Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2016

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TOUR OF A LIFETIME

YEAR 12 O’CONNOR STUDENT ANNA RUDDELL HAS SPENT A ‘TRANSFORMATIVE’ MONTH IN EUROPE AS ONE OF SIXTEEN STUDENTS FROM AROUND AUSTRALIA CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UN YOUNG DIPLOMATS TOUR.

rights atrocities, the international legal system, modern multilateral institutions and activism/soft power.’ One of Anna’s most moving experiences on the trip was visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau in Krakow, Poland, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp during World War II. ‘When I visited Auschwitz, I read an interesting quote from George Santayana: “The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again”. This quote energised me to not only to learn as much about history as I can, but also to ensure, as a member of the next generation, that the decisions we make going forward will benefit all in society.’ The trip has influenced Anna’s future plans and she is now considering a career in international relations. ‘It has informed my university choices as I’m now looking to move interstate to Canberra to study the Australian National University’s unique Politics, Philosophy and Economics course. I would love to work for an non-government organisation or think tank, particularly in Europe. ‘The trip has taught me that to make a change in this world, I’ve got to be engaged in it.’

Anna said her fascination with world issues, history and foreign diplomacy led her to apply for the programme which received more than 300 applications from around Australia. ‘Over the course of one month we visited ten countries in Europe (Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Belgium and the UK) tracing the places, people and forces that have shaped the world as we know it,’ Anna said. ‘The workshops and consultations we engaged in had a strong educational focus which helped enhance our understanding of European history and the key issues facing governments in the region today.’ The young diplomats had twenty-three consultations with politicians, journalists, advisors, non-government organisations and think tanks during the month, including meetings with Australian journalist Lisa Miller, NATO Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Marriet Schuurman, Chief of Appeals Officer at the International Criminal Court Helen Brady, Australian Ambassador to Germany David Ritchie, Chief Negotiator at Paris Climate Conference Karsten Sachs and Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Lamberto Zannier. ‘At many of these consultations we spoke to the world’s most experienced political advisors on issues including the migration crisis in Europe, terrorism threats, Russian aggression and geopolitics of Europe and the Middle East. ‘In terms of the educational programme, we focused on a number of topics including the birth of the nation state, realpolitik and the international order, nationalism, human

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