Four local students have embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to attend the Anzac Day centenary in Turkey on April 25.
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Adam Robinson of Cessnock High School, Hannah Onion of Mount View High School, Heidii Hyland of Kurri High School and Lauren Wood of St. Philip’s Christian College are among a group of 20 students and four teachers from the Hunter Region who flew out on Monday for the Hunter Valley District Council of RSL Sub-Branches’ Anzac centenary tour.
The tour will take in the sights of Venice, Istanbul and the Gallipoli peninsula and will include a dawn service in Turkey on April 25 and the Gallipoli 100th Anniversary Ball the next day.
Fundraising began in 2011 and the rigorous selection process took place in 2013, with the winning students announced in November that year.
Many of the students chosen are descendants of Gallipoli or World War I veterans, including Adam and Lauren.
Adam’s great-great uncle, Donald Alexander McLeay, fought and died at Gallipoli.
Adam, who describes himself as a “mad history buff”, said he is very keen for the experience and that he is looking forward to representing his school and his family.
Lauren also had a great-great-uncle, Sydney Clyde Sawtell, who was killed at Gallipoli.
She said she looks forward to paying her respects at the Lone Pine War Cemetery.
“I have learnt so much about Gallipoli and so much about my great-great-uncle, I feel as though I know him now,” she said.
“I can’t wait for these next three weeks that I will get to spend with everyone on the trip. We are all so excited and have bonded together so well, we are our own little family.
“I am sure that this will be one of the most life-changing, emotional and memorable experiences of our lives.”
The tour departed from Hunter Valley Grammar School on Monday morning and will return to Australia on May 2.
Addressing the students before they left on their journey, NSW RSL acting president Peter Stephenson said they would bear the Anzac spirit on their journey and when they returned.
“One of your duties, when you return from this life-changing pilgrimage, is to spread that spirit – to tell people about what you’ve seen and experienced,” he said.
