AFS Intercultural Programmes New Zealand has awarded the 2011 Gallipoli Youth Award to a young Wellington student with close connections to ANZAC soldiers who served at Gallipoli.
AFS is the largest organisation in the world to facilitate non-fee-paying cultural exchanges.
The award, which is run by AFS in partnership with the Royal New Zealand RSA, runs from March to May 2011. It involves a six-week exchange, attending a local Turkish school and participation in ANZAC and Turkish commemorative services.
The student will document her exchange experiences via an online blog, where she will also post photos and their winning presentations.
The award is only eligible to students who have a blood relative who was involved in the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War.
The recipient is 16-year-old Heather Mackay of Wellington, a Year 12 student at Wellington Girls College. Her great-great uncle, Private Herbert Stanley Sing served as a signaller during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Herbert joined the army in 1914. During his years in the war he fought in Egypt, Gallipoli and France. Sadly Herbert was killed in action in 1916 and is now buried in France.
Like most other boys, Herbert joined the army thinking it would be a new and exciting adventure. Herbert landed at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. According to an extract from a letter home he put his foot on Turkish soil at about 10.00am.
In a letter home he described the fighting as “living hell”. The Turks were chasing them back, “We had to run I can tell you, I don't think I ran so fast in all my life”. Herbert was wounded on the first day of fighting and was admitted to hospital in Mena, he rejoined his unit on 22nd June 1915.
“My great grandmother, Bertha (Birdie) Frances Mackay-Campbell (Grandma) died last year at the age 105. There was someone extremely special in her life, her brother, Herbert Sing. I have been hearing stories about Herbert for as long as I can remember. Herbert was always the brother Grandma loved to talk about” says Heather.
His mother and his sister (Grandma) always wanted to visit Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery and see the final resting place of Herbert. Unfortunately they never had the opportunity to go. “One day I hope to travel to France and fulfil the dreams of my great great grandmother and my grandma”.
“Although I never met Herbert I feel as if I know him. This (Gallipoli Youth Award entry) essay has made me feel closer to Herbert than I ever felt before. It also makes me feel closer to my grandma; because I now see she loved him so much”.
AFS has organised over 10,000 cultural exchanges throughout 52 countries worldwide. The exchanges have a family focus and are based on the AFS mission of peace through friendship and cultural understanding.
The Gallipoli Youth Award is particularly special, says Tony Calvert, AFS New Zealand Communications Manager.
“Our origins lie in the American Field Service, a volunteer ambulance corps formed in World War I and active through World War II,” says Tony Calvert.
“AFS ambulance drivers believed that personal interaction and friendships between people built international peace and understanding.
“The sharing of cultures that the 2011 award recipient will experience, and their own strong family connection with brave First World War Gallipoli veterans, makes the Gallipoli Youth Award exchange a significant and poignant event.
“The award is a true celebration of the spirit of ANZAC and New Zealand’s bond of brotherhood with Turkey.”
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Anzac Day
With an early start of 2am, I left my house with my host mother and together we met with the official New Zealand party at the Kolen Hotel. From there we took a boat ride to the Gallipoli Peninsular and then because we were with the Prime Minister's party, we were treated to a bus ride right to the entrance of the ceremony.
I can't start to explain the overwhelming emotions I felt, being at the site where so many of my ancestors fought. I have visited this wonderful place 3 other times since I arrived and each time my feelings have been different. Nothing could have prepared me for the way I felt today, the 25th April. The first service was at ANZAC Cove for the opening ceremony where leaders from the different countries spoke. John Keys message was both emotional and filled me with pride, I cried tears for all the lives lost and the ones who came back home different men.
Next we went to have breakfast in a cafe on the beachfront and then on to the Australian ceremony at Lone Pine. Another wonderful emotional speeches people who are no doubt ancestors of men who fought in battle on this site. The Turkish ceremony was next. Even though it was speeches delivered in Turkish and English, the emotions were the same and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the ones for NZ and Australia. Finally in the afternoon we went to Chunuk Bair for the New Zealand ceremony.
Never have I felt such a strong pride in both my country and family for their sacrifice at what is now a beautiful place but was a site of such death and sorrow. I can't explain in words my feelings, but just to say that I don't think I will ever feel this again and I take home with me a different respect for the men who fought at Gallipoli. Their courage and ability to forsake their families is something that became more real for me. My reason for wanting this award was to pay my respects to my Great Great Grandfather Edmund Bowler who fought there and I now can honestly say I think he would have been proud of me for learning and understanding a bit of what he went through.
A long day but one I will never forget and will always be grateful for.
Monday, April 19, 2010
We had a fantastic time on Saturday afternoon learning how to make manti, it tasted delicious. Afterwards we were shown what the Turkish women do at a henna party before a women gets married. There is a lot of singing and dancing in a circle while the bride to be sits in the middle, when the singing is finished they put a circle on the palm of your hand in henna and a small dot on your little finger. It was a lot of fun and we learnt more about the turkish culture.
On Sunday we set off early for an hours drive before catching a ferry boat to the small island Bozcaada. The scenery of the coast was stunning as we left the mainland. On our arrival we made it to a cafe for a late breakfast before going to the seaside and a wind farm. We then toured around an old castle, it had fields of daisies and poppies which we all lay in and took loads of photos. The wine factory was in the middle of the small village on the island, there were lots of big machines that turned the grapes into wine, after the factory we went the shop where we got to taste some of the wine.
After a long but spectacular day we set of back to Canakkale to get ready for my last week in Turkey, I can't believe I have been here for five weeks.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Amber, Me, Shelby, Dani and the poor horse that had to take us to school
The carriage
Me in the traditional dress
All of us in the carriage on our way to school
Another amazing week has passed so quickly. On Thursday I had a fantastic day with Amber, Shelby and Dani at Troy, Assos and a few other villages along the way. Amber and I were fortunate enough to try on a traditional dress the women wear for henna nights and traditional dancing, it was made up of four different layers which made it very hot to wear. We also got to meet some of the villagers and have photos with them they were very sweet.
Yesterday we went to the market again to do some more shopping, I'm not sure how I'm going to fit everything in my bag to come home it's already half full with presents. Amber then took us out for lunch where we had a type of pizza but you roll it up to eat it, it's very delicious. We then took a very amusing horse and carriage ride to school which I think the whole school was waiting for the four foreigners to pull up at the school gates looking quite ridiculous. After school we were invited to a Turkish girls house for afternoon tea as she is going on an exchange to Shelby and Dani's school in Australia later on this year.
Today my friends are all coming over for a small party where our housekeeper is going to teach us how to make a Turkish dish called manti, it's a bit like tiny ravioli you eat it with garlic yoghurt and tomato puree sauce.
Tomorrow there is a big group of my friends and there host families going to a small Island called Bozada. We are visiting an old church, wine factory, a stunning beach some houses and eating at a restaurant for lunch. I can't wait so will be adding photos of it over the next few days.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Bay of Islands
Toby - Imogen Francis and me
Me and Imogen Francis
Toby (back) - Imogen Francis and me
A dolphin
Me and a Whaka
Imogen Francis and me at Frank's
My first weekend here, we drove up north to Paihia. We stayed in a hotel beside the sea which had a pool. For dinner, we went to a place called Frank's where we had pizza.In the morning we went up to Waitangi which is where the treaty was signed. Then we came back to the hotel for lunch and in the afternoon we went on a boat out to an island called Urupukapuka. On the way, we saw people swimming with dolphins and i took some photos of them. We landed on the island and Imogen and I kayaked on the beautiful and clear water. We spent the afternoon just relaxing on the beach and reading magazines. We had a barbeque dinner beside the water and then got the boat back to the hotel.
The next morning we went to Russell which has New Zealand's oldest church. We had an ice-cream and then got the boat back over to Paihia. We drove back to Auckland and quickly called into the mall to get something for school.
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