Gallipoli history in Korumburra

KORUMBURRA now has its own lone pine, with students at St Joseph’s Primary School planting the special tree on Friday.
Max, Harry and Mason Greenwood, and Liam Maskell were chosen for the honour at St Joseph’s because their great, great grandfather Charles Thomas Bloye was a WWI Anzac.
Other generations of Charles’ descendants were also involved in the planting.
Korumburra RSL president David Jackson and member Tony Moon were part of proceedings, along with school principal Sharon Anderson.
Dr John Basarin OAM, chairman of Friends of Gallipoli, delivered the tree, a descendant of the Gallipoli lone pine.
It is part of the 100 Lone Pines project, commemorating the Anzac spirit, and celebrating the upcoming centenary of the Republic of Turkey.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the commander facing the Anzacs at Gallipoli, went on to become the Republic of Turkey’s first president when it was officially proclaimed on 29 October 1923.
His famous words in 1934 helped sow the seeds of friendship between Australia and Turkey.
“After having lost their lives in this land, they have become our sons as well,” Ataturk told the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries.

Sharon was inspired to apply for one of the lone pines on behalf of St Joseph’s because the school was founded in 1914, the year before the Gallipoli campaign, with a strong likelihood it had family connections to those who served.

“It was significant for us to have a symbol in our school grounds that made a link back to that time,” she said.

Descendants of the original lone pine were grown in Warrnambool from a pinecone brought home by a returning soldier, with the Korumburra tree related to them.

It was grown by botanist Dr Thomson, who is also responsible for those to be planted at Nyora and Kongwak Primary Schools.
John outlined the important role Friends of Gallipoli plays.

“Friends of Gallipoli aims to build more bridges between two communities based on our Gallipoli heritage and although it was a tragic war with many dead on both sides, what came as a result is peace and friendship between the peoples of Turkey and Australia,” he said.

That is something he believes can act as a model for other nations that have experienced conflict with one another.

John arrived in Australia from his homeland Turkey 50 years ago and has always felt welcome here, saying Australians visiting Gallipoli and Turkey will also meet with welcoming arms.

“Gallipoli was the spiritual birthplace for both nations,” he said.

Interestingly, it was only after arriving in Australia aged 25 that John heard Australians were involved in the Gallipoli campaign, having previously only learned the invasion of the peninsula was carried out by Britain and her dominions.

“I realised Australia was at Gallipoli and there was a role for me,” he said, explaining his involvement with the Friends of Gallipoli and the seven or eight books he has written on the campaign.

John sees the Lone Pine as a symbol of tragedy, remembrance, peace and friendship.