Rotorua student wins trip to Gallipoli

&NewLine;<p><img class&equals;" alignright size-full wp-image-763" src&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;schoolnewsnz&period;fastrackdev&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2014&sol;04&sol;SND02-2-Jack&lowbar;Potaka&lowbar;300x225&lowbar;copy&period;jpg" alt&equals;"SND02-2-Jack Potaka 300x225 copy" style&equals;"margin&colon; 5px&semi; float&colon; right&semi;" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"225" &sol;>Rotorua Boys High School student Jack Potaka has taken top honours in the national final of the ANZ RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition&comma; winning a trip to Gallipoli to attend ANZAC Day commemorations&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p> <&excl;--more--> <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Jack&&num;8217&semi;s speech beat seven other year 12 and 13 regional finalists to win the competition in Wellington on Monday&period; Jack&&num;8217&semi;s prize includes a trip to Gallipoli for the 2014 ANZAC day commemorations&comma; a &dollar;1000 travel fund&comma; trophy&comma; laptop computer and digital camera&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The prize was presented by the Governor General&comma; Lt Gen&comma; The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae&comma; RSA national president Don McIver and ANZ head of corporate affairs Peter Parussini&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The 16-year-old student impressed the judges with a passionate speech about the first fully qualified M&amacr;ori pilot in the RNZAF&comma; Porokoru Patapu John Pohe&period;&nbsp&semi;Jack delivered an inspiring speech entitled &&num;8216&semi;The Forgotten Hero&&num;8217&semi; detailing Porokoru&&num;8217&semi;s determination to learn to fly and his successful career in the air force before he was shot down in Germany&comma; captured and later executed&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;