Sadlier Stokes Prize

Students from the Collège des Bourgognes, winners of the 2023 prize, dressed as Australian soldiers in their short film ‘Crossed Destinies’.

The Sadlier Stokes Prize is organised every year by the Australian Embassy and the Sir John Monash Centre. The prize is open to all primary schools, middle schools and high schools in France and French overseas territories, and rewards educational projects on the theme of Australia during the First World War.

History

During the First World War 295,000 Australian soldiers were deployed to the Western Front in France and Belgium. Of these, 46,000 lost their lives, more than 16,000 kilometres from home.

To highlight the little-known role of these soldiers in shaping history, the Australian Government established the Sadlier Stokes Prize in 1989.

The prize honours two Australian soldiers, Lieutenant Clifford Sadlier and Sergeant Charlie Stokes, who distinguished themselves in France on 25 April 1918 at the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux (Somme).

Each year, three French schools are chosen by the jury of the Australian Embassy in France and the Sir John Monash Centre to win the prize: one primary school, one middle school and one high school.

How to participate

The 2025 Sadlier Stokes Prize is now closed. Please visit this page again later for the 2026 edition.

A prize worth up to €1,500 will be awarded to each winner for the purchase of educational materials or the funding of an educational activity. A prize package prepared by the Sir John Monash Centre will also be offered to each student in the winning groups.

Each laureate student will receive a prize pack from the SJMC.

 

  • You have until 1 February 2025 to create a project with your class and send it to the jury.
  • Your project must be about Australia in the First World War.
  • Your project can be based on any subject taught at school.
  • Your project can take any shape: an exhibition, a show, a poem, a short story, a treasure hunt, a newspaper, a video, a blog…
  • Download the application form. [pdf] [docx]
  • Download the students list, to be completed. [excel]
  • Download the information sheet. [pdf]
  • Complete your application and send it to [email protected].

Discover the previous editions’ winners

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