Year 11 students were last year asked to write a 1500 word essay for the Anzac competition, with seven students awarded the once in a lifetime opportunity to attend the Anzac Day Centenary Dawn Service at Gallipoli. 

On Thursday, Rachel Gregory, of Launceston Church Grammar School, Kaitelin Campbell, of Newstead College, Luis Wilson, of Don College, and Jack Soward, of Launceston College, left Launceston Airport to embark on their two week journey.

Rachel, 17, who is now in her final year of school, said she was expecting the service to be a powerful emotional experience.

She said her essay focused on the individual stories of three Anzac soldiers who were former students of her school and a nurse.

''When you are writing your essays you are trying to understand what the soldiers went through but being at Gallipoli on that day will help to gain a bigger understanding of the soldiers and an increased respect for them,'' Rachel said.

''It is such a great honour and I want to take it seriously. I think we all do.''

Rachel said the Anzac spirit and the attributes such as humour and mateship exhibited during war time had been brought forward and helped to form Australia's identity today.

''It was the first time we fought as a country and they proved what Australians were made from.  We have kept that spirit alive,'' she said.

The seven students will also visit significant historical sites in Turkey, Belgium and the Western Front in France, including the Blue Mosque and The Dardanelles.