2026 marks the 125th anniversary of the Australian Army. As part of this celebration, children around Australia were invited to submit an illustration depicting how they see our soldiers. These drawings offer a glimpse of the soldier as seen through the eyes of our children: admired, imagined and celebrated. We are reminded that the Australian Soldier lives in our collective national imagination, as well as in our history, as someone who shows up when it matters.

Earlier this year The Cove proudly hosted the Our Australian Soldier Art Competition, and today we are excited to anpresent the results!

In their art, we see not only who we are, but also how we are trusted, understood, and remembered (Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, AM, CSC, DSM)

Please join us in celebrating the winners of this competition, and we thank everyone who submitted their entries.

Overall Winner

Hannah Zhang, Age 11, Victoria Avenue Public School, NSW

'My artwork consists of a soldier, remembering his past before the war started. It shows multiple of his memories, portrayed in picture dorm and two diary entries written during the war. A soldier is more than someone who fights at war. They have families and lives too'

Age Category Winners

Emilia Noble, Age 5, Lawrence Public School, NSW

'Girls are brave and strong, and can be in the Army too'

Ruby Whalen, Age 6, Lawrence Public School, NSW

'This is a picture of a soldier. We respect the soldiers who have passed away'

Lyla Green, Age 7, Lawrence Public School, NSW

'People who serve in the Australian Army are brave and important. Our country is safe because of them'

Evelyn Rose Baker, Age 8, Tiaro State School, QLD

'My picture is about a soldier that has a service dog as his mate and my picture also includes him standing beside the Australian flag'

Evana Matthew, Age 9, Carlingford Public School, NSW

'In my artwork I have shown the kindness and bravery of Australian soldiers. They defend our land, care for animals and people during bushfired, and provide food to communities in times of crisis. I am proud of Australian soldiers for their courage, compassion and service'

Wyatt Hirt, Age 10, Marist College, Canberra, ACT

'I created my artwork to represent the sacrifice the ANZACS made for us. The poppies are red and purple. Red represents the ANZACS and purple represents animals like horses'

Eden Stewart, Age 11, Milton Public School, NSW

'This is an artwork of my Great Uncle Carl Piazza, 6th Platoon, B Company of the 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Vietnam, 1970. He was a Forward Scout, leading patrol through the jungle. I have used pencil to draw an image of him during his time at war. The meaning of an Australian Soldier for me is someone who was brave and committed to a very hard job to protect our country and he risked his life to save the innocent lives of others. I am so proud of my Great Uncle Carl'

William Walter McMartin, Age 12, Abbotsford Public School, NSW

'This painting I drew is of my Grandfather, Walter Ernest McMartin, who passed away before I was born. My parents gave me his name as my middle name so that he would always be remembered. He volunteered to serve in the Australian Army as a paratrooper with the 2nd Infantry Battalion during World War II. I love my grandfather and am very proud of him for being an Australian soldier. His kindness, resilience and spirit of devotion will always encourage me. On ANZAC Day, my brother and I march with his medals to remember and pay our respects to the soldiers who served our country'

Sienna Hamilton, Age 13, St John's Catholic College, Sunshine Coast, QLD

'Bill the Bastard is an Australian Soldier horse. He saved over 130,000 lives during WW1. His statue out of bronze is now in a memorial space in Murrumburrah, NSW'

Chloe Rabreaud, Age 14, South Sydney High School, NSW

'This artwork is a graphite and coloured pencil portrait of a female veteran names Pam Richardson, surrounded by elements that represent her personality and life. The detailed shading highlights her strength and kindness, while the pink flowers, cat, Sydney Opera House and botanical garden-inspired background reflect her love for nature, animals, and Sydney. The medals and RSL uniform symbolises her service and dedication creating a respectful and personal tribute'

Nour Bagdad, Age 15, Pinnacle College, Golden Grove, SA

'My artwork is a portrait of an Australian soldier shown through different sections of a grid. Each section represents a different side of his experience and identity. I use light colours, white colour, texture and colour to explore themes of emotion and symbolism. The most striking thing is the way each section is coloured and represents different emotions, a lot of which are the struggles many soldiers face in speaking about their experience and trauma. The realistic watercolour reflects emotion and vulnerability, while the smoke-filled background creates a sad and sombre mood. In contrast, the brightly coloured section with blue sky and patterns uniform represents the creativity and individuality hidden beneath the disciplined world of war'

Christina Gabriel, Age 16, South Sydney High School, NSW

'I've painted Nora with a blue sky in the background using a mix of water colour, markers and coloured pencil'

Alarna Denigan, Age 17, Atherton State High School, QLD

'My experiences with my great-grandad, who fought in WW2 as a tail gunner inspired this artwork. As a young child, I often visited him in Melbourne and have fond memories of his peaceful home. He escaped death until his 95th birthday. Unlike all of the young men who weren’t privileged enough to watch their children grow up. I’m glad he can’t see how often in media war and conflict is glorified now. From colourful propaganda to modern social media personalities parading as political figures. My heart bleeds for the victims of their negligence. This artwork explored a serious topic; my use of media, techniques, composition and colour reflects this. I took inspiration from Gilbert Roger’s artwork ‘The Dead Stretcher-Bearer ’, created in 1919, which I thought had a unique perspective that I interpreted as an Australian soldier's portrait'

Chief of Army Scholar Highly Commended Awards

The Warrior Award

Awarded to the artwork that most powerfully renders the soldier as a figure of strength, resolve and readiness. These are the drawings of stance and bearing: the braced posture, the weapon carried with purpose, the armour and the set jaw. The award recognises the child artist who has understood that the Australian soldier is, at core, someone prepared to fight, and who has committed that understanding to the page without hesitation.

Ella Mathieson, Age 10, Tyabb Railway Station Primary School, VIC

'Shows what can happen in war'

The Home Front Award

Awarded to the artwork that most clearly conveys a personal connection between the child and the soldier they have drawn. These works are not composed from television or imagination but from life, and they carry the particular details that only familiarity supplies: a remembered face, a name, a uniform seen up close. The award recognises the child artist for whom the Australian soldier is not an abstraction but somebody they know.

Elise Cake, Age 10, Bounty Boulevard State School, QLD

'This picture is of my brother. He is serving in the Air Force. This picture shows that soldiers are also real people. They can smile. They can love and they can protect. To me, they are heroes!'

The Impact Award

Awarded to the artwork that has left a lasting mark on the person it depicts. This work is drawn from life, of a veteran the child actually knows, and their significance reaches beyond the page. To be drawn with care by a child who looks up to you is a quiet and enduring thing for a serving member to carry, and many keep such a portrait for the rest of their career. The award recognises the child artist whose work has changed something for its subject and acknowledges that the act of making a portrait is itself an act of recognition.

Natalie Helikarova, Age 14, South Sydney High School, NSW

'George is a 101-year-old World War II veteran whose life has been shaped by courage, resilience, and dedication. Throughout his many years, he has experienced both hardship and triumph, which have helped form the strong and dignified man he is today. George is also a symbol of loyalty and commitment, having shared 74 years of marriage with his wife. Even at his advanced age, he carries himself with pride, confidence, and quiet strength. This November, he will celebrate his 102nd birthday. In this drawing, I wanted to capture more than just George's physical appearance. My goal was to show the character and spirit he radiates through his expression and posture. I aimed to reflect his life experience, inner strength, and the wisdom that comes from living through difficult times while remaining true to his values. To me, this artwork is not simply a portrait, but a tribute to a remarkable life filled with perseverance, dignity, and history'