PRESS RELEASE For immediate release 20.07.15 MEDIA CONTACT Cassie French, Pop-Up Publicity [email protected] / 0416 209 391

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PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION. History, War History, Australian History, Turkish History, Stories A National Touring Exhibition across 5 cities: Sydney, , Perth, Melbourne, (dates/details p.3)

Gallipoli Then & Now: Bonds Forged by War Photographs by Vedat Acikalin HOBART 30 July – 22 August 2015. Allport Library & Museum of Fine Arts, Hobart OPENING NIGHT Allport Library & Museum of Fine Arts, Hobart - Thursday 30 July 6-8pm SYDNEY 05 August – 30 September 2015. Customs House Library, Circular Quay, Sydney CBD MEDIA & INVITATION ONLY OPENING NIGHT Customs House, Sydney - Wednesday 05 August 6.30-8.30pm

#01 (see page 4 of Press Release for full captions) #02 Above. Adil Sahin (l) and Len Hall (r) meet as friends in 1990 on the Gallipoli Peninsula, the 1915 battlefield they once fought on as enemies. Adil was 17yrs old when he enlisted and Len only 16 – here here together 75 years later.

#03 #04 #05 #06

GALLIPOLI THEN & NOW: BONDS FORGED BY WAR is the follow-on exhibition from Acikalin’s 2011 exhibition, When Old Foes Meet (Chifley Plaza Exhibition Space, Sydney CBD).

Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, a significant event in Australia’s wartime heritage and history, this new exhibition once again commemorates the Australian and Turkish soldiers who served and sacrificed themselves at Gallipoli in 1915. For over 30 years Turkish-Australian photojournalist, Vedat Acikalin, has documented the bonds and friendships forged through this experience of war. He has photographed the soldiers as old men, meeting in friendship on the very battlefields they once fought as enemies when they were young. He captures the ongoing bond forged not only between the men, but also with their children and descendents. Acikalin honours their stories and memory through these poignant photographs.

GALLIPOLI THEN & NOW: BONDS FORGED BY WAR will be a national Touring exhibition around Australia. LAUNCHING in SYDNEY at Customs House (05 August – 30 September) for August & September and in HOBART at Allport Library & Museum of Fine Arts (30 July – 22 August) for August, the exhibition will then tour to PERTH (October), MELBOURNE (November) and CANBERRA (December) in 2015. Exact Touring dates for these cities yet to be confirmed. This exhibition is supported by Department of Veterans’ Affairs Australia. The 6th August 2015 will mark the 100th Anniversary of the August Offensive with a special Commemorative Service to be held at the Lone Pine Cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. There will also be events held around Australia – info through RSL websites. This exhibition is also currently TOURING in Turkey, showing now until September at Rahmi M. Koc Museum in Istanbul, after showing in Izmir (May/June) and Ankara (April) during 2015.

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PRESS RELEASE For immediate release 20.07.15 MEDIA CONTACT Cassie French, Pop-Up Publicity [email protected] / 0416 209 391

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ESSAY BY VEDAT ACIKALIN, 2015 In 1990 I attended the 75th Anniversary of the famous Gallipoli landing as a photojournalist. A large group of Australians went to Turkey. They consisted of surviving Gallipoli veterans, their families and friends, Australian soldiers and statesmen. I knew that all the surviving Turkish veterans would be there too and I wanted to photograph the original Gallipoli veterans of both sides. During this significant and emotional anniversary – for Australians, New Zealanders and the Turks – I captured tender and potent moments observing old enemies coming together on the Gallipoli Peninsula. I observed a bond between these men and respectful friendships, as they remembered how as young men they fought so fiercely against each other. Once enemies, these men now walked together as friends, visiting the trenches and pausing at the graves of their mates, sometimes shedding tears, sometimes laughing, as they shared their stories with one another.

First I held an exhibition of twenty photographs in Sydney in 2011, titled When Old Foes Meet. It attracted a lot of interest and publicity and I was encouraged to work on a comprehensive exhibition for the Centenary. As all of the brave veterans of Gallipoli on both sides, have sadly all now passed away, I traced their descendants to produce this exhibition.

As a Turkish-Australian, the significance of the Gallipoli campaign, also known as Battles of Canakkale (Battles of Dardanelles), is very powerful for me. Growing up I learned of the heroism and sacrifice of the Turkish soldiers under the leadership of Commander Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) in the Battles of Canakkale (the Gallipoli Campaign) through school history lessons, folkloric stories, songs and poems. When I hear these today, it is still very emotional for me. I can imagine the hardship and bravery of these men fighting to defend their country. When I immigrated to Australia in 1973, it was the first I learned of the ANZAC legend created by Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought at Gallipoli. The ANZAC tradition with its ideals of courage, endurance and mate-ship, was established. I was fascinated by now seeing both sides of the same war and how time changes people. has become the biggest national day in Australia and New Zealand and more and more young people have been making the annual pilgrimage to Gallipoli.

The Turks have their own legend. Many Turks believe that the foundations upon which modern Turkey stands were laid during the Battles of Canakkkale (the Gallipoli Campaign). The courage and sacrifices of Canakkale inspired the Turkish nation to unite under Ataturk’s leadership to defend his principles and revolution during and after the War of Independence.

My goals to achieve with this exhibition are as follows: A great number of Australians visit Gallipoli every year either in search of memories of their ancestors or to live the excitement and feeling of what it means to be Australian. With my exhibition I would like to give those Australians who have not made the pilgrimage to Gallipoli, a chance to freshen the family memory and to be conscious of the ANZAC ideals and Australian history. Those Australians who have made this pilgrimage will relive those emotional moments they had at memorial sites such as Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Gaba Tepe and Chunuk Bair when they see my moving photographs taken at these battlefields.

I believe my exhibition will give Australians an appreciation and understanding of their ancestors’ role in shaping the nation with their service and sacrifice in this significant campaign and also help them to acknowledge and commemorate the respect and friendship between Australia and Turkey that has developed as a result of the experiences of the Gallipoli Campaign. ______

Although the Gallipoli Campaign is seen as a military failure, Anzac Day has become a national day in Australia and New Zealand. These men all helped to create the ANZAC legend. The Turks have their own legend. Almost 9,000 Australian and more than 2,000 New Zealand men were killed at Gallipoli. 70 Australian men were captured. 61,522 Australians lost their lives in the First World War. Almost 85,000 Turks died in the Gallipoli campaign.

Gallipoli Then & Now: Bonds Forged by War is a visual documentary essay revealing the melancholy and healing salve of time. ______

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PRESS RELEASE For immediate release 20.07.15 MEDIA CONTACT Cassie French, Pop-Up Publicity [email protected] / 0416 209 391

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BRIEF EXHIBITION DETAILS Gallipoli Then & Now: Bonds Forged by War. Photographs by Vedat Acikalin HOBART, DATES 30 July – 22 August 2015 VENUE Allport Library & Museum of Fine Arts ADDRESS 91 Murray Street, Hobart GENERAL CONTACT (03) 6165 5584 OPENING HOURS Mon-Thu 9.30-6pm, Fri 9.30-8pm, Sat 9.30-2pm, Sun CLOSED COST A Free public exhibition and Open Mon-Sat WEB http://www.linc.tas.gov.au/findus/southern/linc/hobart

SYDNEY, NSW DATES 05 August – 30 September 2015 (Level 2) / 05 – 30 August 2015 (Level 1) To be held over two levels at Customs House Library, Circular Quay, Sydney CBD VENUE Customs House Library Level 1 and Level 2 ADDRESS Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay, NSW 2000 GENERAL CONTACT (02) 9242 8551 OPENING HOURS Level 1 & Level 2 (During Library Opening Hours) Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm, Closed Public Holidays Customs House Ground Floor Open as per Customs House building trading hours: Mon-Fri 8am-12midnight, Sat 10-midnight, Sun 11-5 COST A Free public exhibition and Open daily. WEB www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/customshouse

TOURING CITIES. Exhibitions in Hobart, Perth, Melbourne & Canberra are curated by Sandy Edwards, ARTHERE HOBART 30 July – 22 August 2015. Allport Library & Museum of Fine Arts, Hobart, TAS SYDNEY 05 August – 30 September 2015. Customs House Library, Circular Quay, Sydney CBD (as above), NSW PERTH October (Dates & Venue to be announced, Exhibition confirmed), WA MELBOURNE 10-30 November 2015 Magnet Galleries, 640-650 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC CANBERRA December (Dates & Venue to be announced, Exhibition confirmed), ACT ______BIOGRAPHY VEDAT ACIKALIN. Born in Odemis, Turkey in 1943. Graduated as an ESL/EFL (English as a Second/Foreign Language) Teacher from Gazi Secondary Teacher’s College, Ankara, Turkey in 1965. Taught ESL in secondary schools and Technical English at School of Foreign Languages, Aegean University, Izmir until 1973 before immigrating to Australia with his family. Worked as an ESL teacher in public schools and educational consultant at NSW Department of Education, 1973-1986.

After resigning from NSW Department of Education, worked as a freelance photojournalist and established LIVE ACTION Photographic Agency in Sydney, working as the director and the chief photographer. Contributed to almost all Australian newspapers and magazines. Covered major events such as Royal/State Papal Tours, Commonwealth Games, Sydney Olympic Games, World Athletics, Swimming, Weightlifting, Boxing and Wrestling Championships, Formula 1 and Motorcycle Grand Prix races, Professional World Boxing Title Matches such as Jeff Fenech’s and Jeff Harding’s title matches and Vedat Acikalin Athletics Grand Prix meetings in Australia and Europe.

Worked as the official photographer for Australian Bicentennial Authority and Westfield Sydney-Melbourne Ultra Marathons. LIVE ACTION was the leading contributor to the Sydney Olympic Bid Books and also to Australian Sport Through Time, first edition published by Bantam House in 1996. Among his clients were Australian Consolidated Press, Pacific Publications, Time-Life Australia, Horwitz Publishing, Century Publishing, Ashton Scholastics, Collins, Australian Swimming, Australian Football Federation, NSW Athletics, Westfield, Markson Sparks, Javelin Promotion, ABC TV, Channel 10, Channel 9, Channel 7 and through Ethnic Communications, National Australian Bank, Telecom Australia, John Singleton Advertising.

SPONSORS, SUPPORTERS & COLLABORATORS

______Page 3 of 6 PRESS RELEASE For immediate release 20.07.15 MEDIA CONTACT Cassie French, Pop-Up Publicity [email protected] / 0416 209 391

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SOME COMMENTS WRITTEN IN VISITORS BOOKS by those viewing the Exhibitions in Turkey, 2015

This fine exhibition reminds us again of the most merciless war of the Twentieth Century… each photograph has a story which fills the eyes of every human being. Turkish writer, Hidayet Karakus

I visited Vedat Acikalin’s exhibition which throws a light on history with praise and pride. I couldn't help having teary eyes. I congratulate you and hope this work of yours will be exhibited in other cities as well.

…You can't help getting emotional. It has been hundred years, but something is still lacking from what we have as documents about the Gallipoli Campaign/Canakkale. This exhibition has a quality of a documentary and is to be remembered by all of us in the name of humanity, peace, tolerance and the future. I visited these sites, but believe me, I realised that you could feel the war, its losses and loyalty, by seeing the looks of the people in your photographs. My eyes are filled with tears. What a good job you have done by doing this documentary series and collecting the people's memories. Seyda Ayten.

I was most affected by your work which makes our history permanent. There will be generations that will own our history and remember you with regards. A retired Colonel Judge.

It is most exciting that you have taken the subject of Canakkale/Gallipoli Campaign as a chivalrous artist and interpreted it with the language of photography. Civilizations owe their rising to interests and imagination…I sincerely congratulate you for this unforgettable and greatly appreciated work of yours and hope you will have many more exhibitions in the future. Zafer Gencaydin, retired former Dean of Fine Arts Faculty, Uni of Hacettepe, Ankara.

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IMAGE CAPTIONS #01 Roy Kyle’s photograph in his granddaughter, Miranda Bridge’s hands. Albert Roy Kyle (1897-1996) grew up in country NSW. He was a junior bank officer when he enlisted in 1915, as a soldier, aged seventeen. He celebrated his 18th birthday at Gallipoli. Gallipoli was a place which revealed the true nature of war to the young men like my great grandfather. Sent straight to Lone Pine, and remaining there until he was evacuated in December 1915, wrote his grandson, Thomas, in his high school project. #02 captioned #03 Corporal Mustecip’s daughter, Ulviye Balkan holds her father’s photograph in the house he had lived in Orhaniye. Corporal Mustecip, (1891-1959) was one of the distinguished heroes of the Battle of Canakkale. During the intense moments of the battle, Mustecip noticed the French submarine Turquoise trying to pass through the Dardanelles, while he was on artillery duty at Kilitbahir. At that moment without a commanding officer, Mustecip fired a on the Turquoise, which was damaged and got water. Its commanding officer Major Ravanel ordered to break surface. Corp Mustecip and comrades captured the submarine, which was renamed Corp Mustecip. #04 Felicity Tangney, the last Gallipoli veteran of Australia, Alec Campbell’s (1899-2002), youngest daughter, treasures a photograph of her dad in her father’s Hobart home. He was 16 when he enlisted, says Felicity, he lied about his age. Mum was not happy. Must be adventure at that age. Going to Egypt sounded like going to Fairyland. He had no idea what was waiting for him. Felicity admired her dad in every respect. He went to uni and earned an economics degree after 50. He sailed in Sydney-to- Hobart Yacht Race six times, built a house across the river, and had a darkroom at home. He never stopped learning. #05 Walter Parker’s (1894-2000) daughter, Gwen Charlesworth, and grandchildren, Murray and Helen are in front of the poster showing Bob Ponsford and Wally Parker at Anzac Cove in 1990. Murray holds a photograph of the 21 year-old Private Walter Parker. Gwen holds her father’s medals. Helen was in London in 1990 and went to Gallipoli to join her ANZAC grandfather. She told me what she had felt at Gallipoli twenty-five years ago said, I felt very hard in my heart towards Turkish people. I felt responsible myself as a member of Australian side. My forefathers came all the way from Australia to fight in Turkey. That was tragic. So many lives were lost. I met a young Turk there who said, “Your grandfather is my grandfather”. She was pretty touched at Anzac Cove on 25th April 1990. We were saying to each other that we were not enemies. The conditions then, caused our grandfathers fight. #06 Machine-gunner Leonard Hall’s descendants are in his house, Perth. Len’s great-grandson Tyler and grandson Tracey examine the Gallipoli vase that Adil Sahin of the village of Buyuk Anafartalar, Gallipoli, presented to Len Hall at Anzac Cove on 24 April 1990. Len gave an ANZAC medallion to Adil. Tracey says the vase has been kept on the mantelpiece since then. #07 Sergeant John Malcolm McCleery’s medals, photographs, dog tag, map and newspaper clippings. McCleery was the Oldest Anzac at the 75th Anniversary in 1990. He landed on Gallipoli on his 28th birthday, Anzac Day. We landed in the darkness under heavy musketry and machine-gun fire. We stormed the cliffs, pushed back the Turks, dug in and stayed there ten days till we made the second attack on Gaba Tepe that was when I was hit on the arm and 25 mates killed. I lasted only ten days at Gallipoli. McCleery was awarded DCM. #08 Albert Roy Kyle’s (1897-1996) photographs, badges, patches, legging and letters he sent to Margy Kyle during the war. Having left school only 15 months ago, he was caught up in the wave of patriotism that swept the country across our ‘newly independent nation, his great-grandson Thomas wrote. Roy wrote in his diary, “…Gallipoli was bare and barren and we never held more than 400 acres…The most successful part of the campaign was the evacuation… Continued… ______Page 4 of 6 PRESS RELEASE For immediate release 20.07.15 MEDIA CONTACT Cassie French, Pop-Up Publicity [email protected] / 0416 209 391

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#12 #13

#14 #15 (above) #16 (below)

______Page 5 of 6 PRESS RELEASE For immediate release 20.07.15 MEDIA CONTACT Cassie French, Pop-Up Publicity [email protected] / 0416 209 391

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IMAGE CAPTIONS continued #09 Arthur Gordon Simpson Pearse of 16th Battalion, born and educated in Perth, enlisted in 1915. While in the training camp, he was presented this bugle, inscribed, Presented to BUGLER A G PEARSE BY THE MEMORY. NO 5 DEPOT CO BLACKBOY HILL W.A.1915. He was badly wounded at Gallipoli and sent back to Australia in August 1915. He also served in Pozieres. He died in Australia in 1918. R.F.Dowling of the British Army, found the bugle Gordon lost when wounded in 1915. After the war he returned it to Gordon’s family in Perth.

#10 Sefik Efendi’s diary, photographs, the maps he had drawn, his high school diploma on the right with the medal on, the certificate for his Medal of War of Independence and his Discharge from Army certificate in the middle. Mustafa Sefik of Yozgat, Turkey, rewrote this diary in 1919 from the notes he had recorded on pieces of paper, cardboard, leather, cloth, wood during the war, in which he served on Gallipoli, Caucasian, Gazze, and Sina Fronts.

#11 (95 years old) Major General Edmund Drake-Brockman’s daughter, Anthea, holds her father’s photograph at home in Perth. Anthea’s father and three uncles served at Gallipoli Major Edmund Drake-Brockman; was with the 11th Battalion in the first wave that landed at dawn on Gallipoli on 25th April 1915; he was wounded at Gallipoli; later Officer Commanding 16th Battalion in France. Frederic Brockman – Of 16th battalion; killed in action at Gallipoli on 9th May 1915. Private Geoffrey Drake Brockman - landed with the 10th ALH on 25th April 1915; MC from Gallipoli – wass wounded by shrapnel. Major in France; served again in WW2 as Brigadier.

#12 Fehmi Tantan, the President of the Association of the Canakkale and Independance War Martyrs’ and Veterans’ Relatives, holds his father, Yakup Tantan’s Gallipoli medal (Medal of War). Yakup Tantan was born in the village of Kurucesme, Sapanca in 1899. He was a soldier of the 4th Army Corps of the 64th Regiment at Gallipoli. He died in 1979.

#13 Jack Ryan (95 years old) of Canberra, Australia, threw a wreath of poppies onto the Aegean Sea at Anzac Cove in 1990 to commemorate the Anzacs who lost their lives at the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915.

#14 Alec Campbell. A photo of him as a 16 year old, just enlisted in the army. He lied about his age. His medals, a photograph of his family at his funeral in 2002 and another photograph of him slightly older. See image #04 (his youngest daughter, Felicity Tangney, holding this photograph).

#15 Corporal Adil Sahin’s descendants are in his house in the villaSisPhsge of Buyuk Anafartalar on the Gallipoli Peninsula. His great-great-granddaughter, Nilcan Bozkaya (left), grand-son-in law, Mehmet Ismail Bozkaya and grand-daughter, Cahide Bozkaya admire Grandfather, Adil. 22 April 2012. Adil died in 1990 six months after the 75 Anniversary of Gallipoli Landing.

#16 Second Colonel Tahir Kumkale’s (1878-1958) medals, photographs, Titles of Privilege and memorabilia. The silver medal on the right is the ‘Order of Merit’ he was decorated for his deeds in the Battle of Kumkale. Cpt. Tahir wrote in his diary, I was posted as the commander of the 2nd Infantry Comp. I was in action with my company following the French landing at Kumkale. After a heavy and chest-to-chest fighting we drove the enemy to the sea. Most of the officers died. I, too, got 3 bullet wounds, in both hands and left leg, but went on commanding my company until we pushed the enemy to the sea.

#17 Dawn from ANZAC Cove, looking to Ariburnu (North Beach) and #18 An old Austeralian slouch hat on the beach at Anzac Cove, Suvla Beach. The place for the annual ANZAC Day Ceremonies. Gallipoli.

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