaste! Chào bạn! Marhabaan! Haló! Hello!

In my class, at any given time there are up to 5 different languages spoken- from Arabic to

Vietnamese. Multiculturalism is one of my school's most recognisable fearures. Acceptance is one of our

most vital values.

In the world right now we have so many different forms of intolerance. Trump, Muslim bans, human rights

violations, and so many more inhumane, cruel acts. Many of these different forms of intolerance, by people

like Trump, and Pauline Hanson, stem from a lack of knowledge and understanding of circumstances.

90% of the people I consider to be ‘friends’ are of international descent. Two of my closest friends are of

Bosnian and Indian origins.

At our school we recently celebrated

Harmony Day, a little late, I

know. Many of the students and

teachers dressed up in cultural

dress; I didn’t. When people asked

why I didn’t wear ‘Cultural Dress’ my

response was “In this day-and-age

nobody is really one culture

anymore, and it’s a little hard to

dress up as the culture of ‘Europe’.”

I was struggling to think of a

direction to take this little speech

until Sedin told me that “To look like

a Bosnian, you just need to dress as

white and as bogan as you can and

sound like you’re a French guy

putting on a Russian accent.” This got me thinking: why is it that people persecute each other on the basis

of their culture and then describe that culture in relation to others that they don’t persecute?

In reality, no person on Earth can claim to be purely ‘one race’ or ‘one culture’. People have been

migrating and intermarrying for at least the last 40,000 years.

2 and a half millennia ago, two of the three major religions on Earth today didn’t exist; they were still one

religion. Jesus was Jewish and yet Nazi Christians still attacked Jews in their workplaces, homes, and

Synagogues.

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Acceptance of cultural diversity has been brought to the foreground recently with the love/hate association

with ‘Cultural Appropriation’. The consensus with most of my school is that cultural appropriation is not a

bad thing. As many of them put it cultural appropriation shows the pinnacle of cultural acceptance. In my

community we have the remnants of many influxes of migrants, many Slavs following the breakup of

Yugoslavia, Vietnamese following the Vietnam War, Italians following World War Two, and people of

African heritage. These are just a few of the groups that have integrated into the community. Many of

these people’s customs and culture have become a part of our community.

I was born in a small town very far away with a primarily white population and after moving to Western

Australia I was introduced to a very open, accepting, and multicultural community. All of the people there

were so diverse and united in spite of all of their backgrounds. Traditions from all over the world are

celebrated, welcomed, and rejoiced. Events like Eid Al-Fitr, Chinese New Year, Passover, Diwali and

Christmas are celebrated, not just by those who are a part of the culture of origin, but these events are

celebrated by the community as a whole.

It would be a near impossibility to live in my community and be racist. If only it was true to say this for all of

Australia, what country would we be? A country in which no two people were different simply because of

where they were born and the customs which they practiced.

Hvala ti! Grazie! Dhanyavaad! Danke! Tapadh leat! Thank you!

4. Prisoners of War by Caitlyn McKenzie The aspect of prisoners of war undoubtedly played a significant role

in the course of the Pacific War in particular. The ruthless battles

between the allied forces and the Japanese army were not

exclusive to the battlefront, but were an ever-present factor within

Prisoner of War camps – which perhaps suggests why Australian

and British Prisoners of War were treated in such inhumane ways.

I've chosen to focus more so on the Australian experience within the

Prisoner of War camps, as each of the 35000 Australians who were

imprisoned throughout the Pacific War had their own unique story

about their experiences. The stories of these thousands of men all hold individual tales about what their

personal memories and experiences entailed; this is perhaps what is most astounding about this aspect of

the war – that each of the thousands of men viewed their ordeal from different perspectives, and no two

stories were exactly the same.

Throughout the course of the Pacific War – from late 1941 to 1945 – Australian soldiers were continuously

captured in small numbers, many having no choice other than to surrender to the surrounding enemy

troops. An approximate total of 35 000 Australian soldiers, sailors, airmen, nurses and civilians were

captured and imprisoned by the Japanese. However, following the liberation of the Prisoner of War camps,

only two-thirds of these prisoners had survived the brutal conditions.

Following the 'Fall of Singapore' in 1942, General Yamashita – the 'Tiger of Malaya' as he infamously

became known – took a total tally of 130 000 Prisoners of War, which was the largest number in British and

commonwealth military history. I find it astounding that such an underestimated army of 'skinny men with

coke-bottle glasses' were able to defeat the 'impregnable Singapore,' and the mighty Allied Army. Despite

the consequences of the monumental defeat at the Fall of Singapore 'very little was heard of those early

Australian POW,' but we are now aware that their ordeals were defined by 'bombs... casualties' 'exhaustion

and privation,' – their experiences 'synonymous with suffering.'

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Undoubtedly with such a significant number of POWs, the Japanese had to accommodate an adequate

number of Prisoner of War camps. Over 500 Prisoner of War camps were spread across Southeast Asia, in

countries like Malaya, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Burma. What is most significant about this is that

not only did the Japanese have Prisoner of War camps all over Southeast Asia, but they were in full control

of the countries thanks to their military success.

Despite the secretive nature that surrounded the experiences of Prisoners of War, we can now understand

how Prisoners of War lived in the camps. The treatment of Australian Prisoners of War varied depending on

the camp in which they were imprisoned. However, upon being liberated, many reports of Prisoner of War

experiences came out. In many Japanese Prisoner of War camps, for instance, prisoners lived on 3 cups of

rice a day – just enough to keep them alive. Thomas Uren – a prisoner of the Japanese, who was incredibly

vocal during his imprisonment – claimed that 'Japanese military discipline was sadistic, because they

administered instant Japanese punishment... when it was administered to prisoners, it was particularly

vicious and brutal.' The fact that many men who experienced such horrific events were able to publicly

express the reality surrounding their afflictions is truly admirable, as there is no doubt that the scenarios

they were forced into were incredibly dire situations, yet some are still so willing to share.

There is no explicit explanation for why the Japanese insisted on treating allied POW so badly. However,

they were able to execute their torture and punishment due to the fact that even though they claimed to

respect the terms of the Geneva Convention. The Geneva convention ensured the humane treatment of

Prisoners of War. The Japanese had no legal connection to the Convention, and therefore, the Japanese

were able to resort to methods of torture, exploitation and horrific killings.

Australian Prisoner of War Murray Griffin reconstructed a painting of Japanese torture. In his painting, an

Australian POW has been forced to kneel on a log whilst he is beaten by two guards. Behind this prisoner,

another has passed out after being beaten so horrifically. This portrayal emphasises both the reality behind

the cruel, barbaric behaviour towards the Prisoners of War, but also presents the prisoners' perspective,

adding emotion to the horrific events.

Considering there were 35 000 Prisoners of War

throughout the Pacific War, there are undeniably

many different accounts and versions of

experiences. Emotions amongst the Australian

prisoners ranged from disappointment at the lack of

opportunity to demonstrate the skills they had learnt

during training, to determination to 'constantly hope

and never give up' – a slogan adopted in Changi

Prisoner of War camp, as an acronym to fuel

perseverance amongst the prisoners.

History undoubtedly plays a fundamental role in

influencing the nature of our current world. In many

situations in society, those in control exert their power over those who they consider to be inferior. Methods

of oppression and unwarranted discipline are unnecessary characteristics that the authorities possess. In

recent times, a voice from inside the Papua New Guinean Manus Island detention centre described a

situation where the authorities “are threatening and humiliating people in different kind of ways. We have to

stay in a long line for each meal. The officers search our bodies, the system calls us by number. It is a big

humiliation.” I think it's virtually impossible to earnestly say that we have learnt from the mistakes history

reveals, as we show no real progression towards a world where the dignity of the human is acknowledged

and respected unconditionally.

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5. Globalism by Coby Menzie We live in a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected and ever smaller. In the last 70 years, there

has been a dramatic increase in the exchange of knowledge, trade and capital all over the world driven by

both technological advancement and the integration of people and markets on a global scale. This process

of global integration and worldly interconnectedness is known as globalism, and in the last half-century, it

has accelerated at a remarkable speed. From before the advent of the Second World War until present

times, globalisation has contributed greatly to the modernisation of Asia and has affected nearly every

aspect of our day-to-day lives.

Although globalism has been occurring for hundreds of years, the events leading up to and throughout the

Second World War initiated the current global shift. Prior to the outbreak of WWII, nations all over the world

faced turbulence. The Great Depression had left most of the world’s population unemployed and desperate.

The 1920’s saw the unrestricted rise and spread of fascism throughout Europe. China and the Empire of

Japan had been at war since the invasion of Manchuria in 1931. The world braced itself with the rise of the

deadliest dictators in history, as the likes of Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito rose to power.

And as WWII drew nearer Germany, Italy and Japan forged alliances with the insidious aim of territorial

expansion.

Needless to say, the world was on the brink of war.

When conflict broke out across the world, trade in

resources, exchange of knowledge and

strengthening of foreign policy increased as

globalisation accelerated. The war industry fuelled

the global economy, and the effects of the Great

depression were finally resolving. Technological

advancements in transport and communications

generated wealth all over the world. To meet the

high demand for industrial activities, the trade of

capital and resources increased and now nations

were looking to expand their overseas markets.

With the conflict in the Asia-Pacific theatre of war intensifying, the region was thrust into the spotlights of

the world stage. The need to open up new trade routes and establish relationships with Asian countries in

order to combat Japanese Imperialism was made apparent and the potential for development in the region

was realised.

After the war, the world became a very different place. The unimaginable hardships endured accelerated

change on a global scale. Borders were torn down, empires collapsed, the need for progressive

international co-operation was realised and a series of social and political transformations drove the world

forward. Globalism during WWII seemed to spread more quickly; even developing world Singapore was not

immune to its effects.

The Japanese surrender provoked a change in political ideologies throughout Asia and, for Singapore,

these changes meant separation from mainland Malaysia in 1965. Tiny, underdeveloped, and without

natural resources, Singapore’s independence marked the beginning of its struggle to survive and thrive on

its own. Even before its separation, Singapore depended on the outside world not just for food and energy,

but even for water. In the post-war period, Singapore faced an uncertain future and needed to look beyond

its borders and globalise, just as other nations had done following WWII.

Globalism emerged as strong relations were built with foreign countries, joining international organisations

like the United Nations and The Association of Southeast Asian Nations to aid in its pursuit of foreign

partnerships. Under the government of the late Lee Kuan Yew - Singapore’s first prime minister - the nation

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then adopted export-led growth strategies, utilising its strategic location to promote export with other

countries. Singapore also promoted foreign trade and investment, especially by Multinational corporations,

which grew and prospered in Singapore’s dynamic location. By these means, Singapore’s pace of

industrialisation and economic growth boomed, thus strengthening national and international prosperity.

Today, Singapore stands as one of the most

important transportation hubs and tourist locations

in the world. By harnessing the positive benefits

of globalism, Singapore built a strong economy

alongside world class infrastructure, transforming

the once small fishing village into a thriving urban

metropolis.

Singapore’s success highlights the good

Globalism can do, but you may still be asking

yourself, so what? Why is Globalism important,

what’s its significance in my life, and why should I

care? As mentioned earlier, globalism affects

nearly every aspect of our lives. From an

economic standpoint, Globalism encompasses

the trade that occurs between countries and the subsequent contraction of geographical borders. When

Globalism occurs an exchange and understanding of cultures occurs. That is why you can live in Australia

yet wake up to an American TV network, sip on a British brand of tea, drive a Japanese car to school and

eat a Swedish meatball for lunch.

Globalism has also benefited the Australian economy, and is one of the reasons why we have such

fortuitous lifestyles. A large portion of our GDP comes from globalised export and import between our

neighbouring countries. This, in turn, generates revenue for the whole of Australia that contributes to our

high standard of living. Globalism also gives rise to new industry and employment opportunities on our

shores where overseas demand for our resources fuels various Australian industries and our economy.

In addition, Australia’s diverse multicultural society is another by-product of globalism. By opening up our

borders, Australia allowed an array of cultural aspects to be intergraded into our society, including food,

music and customs. Free trade agreements implemented with nations like Japan, China and Singapore,

and our continued economic support in the Asia-Pacific region, have subsequently influenced the strong

presence of Asian culture in mainstream Australian life.

Ultimately, globalism has helped progress Australian society and has enriched our quality of life.

6. Allegiance by Mya Kordic Allegiance is defined as loyalty or commitment to a superior, or to a group, or cause. The nation of

Singapore, although small in size, is the habitat of a rich history and culture. Harmonious and diverse, this

is a nation at one with the people. The Singapore National Pledge is an oath of allegiance to Singapore

which embodies the importance of being together no matter what race, religion or walk of life you come

from and says all Singaporean citizens are one.

The National Pledge, a form of allegiance in Singapore was first written by Sinnathamby Rajaratnam in

1966, not long after Singapore’s Independence. Rajaratnam believed that religion, language and race were

decisive factors, although he emphasised that these differences can be overcome if Singaporeans cared

enough about their country. The foundations the oath were built on, helped bring Rajarnatnam’s dream to

life, in his words “a Singapore we are proud of”.

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The oath is recited by Singaporeans in unison during public events, in the Singapore Armed Forces,

National Day Parade and in schools across the nation. The allegiance citizens devote themselves to when

becoming a part of the nation Singapore today, through the National Pledge, rewrites history from a conflict

that took place 75 years ago.

Before the Fall of Singapore occurred, the developing nation of Singapore was committed to the British

Empire. The nation was reassured that British knowledge and confidence would protect them from the

terrors of Japanese forces; their faith was a trait of allegiance shown by actions. Faith was the emotion

citizens required when becoming a nation. Faith, as a citizen of a country, is trusting the nation’s leaders

and everyone around them, even when things seem really terrible. This is where citizens’ support is needed

the most.

During times of war, this faith and hope that things will

stay as they are and never change, but it was a duty the

nation of Singapore expressed. The Fall of Singapore was

beyond citizens' control, a battle Britain agreed to fight but

instead failed to protect as they had so valiantly promised.

Through this hardship, the citizens were nothing but

supportive, and the public supported their leaders’ ideas

and actions in the hope of a good outcome. There was no

other choice.

After this disaster, Singapore was left with options to

loosen their ties to countries they didn’t necessarily want

to have an affiliation with anymore. Their alliance with

Britain clearly had done them more harm than good which gave the nation the right to break the

commitment they once showed the British. Historical events, then, allowed Singapore to open many doors

and form new allegiances.

One of these allegiances happened to be to our own country, Australia. We have supported Singapore and

its surrounding neighbours over the years with increased security due to recent world events. Both our

economies have continued to boom, with equal contributions made by each nation through this allegiance

Australia shares with Singapore. These actions have led Singapore to form a strong trading commitment

with our nation that has helped us both achieve our goals of a secure international relation that will help us

continue with pursuits for innovation.

When forming their allegiance to the British Empire, Singapore fulfilled obligations similar to those of the

Singapore Pledge. While the contexts have changed, allegiance in Singapore hasn’t. The foundations that

build the structure of allegiance in Singapore has proven to be timeless, values that will remain deep in the

nation's heart and will be passed through generations far into the future.

7. Military by Cale Wilcox Before the US war machine had rumbled to life in December of 1941, the British Empire stood against one

of the most imposing war machines ever created, the Japanese military, as it marched down the Asian

peninsula. To stop this formidable force, the War Cabinet decided upon the strategy colloquially known as

the Singapore Strategy. By 1937, according to Captain Stephen Roskill, "the concept of the 'Main Fleet to

Singapore' had, perhaps through constant repetition, assumed something of the inviolability of Holy Writ".

The strategy was based upon three main phases: the garrison at Singapore would defend the port from

Japanese invasion; during the defence the Eastern Fleet would travel to Singapore to assist in the defence;

and to either reinforce or recapture Hong Kong. After the reinforcement or recapturing of Hong Kong was

complete, the fleet would travel to the Japanese islands, blockading them from the outside world. The idea

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of invading Japan was deemed laughable, with the idea of starving out a maritime population considered

far more favourable.

There were a variety of factors which influenced the ignominious Fall of Singapore: The lack of trained

soldiers combined with the disruption of communication lines, lack of ammunition, incompetence, and

above all, a strongly held belief of racial superiority in the British Empire’s camps led to an easy Japanese

victory.

The garrison at Singapore was composed of approximately 70,000 men, equivalent to just over four

divisions. However, this is unlikely to have been the actual numbers, with most units being under strength.

The local Singaporean units were in even worse state than the British Empire’s units, with the vast majority

having received little to no training and all units never having seen battle.

Another contributing factor to the Fall of Singapore was the lack of ammunition. Australian units were able

to hold off the Japanese landings on the Singaporean Island until they ran low on ammunition and were

forced to retreat. A lack of ammunition was not an issue for the coastal guns of Singapore, however, a lack

of high explosive rounds affected the loss greatly. If the coastal guns at Singapore had been supplied with

high explosive rounds as opposed to the armour piercing rounds they were stocked with, the defensive

forces on Singapore Island would have stood a much better chance of holding off the Japanese advance.

As many of you may remember from our tour of Leighton Battery, armour piercing rounds were only

effective against heavily armoured naval warships, and thus completely ineffective against infantry.

Perhaps the greatest contributor to the compromising Fall of Singapore was the belief of racial superiority

that was held by many members of the British Empire’s fighting forces. The belief that their fighting forces,

renowned the world over, could be defeated by these little men in “coke bottle glasses” was laughable.

However, these little men in “coke bottle glasses” were battle hardened having fought their way down the

Asian peninsula in some of the most hostile terrain ever

encountered. This racial belief was widespread, from

the lowest Private to Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival

himself.

Speaking of the Lieutenant-General, when the decision

was made to surrender the soldiers, it did not come

lightly. Whilst the Lieutenant-General and his men had

been fighting the Japanese down the Malay Peninsula,

they had only been occupying the Battle Box for four

days before the decision was made. The decision was

made for the good of the men, as ammunition and water

supplies were running low. The chance for an effective

counter-attack had also been reduced to almost nothing,

with the number of Japanese soldiers on the island increasing by the minute.

The irony of the commemoration of the capitulation at Singapore becomes apparent, with the victors of

battles usually commemorating the loss of their soldiers. While the number of Allied soldiers lost during the

Battle for Singapore pales in comparison to the multitude killed as POWs, the loss of life during this

monumental battle should never be forgotten.

The Fall of Singapore was described by Winston Churchill as the “worst disaster… in British military

history”, however, the implications from the battle are far-reaching. The physical and mental abuse of the

Allied Prisoners of War was horrific, and the capitulation was but another step by the Japanese in their

quest to conquer Southeast Asia.

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8. Environment by Janka Reynders Singapore is in every sense of the phrase, a green city. Infamously known as the Garden City for the

beautiful gardens that you wouldn’t typically find in a bustling urban destination, Singapore has placed huge

emphasis on the meaning of sustainability. It is one of the greenest cities in the world, with strong

government support given to maintaining the landscape.

However, Singapore’s journey to

sustainability didn’t begin until the mid-sixties.

Before then, Singapore was your average

Asian city experiencing problems with

pollution, sustainability and resources. That

all changed when Prime Minister Lee Kuan

Yew’s administration began an environmental

revival. Soon over a million flowers and plants

were planted in and around the city.

One of the most interesting aspects of

Singapore’s sustainability programs is the

Semakau Landfill, an offshore rubbish

island. Semakau is the world very first island

made from landfill. The island, located 8

kilometres south of the Singapore mainland

and covers an area of 350 hectares, started its life as everyday rubbish produced by the city. Initiatives like

these within Singapore continue to amaze, yet most interesting of all is how Singapore is conserving the

Earth’s golden resource - water.

Water is essential for almost everything, and like any resource if we continue to exploit it, we will run out.

That is why placing significant emphasis on Singapore’s water initiatives are so fundamentally important to

learn from. In conserving water, Singapore turned its attention to cleaning the Singapore River. Depleted

and misused, the river lacked the abilities to continue looking after the city. That changed in 1977 when

Prime Minister Yew gave the Department of Environment and Water a definite goal; to clean up the river.

Now one of Singapore’s most valued resources is thriving again, and people continue to see the positive

effects, with Singapore gaining a water catchment area almost two thirds of the land area.

Another water initiative being used by Singapore is the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant. Here used water is

collected and used to make what is known as NeWater. NeWater is essentially recycled water that is 100%

safe for drinking. By reusing water, Singaporeans are saving water as well, thereby caring for today’s

environment for tomorrow’s society.

Australia itself is in desperate need of a solution to water conservation. As the driest inhabited continent in

the world, Australians are plagued by the minimal annual rainfall. Currently, only 0.25% of our budget is

dedicated to searching for ways to look after our environment. When compared to Singapore, which

allocates almost 1.3 billion dollars to care for its environment, Australia needs to make a few changes so

that not only do we enjoy our beautiful nation, but so that future generations can too.

What can be taken away from my presentation today is that we can all do a little more to care for the

environment surround us. Using Singapore as a role-model, we can see that, not only is caring for the

environment beneficial for natural processes, but in time, sustainability is also economically and socially

beneficial for us. That is why, starting today, I encourage everyone here to do a little something for the

environment, such as turning off the tap when you brush your teeth, throwing your rubbish in the bin, or

even choosing public transport or walking to school or work, because when the environment smiles, so do

we.

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9. Nation Building by Ming Hui Gao This story starts in the late 1700s, when

France, Britain and the Netherlands were

competing for naval dominance. Sir Stamford

Raffles came from a humble background and

despite an interrupted education, he worked

hard, joining the Honourable English East

India Company first as a clerk and later going

on to found modern Singapore.

Unlike other nations, Singapore was not built

upon conquest or arms, but through adroit

diplomacy. When Raffles landed at Singapore

on the 29 of January 1819, he encountered

political opposition - not just from the Dutch

but also from his own Company. Luckily, by

the time a complaint arrived all the way from Europe, Raffles had already concluded a treaty with the local

Sultan. Given the hassle, it’s no wonder that during Raffles last stay at Singapore and not long after the

loss of his children, he once referred to Singapore as his "political child".

Alternatively, one could say that Raffles was merely acting as a pawn in The Company’s game for

hegemony. During those first years of building Singapore, the Company had manipulated figures and

pushed debt onto the Sultan. Not a year after Raffles left, the next Resident of Singapore succeeding

Farquhar used the debt as leverage to force the Sultan of Johor-Pahang to transfer sovereignty of

Singapore to the British.

This British colonisation eventually ended with the Fall of Singapore over a century later. Having been

under British protection until then, the people of Singapore had not only suffered during Japanese

occupation but even post war, it became a poor, unwanted nation with bomb craters in place of the ports

built by Raffles. In 1965, the Malaysian Parliament voted 126-0 in favour of expelling Singapore from the

Federation. Lee Kuan Yew, former PM of Singapore, is largely credited with turning Singapore from a war-

ravaged island of limited resources and unpromising outlook into the trade centre that it is today. Make no

mistake, Yew’s methods have also been subject to controversy and criticism. To this day Singapore

maintains strict law enforcement and capital punishment.

It is hard to say whether the means justifies the end, yet one thing is for certain: nation building is an

ongoing process. From Raffles to Lee Kuan Yew, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Singapore has been

founded twice, and it’ll be interesting to see how the nation changes amid contemporary political tensions -

being as it is a blend of Eastern culture and West influenced capitalist economy.

In comparison, Australia pales alongside this Singaporean success story. We’ve got deficit issues and are

infamous for our high costs of living. So in answer to my first implied question: how did Singapore turn out

better than our home nation - including home town, Perth - while many investors are willing to trade with

America, Europe and Asia, not as many will be interested in trading with Antarctica.

Geography matters.

10. Politics by Mitchell Murray Australia and Singapore were both subjects of a more benevolent Empire - the United Kingdom. Australia

enjoys a degree of autonomy under British imperialism which enabled us to make decisions in our own

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national interest as opposed to the interests of the British Empire. It is fair to say what may be good for an

Empire is not necessarily in the best interest of its subjects.

Politics, then becomes the critical study of governance, negotiation and power. Good politics involves

equity, meaningful diplomacy, along with separation of powers. This is a desirable state which nations

ought to strive for in order to achieve prosperity. We presently see this in Singapore.

Under a less benevolent empire, such as the Japanese Empire, subjects are denied their liberty. Korea and

Manchuria, for instance, were used as a ready source of labour and industry. Our current global shift

towards liberty, together with the decline of expansionism and imperialism, allows more nations to exercise

control over their own affairs. There is a noticeable shift, which enables liberated nations to run much more

efficiently with their own growth and development foremost in mind.

One noteworthy example is Singapore, which

has thrived diplomatically, economically and

environmentally on the global stage. However,

there must be some credit given to colonial

rulers who laid foundations for not just Singapore

but a considerable number of nations which

would, after liberty is seized, assist these nations

to move forward with an independent agenda,

thus leading people in the pursuit of good

politics. This has also seen a radical gravitation

of power from west to east, as is evident in Asia

today, with the development of countries like

Indonesia and Malaysia as well as Singapore. In

addition we have seen regional organisations in

South East Asia like ASEAN flourishing and the

rise of economic integration and growth in these member countries.

During WWII, Australian support of Singapore can be seen as indicative of good politics in the sense that

Allied forces exercised meaningful diplomacy, upholding the common values and bonds between our

nations, including ideals of peace, trust, trade and mateship. Today we witness a more autonomous

Singapore which has flourished through directing its own future; good governance is evident in autonomy

and the policy of free trade, which is only bolstered by international relations between world powers.

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Afterwords…