Back to the bus for a quick trip to a modern hotel to shower / pack / etc and prepare for the long journey home. A delay in the outbound flight ruined our planned 2 hour shopping stopover at Dubai as we eventually had 20 minutes to exit one plane, race across to another terminal, get processed and board the A380 for the 14 hour flight home. This would be a big effort on a family holiday so spare a thought for 128 crazy Aussies wanting to make sure they could get home on time.

We touched down at 10:00pm Monday night and joined up with our families to go home and return to our normal Year 10, Year 12 and teaching lives once again, with memories which will last for a lifetime (and plenty of souvenirs and photos as well!)

So for one final time, cheers from Team Gallipoli 2015!

Day 7

The bus was due to depart at 8:45 so imagine how Mr Cherry felt when he slept through 2 alarms and awoke at 8:41 to the sounds of kids packing the bus outside. Panic stations when he realised that he had totally unpacked all his gear the night before with the intention of sorting and repacking tidily for the trip home. Off we go to start our ½ day tourist trip around some of Istanbul’s iconic highlights. Such as the Blue Mosque, and the 1500 year old Hadja Sofia. This iconic architectural beauty has been both a church and a mosque at different times and it made us think that if a 6th century Roman built church, later a Greek place of worship, a mosque and now a revered museum of the Turkish Republic could be spared through numerous centuries violent wars then why is ISIS currently destroying world heritage listed monuments in northern Iraq and other places just because of their interpretation of their religion.

On to the Spice Markets for our first run in with gypsy kids and a chance to haggle over souvenir’s for home. Jazmaree was in her element as a bartering shopper when she is often working as the chocolate seller in Fardoulis’ pop ups in Miranda Fair. The spice markets has been operating every day for the last 600 years but I don’t think they have seen such enthusiastic shoppers like our kids.

Lunch was rescheduled to the world famous Orient Express restaurant on the railway station platform. It was a beautiful meal served by waiters who appeared out of a water feature (the kitchen was located down below) with trays of meals and drinks on miniature trains.

Day 6 (Saturday ANZAC Day)

Big screens showed all the entertainment and highlights being played up at the ACS and everything was perfect except for the creepy security guard who had to be escorted away by Aust. Federal Police officers. At 2:30 am Cherry had great delight in waking the kids up for the biggest day of their lives so far. Another security check and we are shuttled up to ACS. We are given an ANZAC type showbag with a beanie, books and other stuff that we will all keep for our grandkids and then we shuffle in to the site that some of you may have watched on TV. It was so eerily quiet even though there were 10,500 people present. They played the sounds of waves lapping the shoreline and then the noise of oars rowing boats up to the beach. In the still totally dark pre-dawn, the service commenced. Out to sea behind the beach we could see the outlines of all the warships that would eventually glide past during the service. One enduring memory will always be how in quiet times during the service we could hear the sound of birds chirping in the trees around us as the dawn commenced. It all seemed to end very quickly and we were marshalled to move 3km up along Artillery Road to get to the Lone Pine morning service some 4 hours later.

The walk up to Lone Pine was again a bit like a walk through the Royal National Park but his time we had an armed Turkish soldier every 20m apart on both sides of the steep dirt track. That was a very comforting feeling though. 100 years ago they were defending against Australians; on this day they were protecting us. The steepness of the track was probably too much for some of the older people (and some unfit younger people too) but everyone reflected on the added dangers of being shot at during the war and just got on with it. Another checkpoint later and we made our second visit to Lone Pine. This time we had allocated seating and eagerly awaited the morning service. While waiting, Mr. Cherry snuck off to visit the grave of RW Allen and again pay his respects on behalf of Mrs Shirley Watkins and her WW1 dad Bert Allen.

A media scrum occurred around Prince Charles and Prince Harry when they did a lap around the crowd prior to commencement of formalities. Possibly sounding a bit ‘anti-royal’ at this point, I wish the Royals just went to their seats because we were all saddened by the behaviour of the media circus as they ignored graves and headstones in their attempts to get the money shot. Despite all that we sat through a fantastic service that was different in parts to the dawn service as the Kiwi’s were up the road at Chunuk Bair. A 3km return walk down to the beach area and shuttle back to Mimosa holding area was our final memory of ANZAC 2015.

We were released from the holding area 24 hours after we first arrived yesterday and I reckon everyone was asleep within 5 minutes of the bus driving off towards Istanbul. The trip took about 5 hours with a meal break along the way. Whilst at the restaurant, everyone was very excited to see (by pure coincidence) our group on the Turkish television evening news. Our 10 seconds of fame was during the national anthem as a camera panned across the NSW representatives; this news outlet happened to choose the right footage for their report at just the right time!

We arrived at our original Istanbul hotel and everyone was keen to get their room key and crash. (Imagine however just how long it takes to allocate 128 room keys to over tired Aussies).

Day 5 (Friday) [TROY]

This morning the pace was relaxed in preparation for our busy day tomorrow. Everyone woke up full of excitement because they’re going to be sleeping under the stars tonight. But first we travelled south to tour the ancient city of Troy, immortalised in the tales of the Trojan War and the story of the famous Trojan Horse. We all came here thinking 100 years is such a long time ago but that all changes when you stand on the ruins of a 4000+ year old city of 9 different archaeological layers.


Day 5 (Friday) [MIMOZA PARK/ACS DAWN SERVICE SITE]

After Troy we headed back to our resort for the final time to pack our bags and say goodbye to our hosts. We know it’s getting serious now as we go through the first of 6 checkpoints before we get on to the car ferry. On the peninsula today we see an armed police officer on every corner and lots of armed soldiers in every farm field (and we thought their camouflage gear was supposed to work better than that). 3 checkpoints later we reach Mimosa Park secure holding area where we receive a tent and meal pack and settle in until our 3am wake up call. It is now that we really start to identify with the 10,000 or so nervous, anxious and scared ANZACs who would have been on troop ships in the sea immediately in front of us. Because we have such a large group it is decided that we will be the last ones moved up to ACS (Anzac Commemorative Site). Everyone thought of inventive ways to survive the near freezing night and the winners were the kids who gathered up pine needles to make an insulated mattress to crash on. After the most brilliant sunset (ok we have said that about 4 times so far but really it was) a clear cold night sky became the backdrop for a perfect crescent moon (think Turkish flag). I am not sure what phase of the moon occurred in 1915 but if it was this one then it may have been an omen for a ‘home team advantage’.

Day 4 (Thursday)

Today was another remarkable day spent exploring battlegrounds, monuments and cemeteries on the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. After an early start and another transcontinental ferry ride in brilliant sunshine, our Turkish guide Rabia explained that all the Turkish flags in the streets were not for us, but were to celebrate the anniversary of their republic. Today happens to be a national Youth Day (and that explains the hundreds of kids who were on the ferry with us).

Soon after, we arrived at the impressive Turkish Matyr’s Memorial overlooking Morto Bay. This 42m monument could be seen from our resort across the water when it is lit up with a red light every night. This was a place for us pay respect to the many Turkish soldiers who lost their lives in WW1. While looking at the massive monument we heard a splitting roar and a Turkish Air Force jet raced overhead and did some Top Gun type moves so close to us we felt we could almost reach out and touch it. 20 minutes later the air show ended with all 6 jets flying upside down along the water in front of us with red and white smoke streaming behind them. The air force was putting on the display for all the Turkish kids attending the monument and we just happened to fluke being there.

The main theme for the rest of the day was to understand the contribution of the English and French armies. The next part of the day was spent exploring a lesser-known, but no less important, chapter of the Gallipoli story; the battlefield at Cape Helles on the southern tip of the peninsula. British and French troops landed on the beaches at Helles at the same time the Australians came ashore at ANZAC Cove. More than 30,000 of them were killed in nine months of fighting, as they desperately tried to advance northwards and link up with the ANZACs. Everyone visited the cemeteries where many of them still lie, as well as the beaches where they were mown down as they came ashore. There were many English and Irish soldiers here to pay their respects. A special moment ensued on the shore of that very beach, where Alex was lucky enough to find a message in a bottle that wished (in Turkish) for good health and good fortune.

Our final stop before lunch was a visit to the battlefields of Krithia to discover the ANZAC’s forgotten battle at Gallipoli, which took place in attempt to aid the British in the Battle of Krithia. Hundreds of Australians and New Zealanders were killed here during a murderous advance in May 1915, yet today the battle is virtually unknown. Here we saw a 95 year old oak tree planted by an English woman after the war in memory of her lost son. Located on these grounds today is a vast cemetery which we were all able to explore. Inscribed at the centre of all Australian wartime cemeteries and memorials is the message “their name shall liveth for evermore”.

Lunch was again in Alcitepe (previously called Krithia). We were supposed to go to Suvla Bay at the top of the peninsula but it was locked off for security reasons. As rainclouds threatened to open up on us, we visited the brand new and completely interactive Kabatepe War Museum. Everyone loved the opportunity to learn about the Turkish perspective of the campaign through a 3D interactive presentation that looked like it came out of Mr Ozmen’s senior multimedia classes. Eleven rooms contained different scenes from the campaign ranging from being on the moving decks of a Turkish sea mine laying boat to dodging canons being fired from British warships. Understanding the Turkish point of view really highlighted just how much bias we put into a lot of our written work at school and can see that it is something that needs to be carefully managed at all times. Then we headed for the ferry and home again

Mr Cherry, Thomas, Alex, Jazmaree and Sydney will be out of communication until they arrive back at ISTANBUL the evening of ANZAC Day. Their ferry left Canakkale at 9pm on 24th April, 9 buses drive onto the ferry and cross the strait. While on the ferry they are able to hop off the buses and explore the top deck. They will arrive at the Dawn Service Site some time during the night and join thousands of other Australians and New Zealanders in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. 

Today has been sensational in so many ways. Again we left the hotel by 8 am in bleak, cold and wet weather around 6 degrees and as we drove towards the ferry again we could see Gallipoli peninsula in the distance covered in low cloud and rain. At Canakkale ferry we parked right beside HMAS ANZAC, one of our warships that has sailed over to be here this week. Next thing we see a large number of police and security cars arrive at the dock and either our Prime Minister or Governor General board the warship. A navy inflatable boat raced past and looked like it could have been on Sydney Harbour or Port Hacking except that it had a machine gun set in its bow and that reminded us of how many important dignitaries will be here and also just how politically unstable this part of the world is at the moment.

Our first site visit today was a place called Shrapnel Gully. History tells us that this was truly a murderous place and we made the same climb up the steep hill that so many ANZAC’s had to make on a daily basis. In some ways it was like a walk through some parts of the Royal National Park with similar terrain, soils and low, woody vegetation. What was noticeably different was the sense of history and national identity that we all felt as we walked to the top for some outstanding views back over the landing beach towards Greece in the background. Back to the bus and a quick trip to Quinn’s Post. Again, we were told of the significance of this place that we can all see located on any map of ANZAC, but know we know firsthand just how close it is to the beach and how many lives were lost at this site.

Next we went to Lone Pine Cemetery for a special Cronulla High challenge. Mr Cherry received a call during the holidays from a retired lady up the north coast of NSW who told him that her dad was a Gallipoli veteran. She sent him some details of a story about her dad’s best mate being killed at Gallipoli and a request for all of us to find this soldier’s grave and take a picture for her.

The whole bus set off on a super challenge to find Private R. W. Allen (no. 1508) who died on 19th June 1915. This means he lasted only 7 weeks before he was killed. The sad thing is the dad suffered appendicitis and was taken out of battle just before his mate was killed and it haunted him his whole life.

It was so eerie when we arrived at Lone Pine because an Australian performer, band and choir (no, not as good as Jazmaree and Thomas) were rehearsing for their role as a dawn service mirror site. So we had beautiful and appropriate background music as we searched for the grave and also as Sydney and Jazmaree laid the 2 remembrance poppy flowers sent to us by Mrs Rankin. It gave everyone goose bumps it reinforced just how much the story of ANZAC is a part of everyone’s lives in some way or other. It’s going to give us all so much pleasure to be able to send an image of the gravestone and some images of 40 students and staff paying their respects 100 years later to the best mate of a lady we have never met.

Well as if that wasn’t enough of an emotional struggle, we headed off to The Nek. John explained to us that this is possibly the most famous piece of real estate in Australia’s military history. On a section of land about as wide as 2 tennis courts, the famous Australian Light Horse division were butchered when their watches were set about 7 minutes slower than the navy canon operators on the ships located just off the coast. Some people say that the ‘very best’ of Australia’s young men were lost on this day. Channel 7 had just finished an interview with Ben Roberts Smith V.C. when the whole place went deathly quiet as another one of our new friends from the tour brought out a 100 year old bugle and with ANZAC Cove through to Suvla Bay and the Greek island of Lemnos as a backdrop, played the Last Post. We all know how this tune moves us at school or in Munro Park Dawn Service so multiply that feeling by about 1000 and you have some idea how the 5 of us felt at The Nek. One more unforgettable moment and another pull on our emotional reserves that we will never forget.

To balance all these experiences, we then visited the Turkish Memorial site and found it full of hundreds of Aussie visitors. Such is the special bond of respect and admiration between these two nations that we could really feel it. Young Turkish children were marching through the crowds singing patriotic songs and in the shadow of a massive statue of Mustafa Kamal Ataturk (the famous Turkish war leader) we knew that Australia’s long dead ANZAC’s were definitely resting in peace.

To round off the multinational flavour of this visit so far we next visited the NZ grave site and Chunuk Bair. With most visitors dressed in All Blacks footy jumpers and silver fern flags we talked to our mates from ‘across the ditch’ about shared stories and experiences that bind our two nations together in a way that cannot be broken by underarm bowling incidents, world cup cricket floggings and reversal rugby results. 100 years ago NZ soldiers captured and held Chunuk Bair for a short time. They were the only ones who made it far enough up the hill to get a glimpse of the Dardanelles Strait and to remember that this was the original objective for the whole campaign. So of all the 26 000 allied soldiers who landed on Gallipoli over the 8 long months of boiling summer and snow filled trenches of winter, only a handful of NZ men actually saw the supposed prize. Then 2 days later the Turks recaptured Chunuk Bair.

So that is it for the journey so far. We can’t help but feel that it is somehow blessed with good karma and great fortune. If it rains we seem to have just got on to the bus. When we arrive at a site it somehow stops raining and the sun shines on us. The music at Lone Pine seemed like it was organised by Mrs. Geldart, conducted and performed by Mr. Hodder and Mr. Tennikoff. The bugle at The Nek was unforgettable. Turkish kids want photos by the thousands and Turkish adults love to test their English language skills on us at any opportunity. Whilst there are thousands of people in a multitude of tour groups, EVERYONE wants to talk to us. We have been told by so many older visitors that seeing 128 members of a group proudly and respectfully absorbing all that Gallipoli has to offer is an impressive sight. Seeing HMAS ANZAC surrounded by Turkish naval ships gave us a sense of security as does the presence of so many police and military personnel.

We could go on about the Russian submarine we saw right in front of us but you may not believe it.

So until next time cheers from Team Gallipoli 2015.

Our first full day in Turkey started early with the 4 hour journey out of Istanbul as we headed south towards Australia’s most famous battlefields around Anzac Cove. Our trip was a great change from the plane flights and we were in awe of the geographical and historical significance of this part of the world. Our on-board Turkish history expert Rabia told us that the ANZAC’s definitely were not the first foreigners to try and take control of the Gallipoli peninsula. After a quick toilet stop along the way (where it cost 1 Turkish Lira for a visit) we arrived in ANZAC Cove. We met our military expert John, who will travel with us for the remainder of the trip as he gives a brilliant insight into the facts behind the myths and stories that we have grown up with.

As you can see, the place is busy with construction for the dawn service ceremony in a few days. We will be back here in a few nights time to get an experience of a lifetime. Avoiding all the builders, gardeners, security forces and other visitors, we were allowed to walk along the actual landing beach to get to our first grave site. The pebbly beach has no sand on it (just like Cronulla beaches this week) and the crunching of our boots and the lapping sound of the waves was exactly as the ANZAC’s would have experienced and we all definitely felt we could hear the gunshots, yelling and screams of the original landing.

Time for lunch and after a quick drive out of the battlefields we arrived in Alcitepe. As you can see from image it is a really ancient village with the minaret in the background and they made a fantastic lunch meal. After lunch we returned to the battlefields and walked beside the actual ANZAC beach. It has suffered a lot of damage in recent times with the construction of an access road but it looked so beautiful anyway.

Late in the afternoon we put our bus onto a car ferry and crossed the Dardanelles waterway to the town of Canakkale and to our resort accommodation for the next 3 days. We saw the most beautiful sunset across the water (the Gallipoli peninsula in the background) and that ended a very busy but stunning day that all of us will never forget.

We've finally arrived safe and sound in Istanbul, 30 hours after departing from Sydney Airport (with very little sleep might I add). After a stopover in beautiful Dubai, our final flight through Iran and Turkey saw us flying atop salt lakes and snow-capped mountains, all within a vast desert!

Our journey in the footsteps of the ANZACs begins tomorrow, as we head for Gallipoli by bus. As we travel along the Sea of Marmara and the straits of the Dardanelles, we will be viewing the waterway that the British, French and ANZAC troops were intended to secure in the Gallipoli campaign. This inconspicuous stretch of sea was the cause of the carnage at Gallipoli. We will then reach our final destination, Canakkale, where we'll be based out of for much of the trip as we explore the sights that the Gallipoli Peninsula has to offer.

Today we attended a (very long) pre-departure briefing at Rydges Hotel near the international airport where we met for the first time with the other 96 students and 24 teachers from all across NSW attending the trip. The day included a formal farewelling ceremony with RSL representatives, politicians and the organisers of the trip. Right now we're awaiting to board our flight to Dubai which departs at 9:10, after which we'll be off to Istanbul (or Constantinople if you wish), arriving late on Monday night.

Be sure to keep a keen eye here on Cronulla High's Facebook page as well as the official Facebook page for the NSW Gallipoli Schools Tour at https://www.facebook.com/GallipoliNSW2015 for regular updates! Also be sure to check our website at http://cronullahs-gallipoli.weebly.com/ for photos, documents, our newspaper appearances and regular updates.

-Thomas, Alex, Sydney, Jazmaree and Mr Cherry