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 1 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! 2 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. 3
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