Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial, Melbourne
Daily Dawn Service
Leader:
Today we gather to remember those who served, those who were injured in mind
and body, and those who died in the Gallipoli campaign on [today’s date] 1915.
We gather to remember the individuals and families in Australia and Turkey whose
lives were changed forever by the Gallipoli campaign.
We remember particularly [names of family members and others to be remembered
specially]
We gather to give thanks for the ties of respect and of friendship that, since the
fighting ended, have bound together the people of Australia and of Turkey, together
with the people of New Zealand and people of peace and goodwill all across the
world.
We gather to give thanks for the harmonious society we enjoy in Victoria, where
people of every background and religion can live in peace and freedom.
Leader:
We will now listen to a reading of ‘100 Years Ago’ by Rupert McCall:
Reader 1:
There on the ship – on that whispering ship
The abyss of uncertainties rest
There on the ship – in the night’s eerie grip
His heart leaping forth from his chest
He senses adventure but riding the tide
Is the ripple of chaos to come
His lips hold a prayer that inspires his mind
To be sparing a thought for his Mum
Khaki surrounds him in similar veins
Character ready to flow
Now the landscape is forming – the moment is nigh
One hundred years ago
Reader 2:
There on the beach – on that desolate beach
Dawn filters through as they land
There on the beach some would not even reach
Nothing unfolded as planned
Running and falling – confusion defined
He scrambles and clambers and claws
The ridges rain venom - he somehow survives
But his innocence dies on those shores
From the dearth of a trench – through the fly ridden stench
Shines the grin with a knockabout glow
Where the slouch hat is worn, a new species is born
One hundred years ago
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Reader 3:
There on the hill – that un-winnable hill
He is scared but by God, he’s committed
There on the hill, so much young blood would spill
The word ‘sacrifice’ tragically fitted
In protecting their homeland, the Turks never budge
The high ground is theirs to defend
Death blows a breeze that puts ice in his knees
He prepares now to meet with his end
For a moment, the sky turns a calm shade of blue
And with that, the commander yells “GO!”
He is hit and it burns – then to peace he returns
One hundred years ago
Reader 4:
There on his grave – on that lost lonely grave
With the others that grimly abound
There on his grave – wooden crosses stand brave
An ANZAC lies under the ground
Australians – New Zealanders – brothers in arms
Mates on the same team today
“Goodbye and God bless cobber” so say the words
In a strength we could never betray
And this on the face of a small humble stone
That in winter, is lashed by the snow
“Please cry no tears” he was seventeen years
One hundred years ago
Reader 5:
Here in my heart – with the beat of my heart
I can’t help but tremble and shiver
Here in my heart – it’s so hard to depart
From the pride that these spirits deliver
For the courage – the kinship – the duty – the dove
The flame of our freedom ascends
Enemies once, now we stand with respect
And continue this journey as friends
Gallipoli – home to a ghost in us all
From a tale, pray our children will know
As the legend of ANZAC… and lest we forget…
One hundred years ago
Leader:
Let us now listen to the Turkish poem, ‘A Ballad for Çanakkale’ [pron. Charnakkalee]
Reader 6:
In Çanakkale stands the Mirror Bazaar.
Mother I set forth against the enemy, oh, my youth, alas!
In Çanakkale there's a cypress tree.
Some of us are engaged, some of us married, oh, my youth, alas!
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In Çanakkale there's a broken jug.
Mothers and fathers abandoned hope, oh, my youth, alas!
Çanakkale's heights are shrouded with smoke.
The thirteenth division marched to war, oh, my youth, alas!
In Çanakkale the cannonballs landed.
Ah, our comrades fell wounded together, oh, my youth, alas!
Çanakkale's bridge is narrow, impassable.
Its waters have become red blood, not a cup can be drunk, oh, my youth, alas.
From Çanakkale I barely escaped
My lungs rotted from vomiting blood, oh, my youth, alas!
From Çanakkale I escaped, my head is safe Doomsday came before I reached
Anafarta, oh my youth, alas
In Çanakkale they shot me.
They buried me before I died, oh, my youth, alas!
In Çanakkale are rows of willows
Brave lions rest beneath them, oh, my youth, alas."
Leader:
Calling to mind [insert names of any persons to be specially remembered], let us now
make our solemn observance.
Reader 7:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
All:
We will remember them.
The Last Post is played - available at http://anzaccentenary.vic.gov.au/resources-commemorativeservices/
One minute’s silence is observed.
Leader:
Lest we forget.
All:
Lest we forget.
Participants each insert a poppy in to the metal threads of the Memorial.
All depart in silence.
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