April 26 -  May 2, 2015: Issue 211

100 Years 100 Boats – Thousands Attend  Gallipoli Landing Commemoration - One    Hundred Surfboats to Mark 100 Years

 100 Years 100 Boats – Thousands Attend Gallipoli Landing Commemoration - One Hundred Surfboats to Mark 100 Years 


April 25th, 2015
South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving club partnered with Turkish household appliance giant beko to help commemorate the 100 years since the Gallipoli landings. 100 surfboats simulated the Gallipoli landings at Collaroy Beach on ANZAC Day 2015 and thousands of people attended the Commemoration Service. 

The commemorative event was held at 12:15pm, aligning with the Dawn Service at Gallipoli. Large LCD screens televised the “live” Gallipoli Dawn Service prior to the simulated landing, which came to shore in waves of surf boats, prior to the wreath laying ceremony. 

Surf Boat crews from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey took part in the Commemoration Service. Turkish Australian, Can Erdogan, who had trained with South Curl Curl crews prior to the ANZAC Day Service was first to land on the beach.

Education of our younger generations formed an important part of this commemorative event. Wreaths made by students were presented to a member of each of the 100 surf boat crews who returned to sea, raised their oars and present the wreaths to the depths. 

Prior to the ANZAC Ceremony, students were offered the opportunity to undertake simple research projects about what ANZAC means to them, not only from an Australian/New Zealand perspective, but also from a Turkish perspective. As a thank you to the participating schools, the organizers sourced one hundred pine saplings that are actual genetic descendants from the pine trees destroyed during the battle of ‘Lone Pine’ at Gallipoli back in July 1915. These saplings were presented to a representative from each participating school to take back to their schools to plant as a memento of this significant day

Commodore Lee Goddard, of our Royal Australian Navy, who was also present at theANZAC Centenary Commemoration Service - Warringah and Mackellar Federal Electorates last Sunday, April 19th, spoke with feeling to the younger members of those gathered for the One Hundred Surfboats to Mark 100 Years Commemorative Service, reminding them many involved in this conflict were young like them.

The ceremony followed Royal Australian Navy ceremonial protocols with the inclusion of readings by attending dignitaries INcluding Premier of NSW Mike Baird and Mayor of Warringah Michael Regan, school children, and the reading of the ‘Ataturk’ poem.

South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving and Life Member Bryn Russell was the chief organiser of the event. 

"As the Club's representative for this community event we were fortunate to have such a relevant partner in beko and to be supported by Warringah Shire Council, the New South Wales Government, Collaroy SLSC and the Collaroy RSL Sub-Branch." said Mr. Russell who was very pleased with how well the event was attended.

Most of our Northern Beaches, Australian and New Zealand Surf Life Saving clubs have members that served their country during what was to be the ‘War to end all wars’, many of whom did not return. Members who are now grandfathers recall the formation of local clubs was through returning Service people who instilled an ethos of serving others into these clubs – a tradition carried forward and honoured yesterday. 

With oars upright as a mark of respect, the surf boat lifesavers dropped the wreaths made by children into the water to close the 100 Years 100 Boats Commemoration.

100 Years 100 Boats - 25th APRIL 2015 – ANZAC Day Centenary 
Surf Life Saving Club / Country and School Partnered with
Australian boat Terrey Hills Public School, NSW 
Avalon SLSC, NSW Maria Regina Catholic Primary School, NSW 
Avalon SLSC, NSW Avalon Public School, NSW 
Avoca SLSC, NSW Avoca Beach Public School, NSW 
Avoca SLSC, NSW 
Bilgola SLSC, NSW Bilgola Plateau Public School 
Bondi SLSC, NSW 
Bondi SLSC, NSW 
Cape Hawke SLSC, NSW 
Collaroy Beach SLSC, NSW Pittwater House, NSW 
Collaroy Beach SLSC, NSW Wheeler Heights Public School, NSW 
Collaroy Beach SLSC, NSW St John the Apostle Narraweena, NSW 
Collaroy Beach SLSC, NSW 
Collaroy Beach SLSC, NSW 
Dee Why SLSC, NSW St John the Apostle Narraweena, NSW 
Dee Why SLSC, NSW Narraweena Public School, NSW 
Elouera SLSC, NSW 
Fingal Beach SLSC, NSW Shoal Bay Public School, NSW 
Freshwater SLSC, NSW Harbord Public School, NSW 
Freshwater SLSC, NSW Freshwater SLSC, NSW 
Long Reef SLSC, NSW Kambora Public School, NSW 
Long Reef SLSC, NSW Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus, NSW 
Long Reef SLSC, NSW St Edmunds School, NSW 
Long Reef SLSC, NSW 
Lorne SLSC, VIC
Manly LSC, NSW The Forest High School, NSW 
Manly LSC, NSW Manly Village Public School, NSW 
Manly LSC, NSW Stella Maris College, NSW 
Manly LSC, NSW St Augustine's College Sydney, NSW 
Newport SLSC, NSW 
Newport SLSC, NSW 
Newport SLSC, NSW 
Newport SLSC, NSW 
North Curl Curl SLSC, NSW Curl Curl North Public School, NSW 
North Curl Curl SLSC, NSW (Masters) St Rose Catholic Primary School, Collaroy Plateau, NSW 
North Narrabeen SLSC, NSW Narrbeen Lakes Public School, NSW 
North Narrabeen SLSC, NSW Loquat Valley Anglican Preparatory School, NSW 
North Narrabeen SLSC, NSW Loquat Valley Anglican Preparatory School, NSW 
North Steyne SLSC, NSW St Kieran's Catholic Primary School, NSW 
North Steyne SLSC, NSW North Wollongong SLSC, NSW 
Northcliffe SLSC, QLD 
Omanu SLSC, New Zealand (Old Salts Masters crew) Garran Public School, ACT 
Palm Beach SLSC, NSW Cammeray Public School, NSW 
Palm Beach SLSC, NSW Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, NSW 
Palm Beach SLSC, NSW Cammeray Public School, NSW 
Palm Beach SLSC, NSW 
Palm Beach SLSC, NSW 
Port Kembla SLSC, NSW 
Port Kembla SLSC, NSW 
Queenscliff SLSC, NSW Middle Harbour Public School, NSW 
Queenscliff SLSC, NSW St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School, NSW 
Queenscliff SLSC, NSW Manly West Public School, NSW 
Red Beach SLSC, New Zealand Beverly Hills North Public School, NSW 
Red Beach SLSC, New Zealand St Anthony's Primary School, NSW 
Red Beach SLSC, New Zealand 
Salt SLSC, NSW Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, NSW 
South Curl Curl SLSC, Beko / Turkey 
South Curl Curl SLSC, NSW Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus, NSW 
South Curl Curl SLSC, NSW Balgowlah Heights Public School, NSW 
South Curl Curl SLSC, NSW Harbord Public School, NSW 
South Curl Curl SLSC, NSW Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Selective Campus, NSW 
South Narrabeen SLSC, NSW Narrabeen Lakes Public School, NSW 
Tathra SLSC, NSW Our Lady of Good Counsel School, NSW 
Warriewood SLSC,NSW 
Warriewood SLSC,NSW 
Windang SLSC, NSW
Woonona SLSC, NSW

 Commodore Lee Goddard, of our Royal Australian Navy.

 Catafalque Party formed by HMAS Watson.

 Light Horse Brigade at the Anzac Day Service at Collaroy Beach.

 Photographs by Jamie Nilsson – Roar Digital Services.