As I mentioned in the Bulletin 17th November 2015, past participants of Rotary ANZAC Peace Tours of Turkey, including Alan Seale, Robyn Seale, John Meehan, Lorraine Meehan and myself, became familiar with most of the Rotarians from the RC Goksu, located in Istanbul. We,
along with DGE Neville John, attended a number of events on the 10th November 2015 in Melbourne.
[Last week I said I would follow up with a very moving speech made by PP RC Goksu 2004-05, Ms Banu Tulumen, at the meeting mentioned above- Editor: Allan Driver]
The speech is titled: "TO REMEMBER"
"Dear District Governor Julie Mason, President Anthea Rutter, Fellow Rotarians, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Once again I have the privilege and honour of addressing you in the presence of the Rotary Club of Balwyn, our Twin Club and partner of 13 years for the organization of our project “Rotary Presence in Gallipoli” or as it is known here, RAPT.
Even though I have done this several times in the past, this time around it is different. This is not a farewell of course but a closure and on what a memorable date.
The title I chose for tonight is “TO REMEMBER”.
To remember how 13 years ago, tiny steps were taken towards a grand organization that became RAPT, an idea that my father and I thought of after reading how Australians and New Zealanders have been visiting Gallipoli ever since the war ended in 1915. For it was in Gallipoli that the Australian and New Zealand actions left a powerful legacy “the Anzac legend” which eventually led to a national consciousness. The Turks on the other hand also gained a new sense of nationalism and a leader, Ataturk who eventually led to the birth of a modern Turkey.
Dear Rotarians,
Before I came to Australia, I was asked to present a summary of past events leading up to this moment. To talk about all of those special moments which were and are the result of the amazing friendship and hospitality between our two countries.
Where to start is the difficulty. Now I understand how actors feel when they make their Oscar acceptance speeches. So little time but so much to say and thank for.
There have been many visits from you to attend the ceremonies at Gallipoli.
You have attended our club meetings. We have had leisure time on the Bosphorus and at our homes. We have visited the two special schools in Gallipoli, making substantial donations. We have visited the Mayor. We have of course attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service together, sitting out in the cold. We in turn have come to Australia twice before, enjoying your hospitality and attending different club meetings.
Out of all this has come a Twin Club Agreement, A District Alliance, Matching Grants, Paul Harris Fellowship, an art exhibition, Group Study Exchanges, RYLA visits to count among many other activities.
Over the years I have always been saying that a bridge exists between the peoples of Turkey and Australia. It began in the campaign at Gallipoli itself where a mutual respect for the endurance and courage displayed by their foe developed between the opposing forces.
Fate has destined us to be here today, on the 10th of November, the date when Mustafa Kemal Ataturk passed away 77 years ago. A date that is always remembered when life in Turkey stands still for a minute of silence at exactly 5 minutes past nine.
Gallipoli became an extraordinary legacy for both our countries. It was a story of ordinary young soldiers in extraordinary circumstances.
And who better to know this than Mustafa Kemal Ataturk himself?
I recently stumbled upon an article entitled “Worthy Foemen” in the Daily Mail, Brisbane dated Saturday, April 25, 1931.
Ataturk, in response to a request, had transmitted to a special correspondent of the Daily Mail at Paris, an Anzac Day message from which I would like to share an excerpt:
"Were it possible I should like one day to join a band of pilgrims from Turkey to Australia to pay on your soil our homage to your dead, but, as that is not possible, I can assure that we shall always pay our tribute on the soil where the majority of your dead sleep their last sleep on the wind-swept wastes of Gallipoli, ever sacred to the memory of your heroes. Every year since the end of the war our people, who knew the value of the Anzac as a fighter, have paid tribute at the shrines, and some of our former fighters have in fact, made long pilgrimages from the interior to do so.
It is our hope and belief that the respect we learned to feel for the men of your race in this tragic conflict will pave the way for such an understanding as will render impossible another conflict of this sort. Could your dead speak they would say that they share our hope, and in their name we ask you to do what you can to co-operate with us in ensuring future peace between our respective races."
So it was very humbling for our group to have permission for a special ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance today where we laid a wreath commemorating the founder of modern Turkey and paying respect to all the veterans who lost their lives, an event that will officially take place tomorrow on Remembrance Day.
I was chilled to the bone to realize that in some way we had granted his wish by coming here as representatives of our country. Even though we have no official status, I would like to believe and hope that he would have approved somehow of what we had achieved.
On a personal note I had a chance to honor my grandfather who received a war of independence medal dedicated to civilians, which I am proudly wearing today.
Dear Rotarians,
How often we pronounce the word peace? It is the first word to be uttered in a world we seek. We organize conferences under its name, we appoint ambassadors. Ataturk said “Peace in the nation, peace in the world”. We pray to live a life full of peace. “For world peace” do our politicians often use as a theme. However the world continues to war… a war where race and religion are the main players. As Albert Einstein so well said “We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive”.
We live on a glorious planet called earth. We are born; we live a life and then one day we die. We cannot choose where we are born as we can neither choose where we die. However we can chose how we live.
Who knows what the future will bring?
I know we live far away from each other. However we have many common features in our hearts and minds. Our characters are not much different because if otherwise we would not have been able to come to this point with the volunteer visits made by both countries.
With this project we have extended our hands over the continents, to promote good will and harmony in our own societies and between our nations.
I see many friendly faces tonight. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone present and away who has helped us throughout the years with their support, visits and assistance in all manner and subjects. There are those who are no longer with us, may they rest in peace.
I would like to say, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Goksu, and myself that it has been a privilege working with you. Please remember us as we will remember you.
Tomorrow is Remembrance Day. Lest we forget.
I would like to conclude with a short verse from a poem entitled “Gallipoli”.
A paradise on earth Gallipoli
Is a burial under the ground
Those who lost their lives in fighting
Lie there mingled in friendly compound
"Lying side by side"
As "friends in each other's arms"
They may "sleep in comfort and peace"
In the land for which they died
Thank you and adieu"
[Below] Banu receiving applause for her speech with PDG Murray Verso.
[Above] RAPT Organisers: Banu and Owen Tassicker, RC Balwyn, after receiving their PHFs with Sapphires from PDG Murray Verso.
We achieved a lot and Laurie Fisher from DIK who “directed the traffic” on the day was both pleasantly surprised and thrilled to see the transformation. Our tasks included folding and boxing hospital bed curtains, checking the quality and then folding and boxing various hotel linen, and unpacking boxes and boxes of mixed donated commercial clothing, separating into male and female and re-boxing into marked sizes.
As usual, all of these items will be shortly loaded into a container on site and transported via ship overseas, in the main to Timor Leste, but also to nearby countries including Cambodia.
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So to the melodious efforts of all we enjoyed the rendition of the following:
Jokes told by Kevin, Peter and Frank were judged by the audience and Frank won on a questionable selection of jokes-CONGRATULATIONS FRANK.
But Kevin Walklate, as Santa's stand-in, distributed many sweets to all.
