Federal Member for Blaxland, Jason Clare today launched the fourth bi-annual Mateship Trek at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. He was joined by the Director Brendan Nelson, Mateship Trek partner Scott Morrison and the young people selected to take part in the trek to Turkey in January 2015.
The Mateship Trek brings together young Australians from different communities to learn about each other and Australian military history.
The group, made up of young Turkish Australians, surf lifesavers from Cronulla, a former Commando, a retired Australian Army General and two Turkish soldiers, will retrace the footsteps of both Australian and Turkish soldiers who fought at Gallipoli in World War I.
“Next year is the 100th anniversary of the battle at Gallipoli. The five young Turkish Australians travelling with me will be amongst the first Australians to visit Gallipoli in the year of the Centenary of Anzac”, Mr Clare said.
“Together we will honour those who fell on both sides at Gallipoli, as we walk in their footsteps on the sand, and up along the steep ravines where they fought and died.”
The trek will conclude with a Commemorative Service at the Lone Pine Cemetery on Australia Day.
Research projects on the lives of both Australian and Turkish soldiers are also being undertaken by the group under the guidance of Anzac Memorial Historian, Brad Manera.
Mateship Trek is once again helping to raise funds for Soldier On, an important Australian charity directly supporting our soldiers who have been wounded, physically or psychologically, on contemporary operations.
To donate visit: https://soldieron.giveeasy.org/campaigns/mateship-trek-2015/
Mateship Trek 2015 is made possible through the generosity of organisations such as:
- The Nine Network
- Bankstown Sports Club
- Bankstown RSL
- Interlink Roads
- Clubs NSW
- Microsoft
- Linfox
MEDIA CONTACT: Jamie Wassef 02 6277 4904
