AUSTRALIAN Air Force Cadet Katelyn Zoethout will commemorate the Anzac Centenary in Canberra next year after winning a speech writing competition.
The 15-year-old entered the competition, run by the Greenbank RSL sub-branch, in which she had to write a speech about how she felt about the services and sacrifices soldiers had made over the past 100 years.
"It's incredible to win. I didn't think I would get the opportunity to go down to Canberra next year for the Anzac Day service," she said.
"I'm going to take my dad, who was a sergeant in the army, to the service and I think it will be very emotional and eye opening, especially as it's the 100th anniversary."
Katelyn said her inspiration for writing her speech came from her family's military service.
"The words courage, honour, mateship and sacrifice are repeated constantly in the speech and are probably the most meaningful words you can put towards the Anzac's and their legend as it's pretty much what defines them," she said.
Greenbank RSL sub-branch secretary Howard Buckley said Katelyn's entry had impressed judges.
"Katelyn's speech was a standout, it wasn't a hard choice as the content of it and the personal feeling she expressed in it were meaningful," he said.
While Katelyn is in Canberra, her speech will be read out at the Greenbank RSL sub-branch's dawn and mid morning Anzac Day services.
"That is a real honour and luckily my mum will be there to record it," Katelyn said.
Katelyn is a member of the 214 squadron at Park Ridge.