National History Challenge 2008

The National Trust is a proud sponsor of the National History Challenge and invites students from years 5 to 12 to enter this research based competition. It gives students a chance to be an historian, investigating their community and exploring their own past and heritage. It emphasises and rewards quality research, the use of community resources and effective presentation. Entrants can progress through regional, state/territory and national finals. Students can present their work in one of four formats:

• a research paper (individual entry only);
• a three dimensional museum display;
• a multimedia format (audio/video/website); or
• a performance.

The National Trust’s special category is Australia’s heritage and the Trust offers cash prizes for best entries in each state/territory meeting the themes: Australia’s heritage: Australia meets the world.

A National winner for the Trust’s special category is chosen from the State and Territory winning entries.

State/Territory winners will receive a cash prize of $100. State winning entries may be published in National Trust magazines.

The Trust’s National winner/s will receive a cash prize of $200 and travel to Canberra to attend the National Presentation Ceremony in Mural Hall, Parliament House. The National winning entry in the Trust’s special category may be published in Trust News Australia.

About the 2008 Challenge

Who can enter?

Students from years 5 – 12 may enter the competition. The theme for 2008 History Challenge is Australia meets the world. Students may also enter special categories. The Trust’s special category is Australia’s heritage:Australia meets the world.

What do I need to do?

Students from upper primary to senior level conduct and submit research projects based on a set theme and may choose to also submit their entry into a special category. Formats include essay, audio-visual, multi-media/website, performance and museum model.

If you enter the Trust’s special category you must use resources from the National Trust to enter and you must address the subtheme Australia’s heritage and the major annual theme. Visit the Challenge site www.historychallenge.com.au for more instructions on entering the competition.

How can I research my project using the Trust?

There are many ways of researching and presenting for the National Trust Australian Heritage category of the National History Challenge.

Organisations like the National Trust care for heritage places, collections and records from the past, preserving and conserving them for future generations. These collections, records and places are a repository of information that can guide us into the future.

You could visit one of the many Trust properties or historic sites open to the public such as Como, Rippon Lea Estate or the Old Melbourne Gaol or many others in regional Victoria. Look at the Trust Properties section of this website.

Ideas and sources

You can research the Trust’s files on buildings and places in your town or area in Victoria by using the Trust website - www.nattrust.com.au. There are 10,000 entries for Victoria alone.

Click on the Trust Register button on the left green toolbar of this page. Click on the Search the Trust register link at the top of the Search page. Type in the post code or address of properties you want to find on the Trust register. Information and the history of properties and classified areas will be displayed.

To enter the Trust’s special category, students must use resources from the National Trust- contact your state / territory Trust office for more information or visit a Trust website, or Our heritage at risk website www.heritageatrisk.org.au , or visit a Trust property.

More information and ideas can be found on the National Trust website http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/education.htm. This site will link you to National Trust websites in your state or territory which will have more specific examples about how to address the themes: Australia’s heritage and Australia meets the world, using their resources, Trust properties, classification registers or archives. You may also find subjects for your research from the Trust’s Our heritage at Risk program - www.heritageatrisk.org.au

For further information contact:

Maree Treadwell

Research Officer

Australian Council of National Trusts

P.O. Box 413 CAMPBELL ACT 2612

14/71 Constitution Ave, Campbell ACT 2612

tel: 02 6247 6766

mob: 0412 311 403

fax: 02 6249 1395

mtreadwell@nationaltrust.org.au

Important National History Challenge Dates

19 April 2008	Launch of program at Camperdown College
15 August 2008	Closing Date for Entries
October 2008	Judging completed and State winners notified
November 2008	State presentations held for winners
December 2008	National Presentation of Winner in Canberra

About the challenge sponsors

The Australian Council of National Trusts is a sponsor of The National History Challenge, a program run by the History Teachers’ Association of Australia and supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.