They may be a fair way from Turkey, but thousands of people with their swags and sleeping bags are getting ready to keep the Anzac Spirit alive at a closer commemorative event, Camp Gallipoli.
This year’s attendees will set up for the night at Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds to join in a night of special remembrance, entertainment and mateship commemorating the Anzac spirit, while the event is held simultaneously across the country in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
The education-based not-for-profit project started last year by Adelaide’s Chris Fox. With a personal connection to WW1, Mr Fox developed Camp Gallipoli to commemorate Anzac Day, while paying tribute to other WW1 battles significant to Australia’s and New Zealand’s history.
“The Camp Gallipoli commemorative events aspire to instill the Anzac ideals of mateship, courage, inclusiveness and self-sacrifice into the youth of Australia and New Zealand to ensure the unique Anzac Spirit is kept alive for future generations,” Mr Fox said.
“There will be a number of Camp Gallipoli events this year and during the WW1 centenary period, marked until 2018 to commemorate the lives lost in regions including Gallipoli, Villers-Bretonneux, while this year marks the 100th anniversary of the battle of Pozières.
“This event has become a significant part of the Anzac Day commemorations and is all about making the day accessible to Australians, no matter where they are from.
“The interest Camp Gallipoli draws from so many schools, families and work places is truly humbling, and it shows people are continually interested in paying their respects to those who fought and the many who lost their lives in WW1.
“With more than 30,000 students from over 200 schools attending from around the country last year, we are excited to see this event grow as it continues to preserve and foster the Anzac legacy.”
Camp Gallipoli begins at 5pm on Sunday 24 April, with entertainment performed by Australian artists including Dami Im, interwoven by performances by local school bands and choirs plus historical stories told to enlighten the crowd on the significance of Anzac Day.
Attendees will sleep under the stars, before waking for the Dawn Service on Anzac Day, heralded by a bugler.
Camp Gallipoli QLD Chairman Michael Johnson encouraged those interested in attending Camp Gallipoli on Anzac Day to sign up immediately for the event which is a well suited commemorative avenue for schools, sporting teams, families and workplaces.
“It’s a particularly great opportunity for schools to get involved and include the experience in their WW1 studies, while providing an opportunity to come together and share stories,” Mr Johnson said.
“So many of us have ancestors who made the sacrifice of fighting in WW1, with many not coming home. It is so important that we continue to remember these efforts which have contributed so much to the strength of our country today.”
Camp Gallipoli’s gates open at 3pm Sunday 24 April with the official event beginning at 5pm. Individual and school group tickets are available, starting from $54.95 per student for annual memberships to The Gallipoli Club.
This year for every school student who attends a Gallipoli Club event, a gold coin will be donated towards building a Franco-Australian Pozières School, to recognise Australia’s allegiance with France in WW1.
For more information, visit www.campgallipoli.com.au
