By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
NOTHING compares to marking Anzac Day at Gallipoli, says Greater Dandenong mayor — and current tourist in Turkey — Angela Long.
What’s different is the international flavour to the series of ceremonies at Anzac Cove, the landing site for Australian and other Allied troops attempting to invade the Turkish peninsula in 1915.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the Anzac Day march.
Under a full moon over Dardanelles seas, Cr Long joined thousands from various nations huddled for a dawn service last Thursday.
Among them were students and teachers from Sirius College’s Keysborough campus who joined a three-school pilgrimage to the service.
Meryem, a student at the school, said: “Before I used to just think of it as a war. Now I’ve seen the pride that it affects in people, it’s very different.
“Growing up as a Turkish Australian, I’ve now seen the Australian reaction. Both sides are proud and interested in what went on. Now we’re happy we’re together, war between us won’t happen again.”
The group on the three-week tour included students and staff from Mater Christi College and St Joseph’s College in eastern Melbourne.
Cr Long said the feeling of loss extended on all sides, reflected in separate services at the cove for French, New Zealander, Turkish and Commonwealth soldiers last week.
At the dawn service, the Turkish, New Zealander and Australian national anthems were sung for the 70,000-plus troops lost by those nations during the Gallipoli campaign.
Cr Long had a clear view of the ceremony from the VIP section, afterwards meeting high-ranking officers.
The dawn ceremony was briefly blighted by a lone protester, who was swiftly escorted away, she said.
She had visited Gallipoli before, but this was the first time on Anzac Day. “The dawn service was better than I had imagined. The weather was a bit cool but the service was very emotional.”
Casey councillor Wayne Smith, also part of the touring party, said he found the New Zealander service featuring mournful Maori songs particularly moving.
He heard of tales of Anzac troops “freezing cold, wet and then gunned down” but last week’s visitors were spared such weather extremes.
“I’ve been to colder Anzac Day services in Casey — though it’s not as cold as Dandenong.”
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