ON the eve of Anzac Day, 100 years after the infamous landing that’s etched in blood into our history books, a flotilla of boats will once again head towards the rugged Gallipoli shoreline under the cover of darkness.
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But this time, instead of bullets, explosions and blood, the invaders will be met by outstretched hands and warm greetings. Sore, blistered and slightly battered, but very much alive.
Some 24 Australian surfboats will descend on the famous peninsula as part of a special centenary race, competing with surfboat teams from New Zealand, England, Turkey and France. More than 300 participants will take part in the race.
Among them will be two teams of Goulburn men, comprising 10 in total, lead by captains Peter Greaves and Andy Woolner.
The 60km course will see rowers paddling right past every major landing point of the 1915-16 conflict, a bloody and ultimately futile stalemate that claimed the lives of 8,159 Australians, and more than 130,000 men from both Allied and Turkish forces. The rowers will take in Fusiliers Bluff, the highly concentrated landing areas of Anzac Cove, North Beach and Fisherman’s Hut, where most Anzac troops never never made it past the beach on that first day.
For both Peter and Andy, the chance to take part in such a special and unique event was one that couldn’t be overlooked.
“It’s been a chance to get out of my comfort zone, and tap into that spirit of adventure that I’ve always had. It’s been quite a journey so far,” Peter said, a view that Andy agreed with.
“For me, like Greavesy, it was the case of this adventure, so to speak. It’s a strange thing to be rowing a surfboat and then to tie in with Gallipoli was an opportunity not to be missed. So I threw my hat in the ring.”
What followed was a strenuous and exhausting training regime that saw the number of Goulburn-based applicants fall from 24 to 10.
For both men, it’s an entirely new sport, with new skillsets required. Andy comes from a hockey background, while Peter is a rugby man. Nobody in the groups knew anything at all about surfboats, or surfboat racing, aside from one, who was then the only qualified surf lifesaver.
Now, all ten men are qualified surf lifesavers, and have undertaken surf patrols along the South Coast.
As a mark of respect the names of the 31 fallen Australian Diggers from the Goulburn District killed during the campaign adorn the sides of the boat used by the Goulburn crews.
“Being out in the ocean in the boat, we’ll get to look at the coastline from a different perspective from everyone else who’s there for the commemorations,” Andy said.
“While it’s a race, it’s probably more an event than a race. Certainly there will be professional teams that’ll we’ll be competing against, from places like Mollymook and Murwillumbah, Queensland, WA. It’ll be a challenge and a half just to row against those people, but it’s more about the event itself and getting a first hand look at the coastline as our ancestors did 100 years ago, although they were in the dark of early morning.”
We asked Peter and Andy for their thoughts on the Anzac spirit.
“It’s the amazing sacrifices made,” Andy said.
“The word ‘sacrifice’ always comes around, but it rings so true. My great uncle (who was killed at Messines Ridge on the Western Front) came from a little place called Majors Creek, which is the other side of Braidwood. About 100 years ago, there was literally 50 people living there, then two or three of those people enlisted.
“For them to go from Majors Creek to Sydney, that alone for them was just massive. These young country boys, all they’ve known is the farm life, and no city, no town lifestyle. And for them to go over there and not come back…
“I’ve got a young fella the same age as my uncle was when he was killed, and I can’t imagine him going through anything like that. And for these guys to take that on, it’s just unbelievable.”
Peter drew upon his military background for his perspective.
“For mine, I appreciate what (serving soldiers) go through and have been through. It’s a lot closer to home for me because I’ve had that military background. I couldn’t even put myself in the Anzacs’ place, but I can understand and have an appreciation for the hardships they go through, even today in the current conflicts.”
Peter has a personal link with the Gallipoli Campaign: a great uncle, Private Harry Smith from Newtown. Private Smith was wounded on the afternoon of April 25, and died of his wounds four days later.
He was buried at sea.
It was from this story that Peter drew inspiration from, when things got tough.
“We’ll be coming ashore at dusk the evening before, the idea is to do it at dusk and come in. We won’t be coming in on Anzac Cove, but we’ll arrive in on North Beach, where the Anzacs were originally meant to land 100 years ago.
The Goulburn men won’t attend the service at Anzac Cove; instead holding their own ceremony at the town of Gelibolu (Greek for Gallipoli) with locals and other people from their tour ship.
In 2009, Peter took part in a trek through Kokoda, one that the former military man describes as an “emotional journey”.
“There were a lot of tears sitting up there at Kokoda, let me tell you. I’m sure it’ll be the same at the beaches in Gallipoli when we meet the ancestors of the Turkish veterans who fought there,” he said.
“We’ll be shaking hands this time when we land, I think that’ll be pretty emotional.”
The Goulburn crews flew out on April 14 for their 33 day tour, where they’ll take in Italy, the Greek Islands and Turkey. The event has been supported by the Goulburn Soldiers Club, Goulburn Mulwaree Rotary Club and Military History Tours Australia. Peter has received personal sponsorship from Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Goulburn RSL Sub-branch, Goulburn Engineering and Andrew Greaves. Andy is sponsored by Absolute Fitness Goulburn