When John Basarin was a young boy, his father took him to Gallipoli and, pointing to the hills, told him it was where their nation was born. Little did he know then that his adopted country would feel the same way.
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Dr Basarin understands more than most the role Gallipoli has played as the spiritual birthplace of a nation. He is the chairman of the Friends of Gallipoli, a group that promotes friendship and understanding between Australia and Turkey, and was guest speaker at Warrnambool’s Anzac Day service.
Dr Basarin, who moved to Australia from Turkey 40 years ago, said Warrnambool had a proud heritage and made great sacrifice – but he also told the Gallipoli story from the Turkish side of the trenches.
“Turks call it the invasion,” he said of the day Australian and New Zealand troops landed on the shores of Gallipoli.
“After three days of brutal fighting the battle came to a standstill. It was a stalemate because Turks would not yield the high ground and Australians would not be swept to the sea. It was a trench warfare for nine months and trenches were only 10 yards (about nine metres) apart in places.
“The Turks and Australians got to know each other in a different sense. They could hear each other talk, sing, cry and die. There are stories of gifts being exchanged and diaries of Australians tells us of the respect between the two sides.”
Dr Basarin said the two sides, who knew nothing of each other before the war, had many similarities.
“The impact on Turkey is very similar to what happened here. The land laid untilled, women couldn’t find husbands to marry, it was an economic catastrophe, of course,” he said.
“One thing unexpected that happened was the friendship between Turkey and Australia. There are not two other nations in the world who have had a terrible, tragic war and became good friends.
“This is a beacon of peace that we can show to the rest of the world.”