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Walk This Way |
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 After
walking from Istanbul to Gallipoli, Aaron Langmaid will commemorate the 89th
Anniversary of ANZAC Day with the thousands expected to attend memorial
services on the Gallipoli peninsular.
Differences in language and culture may separate them, but the camaraderie
between Australian, New Zealand and Turkish people is something few other
nations could ever match. It’s a special relationship originally forged in
the muddy trenches of Gallipoli and a bond which becomes no more apparent
than during ANZAC Day services on the Turkish peninsular.
Thousands come to honour those who died and remember the friendships that
were made during an nine-month battle in World War I. This year Australian
schoolteacher Emily Wood and New Zealand architectural technician Chris
Maguigan will stand among the crowd having trekked more than 350kms from
Istanbul to the Gallipoli Peninsula. The pair will join four other walkers
including two Turkish representatives and London-based British-Australian
national secretary Christine Shanahan, as they cover 35 kilometers a day.
“Anzac Day has always been the one day that Kiwis, Aussies and Turkish
people stand side by side and take time to seriously be proud of our
national identity,” Shanahan said.
“It has always been about remembering the immense sacrifice of troops and
loyalty to their country. What remains are enduring friendships between the
Australians, Kiwis and Turkish people. We should never take that
relationship for granted.”
Wood, whose great grandfather served in the fight, said the walk would be an
opportunity to ensure the message behind the day of remembrance was still
getting through almost nine decades after soldiers trudged ashore in 1915.
“ANZAC Day represents a lot more than what happened at Gallipoli,” the
27-year-old said. “It brings up issues of what we believe is important and
what we are willing to do in our own lives for other people. It would be
nice to think we could learn something from what happened on these
shores.”Maguigan, 27, said the message was even more relevant in light of
recent overseas campaigns. “It’s now our peers involved in peacekeeping
around the world and regardless of whether you believe recent conflicts have
been necessary, it’s important we support those who have been involved.”
It will only be the second time the 10-day Legacy of ANZAC walk has been
attempted. Last year Australians Billy Ferreira and Graham Jenkins, both
ex-soldiers of the Royal Australian Artillery, arrived at Anzac Cove in time
for the dawn service, cheered on by thousands of fellow Aussies, Kiwis and
Turks.
The pair had been overwhelmed at the time by the response from local and
international media which followed the pair as they trudged through towns
and villages on the coastal route along the Marmara Sea.
While the trek will honour those who fought it will also be used to help
raise awareness and much needed funds for the Turkish Veterans of Gallipoli
Society, The Returned Services League of Australia and the Royal New Zealand
Returned Services.
“These agencies do an awful lot of work for war veterans and their
families,” Wood said. “So much of the work goes unnoticed because most
people think these associations are just venues where you can go for a
counter meal. That’s a big misconception we hope to change.”
And while the trek becomes an important opportunity to raise awareness and
lend support, for its participants, this test of endurance will be just as
much a personal challenge as a physical one. The walkers will be building up
their fitness in the lead up to the start of the event mid April.
“I’ve been trying to walk about 10 kilometers a day five times a week,”
Maguigan said. “The first few days are going to be especially tough going,
but I think we will learn a lot about ourselves and each other. This isn’t
something you get to do everyday and I have no intention of taking it for
granted.”
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