Speech winners will make pilgrimage to Gallipoli

One Hawke's Bay, Manawatu or Wairarapa secondary school student will get a first-hand look at the historical landscape of the Gallipoli Peninsula on Anzac Day.

"It will be a wonderful opportunity for them," Napier RSA president John Purcell said.

The pupil will be one of eight young people who will make the journey to Turkey to experience the commemorations of the Anzac landings 100 years ago.

The eight will be the regional winners of the ANZ RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competitions which are being staged this month - with the Hawke's Bay event taking place at the Napier RSA at 10.30 this morning.

Members of Toastmasters will act as the judges, with each student given six to eight minutes to deliver a speech they have prepared on the subject of "New Zealanders in World War I".

In past competitions only the winner of the national competition, which the regional winners all go on to speak at next month, would get the big trip.

"But because it is the 100th commemoration, they have decided to take all the regional winners this time," Mr Purcell said.

"It is a marvellous thing."

As well as the trip, the regional winners will receive $1000 as well as $1000 for their school.

Mr Purcell said eight young people would be taking part in today's competition, which is a partnership between the RSA and ANZ New Zealand, and aimed at promoting among young people a deeper understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices made by those who have served New Zealand in wars and armed conflicts overseas.

The speakers are Katherine Scott (Iona College), Sam Hiha (Napier Boys' High School), Benjamin McCook-Weir (Rathkeale College), Kayley Simmons (Wairoa College), Jessica Ballinger (Taradale High School), Abigail May (Woodford House), Jack Francois (Havelock North High School) and Shayla Farley (Wairarapa College).

Through the support of the New Zealand Defence Force, which will fly official the guests to Turkey, all eight regional winners would now go along.

They will join 17 other young New Zealanders as part of the Gallipoli 2015 Youth Ambassadors NZ programme, an initiative of the Minister of Veterans' Affairs, Craig Foss.

The competition is a tribute to Cyril Bassett VC (1892-1983), who was the only New Zealander at Gallipoli to be awarded the Victoria Cross and who worked his entire career at the National Bank, now ANZ New Zealand.

The national final will be staged in Wellington on March 12.