This year the theme was ‘Significance - History Matters’. While several members of the History Club were working on entries prior to lockdown, Charlotte D of Year 8 completed her entry on how studying the history of the Spanish Flu of 1919 has been important for us to understand the covid pandemic and the course of action required. Like a true historian, Charlotte used a plethora of primary sources including those held by the National Archives of Australia and other major Australian repositories. Charlotte chose to create an interactive website comparing the two pandemics.

Charlotte reflected on her project:

‘I quite enjoyed the experience of the National History Challenge.  This competition included the challenge to create a project that meets the theme of Significance: History Matters. Participants had the choice to either produce an essay, 3D model, or another format.

The National History Challenge is a research based competition for students across Australia, with a different theme each year. Students have the choice of researching anything providing it falls under the theme. With prizes for the best in the grade across the states and country, along with special categories which also have winners across the states and the country.

My entry, COVID-19 and Spanish Flu is about the significance of the Spanish Flu, and what Australia has learnt from it to better our attack on COVID-19. My website displays how and why “History Matters”, plus the overall importance of looking into the past, to benefit the present.

One major thing I have discovered within my research is how similar both viruses are. Both include fever as the main symptom, along with headaches and sore throat as less common symptoms. The Spanish Flu had more than one wave of the virus hit, which shut down schools, cinemas, churches, along with other places of gatherings. Both viruses caused lockdowns across Australia, police giving out fines and masks mandated to be worn.

Overall, this project has been a great experience and has helped me improve my research skills. I have enjoyed learning about the Spanish Flu and COVID-19, as it has really brought to life to me how similar both pandemics were. This competition has helped me find effective ways to research and seek out important information’.

Well done Charlotte on your amazing website and we wish you every success in the competition.

Fran Musico Rullo - HSIE Teacher