Celebrations in Australian History

The theme for 2004 is 'Celebrations in Australian History'. Students may produce entries in one of four formats: an individual research paper, a three-dimensional museum display, a multi-media format (audio/video/website), or a performance. Except for the individual (one person) research paper, students may work alone or in groups of up to four people.

Students must relate their chosen area of research to the theme. Judges assess on relevance to the theme. Teachers and students are urged to look at the copy of the Judging Sheet judges use. A copy of this is included in this handbook. Students can use this productively to plan and reflect on their work to ensure that all requirements are covered.

This year's theme is broad enough for students to interpret in many ways and from many perspectives. Students are urged to read carefully the suggestions from the sponsors of each category for ideas and possible lines of inquiry.

Students are encouraged to think about Celebrations in the widest possible way. Students are encouraged to inquire into local issues and draw on local resources. Each family and community in Australia has stories that need to be heard, recorded and celebrated as part of the theme, Celebrations.

Celebration. Think about this word. Check its meaning in a dictionary. From celebrate (Shorter Oxford Dictionary): to make publicly known, proclaim, to extol, publish the fame of...

The theme"Celebrations"encourages students to investigate, analyse and record for example:

• Stories from your family that may or may not have been told
  
• Local events or achievements from your region or state
  
• National events such as Anzac Day
  
• Anniversaries of organisations and State/Territory milestones
  
• The lives and contributions of individuals
  
• Triumph over adversity
  
• Innovation and intentions
  
• The growth and development of an industry - eg the Australian film industry
  
• Beginnings - settlement of your own district or town
  
• Stories of immigration and resettlement
  
• Endings - the end of a conflict eg World War II, or the end of an era
  
• The development of Australia's relationship with our neighbours in the Asian region
  
• The richness of Australia's cultural diversity
  

Your chosen subject may or may not be well-known. Your work will indeed create the "Celebration".

Some suggestions to start you thinking are available at Research Ideas.