Poignant trip to Gallipoli

An Ōtorohanga local working temporarily in the United Kingdom woke up on Anzac morning in Gallipoli for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Rebecca Weal, who worked in Ōtorohanga as a veterinarian until recently, said she felt a need to pay her respects to the Anzacs who fought for our freedom, but also to the Turks who fell while defending their homeland.

“The ceremonies were deeply moving especially hearing the beautiful waiata and haka preformed at the Chunuk Bair service by some of our military personal,” she said.

“The respect the Turks have for our fallen soldiers is immense; this was shown by the immaculate presentation of the cemeteries and cenotaphs around the peninsula.

“One of the military personnel recited the poem Hoki Mai about a young woman saying goodbye to her partner, which was exceptionally poignant.”

Rebecca made the trip to Turkey as part of a 12-day tour with UK company Travel Talk Tours.

In the lead up to Gallipoli, the group of 42 travelled around Turkey to places including Pamukkale, Cappadocia and Ephesus.

They stayed in Gallipoli overnight to attend a conjoint dawn service at Anzac Cove on April 25, followed by a 6km walk to Chunuk Bair to attend the New Zealand-specific service at 11:30am.

The following day was spent at the Gallipoli Peninsula.