Surf Life Saving commemorates Gallipoli landing

Surf Life Saving New Zealand has a number of members participating in commemorative events to recognise 100 years since the ANZAC troops landed on Gallipoli.

Two New Zealand surf boat crews will row in the Gallipoli 100 event at Anzac Cove in Turkey next week.

The Gallipoli 100 event is a 60km surf boat race featuring around 40 crews from NZ, Australia and Turkey to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC troops' landing on Gallipoli.

The crews will row along the Dardanelles and around the Gallipoli peninsula before landing on a beach not far from where the Anzacs landed.

The crews taking part are:

Red Beach Sirens
Zita Talaic-Burgess
Kelly Andrew
Emma Stuart
Ashleigh Jenkins
Nikki Darroch
Gordon Williams
Mike Smith
Graham Paterson
Chris McCullough
Duncan Reid
Ross Malyon (manager)

Muriwai Muzzies
Andrea Gerrard
Emma Wilson
Billie Lee Haresnape
Ashley Timoko
Sara Eivers
Gracey Monteith (Piha)
Chris Deacon

Keep an eye out on Maori TV at around 4pm on Anzac Day to see an interview with the Red Beach Sirens.

As the Dawn Service is underway in Gallipoli, the spectacular sight of 100 surf boats landing on the beach at Collaroy in Australia will also help commemorate the 100 years since the legendary Gallipoli landings.

Omanu Masters crew 'The Old Salts' will be taking part in the Anzac Beach Memorial. The group of 12 are borrowing a boat from Bigola SLSC. Red Beach also has another three crews taking part and they have shipped two boats over.

The commemorative event will be held at approximately 12.15pm on ANZAC Day, aligning with the Dawn Service at Gallipoli. Large LCD screens on the beach will televise live the Gallipoli Dawn Service in advance of the surf boat landing and wreath laying commemoration ceremony.

After the surf boats have landed at Collaroy, a member of each crew will be handed a commemorative wreath, presented by a representative of a symbolically significant 100 schools, as a small token of thanks to those who served and sacrificed so much.

Crews will then return to sea after the ceremony, raise their oars and present the wreaths to the depths.

Back in New Zealand, two Wellington members Grace Kingi (Lyall Bay) and Riley Crosbie (Paekakariki) will be representing Surf Life Saving at the Anzac Day 2015 National Commemorative Service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand CEO Paul Dalton says it's great to have Surf Life Saving well represented across the 100 year celebrations. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these members to be part of and we look forward to hearing about their experiences," he says.

Media clippings:

Stuff.co.nz: Kiwi competes in Gallipoli boating challenge 

NZ Herald: Kiwi surf lifesavers' Anzac Cove tribute

For more information please contact: 

Lisa Honeybone, Media & Communications Specialist, SLSNZ
Phone 09 303 9335 or 0276 488 823
Email lisa.honeybone@surflifesaving.org.nz