Turkish Consul General Mehmet Kucuksakalli was in the city on Tuesday to view the $300,000 interactive memorial’s progress and officially hand over his country’s contribution to the project.

The Turkish government is giving $5000 to the state-of-the-art memorial, which will fund one of three major bronze plaques. The plaque will contain Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s stirring speech that pays tribute to Anzacs killed at Gallipoli.

Mr Kucuksakalli described the contribution as “humble”, but said the plaque would provide a permanent reminder of the friendship between the two countries.

“It is a great idea, it is a great vision for the city of Warrnambool and also it is another significant reflection of the Turkish-Australian friendship,” he said of the memorial.

“Though it is a war memorial, we see it as a mark of Turkish-Australian friendship, mateship. Those seeds were planted 102 years ago.”

Mr Kucuksakalli’s visit to Warrnambool was brought forward ahead of November’s official opening as the diplomat is taking up a new post in Iraq to set up the Turkish Consulate General.

He said his four years on Australian soil had come at a historic time as it was during centenary commemorations of World War I.

“The friendship between Turkey and Australia came out of the ashes of battle. It was a privilege and honour for me to observe that friendship here in Australia. It was very touching, very moving for me,” he said.

“I feel myself very privileged and honoured if I had any contribution in further enhancing Turkish-Australian relations.” 

Warrnambool RSL sub-branch life member Vern Robson said the RSL was grateful to Mr Kucuksakalli for securing funding from the Turkish government during difficult economic times.

“This new bronze plaque will soon establish permanent links between the Turkish people and the people of Warrnambool and district,” he said.

The new memorial, to be located between Warrnambool’s existing WWI memorial and the RSL building, will honour Warrnambool and Moyne servicemen and women. It will include a pagoda-style building that will house a touchscreen to provide searchable information on the district’s veterans.

Fellow RSL member Duncan Stalker said the memorial was beginning to take shape, with the concrete base poured last week.

Engraved pavers for the project have been ordered and the steel work is under way for the pagoda.

“Like any big project there are challenges with it but we’re getting there. It will come together very quickly,” he said.

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