One of only 12 students chosen to travel with Premier Alan Carpenter on the ANZAC student tour, Hannah visited significant battlefields on the Western Front including the Ypres Salient and Fromelles.

Hannah described the highlight of the tour as the Menin Gate service in Ypres in Belgium, where hundreds of Australians attended.

“The best thing for me was the music, the Reveille and the Last Post,” Hannah said.

“The service was so silent and when the music started it really evoked all your emotions.”

Hannah, who was an official wreath layer at the Menin Gate service, said that it was amazing to think that this particular service had been conducted every day in the small city since 1928.

“To do the service they have to close the road down, yet the Belgians don’t consider it inconvenient.

“It just shows how eternally grateful they really are.”

This year, the ANZAC day dawn service was held in the small French village of Villers-Bretonneux to mark the 90th anniversary of the town’s liberation from German occupation.

“At the dawn service at Villers-Bretonneux the singing of the Australian and French national anthems was incredibly moving.

“It was amazing to think that 90 years ago, troops were fighting where I was standing and the playing of the two anthems made us feel really united together.”

Since her return, Hannah has addressed her fellow students at ESHS, sharing with them some of the experiences and highlights of the tour.

“I’ve had some great feedback – people have come up to me and said that it has motivated them to want to get involved with the tour and I definitely recommend the experience.

“Being on the Western Front where it all happened brings it all to life.

“It’s been really beneficial for my understanding of the ANZAC concept and for my own personal growth.”

Now that all the excitement of her whirlwind tour has died down Hannah said that she will be concentrating on school and exams.

“It’s back to reality,” she said.