A smiling face usually seen behind a coffee machine at a popular Warrnambool cafe read a poignant message in Turkish at the city's Anzac Day dawn service on Thursday morning.
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Turkish ex-pat and Graze Urban Deli and Cafe barista Torgut Toprak said he got goosebumps attending his first early morning commemoration, where thousands turned up to pay their respects to fallen servicemen and women.
He was approached by the Warrnambool RSL to read a moving tribute to the Anzacs killed at Gallipoli, which is attributed to Turkish president Kemal Ataturk in 1934.
"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives," the message said.
"You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours. You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
It was also read in English by Warrnambool College student Hannah Garner.
Mr Toprak said he had not thought too much about the reading before delivering it.
"When I was reading it, it was touching," he said.
"And then listening to the anthems and beautiful music, it gave me goosebumps. It was special."
He said Turkish people welcomed Australians to their country with open arms.
"Even back then we knew that the Anzacs weren't the enemy to us," he said.
"In the war the soldiers would throw each other food and cigarettes. They stopped fighting to clear the fields as there were lots of bodies and they were getting sick. They did it together.
"There is no grudge or nothing or hate at all. We don't think that Australians came to our country to kill us. It's not like that at all. We know why the Anzacs came."
Warrnambool RSL president John Miles said "the crowds just keep growing each year".
The service again attracted thousands of people, pleasing Mr Miles.
"It's getting bigger every year," he said.
"People like to come to the dawn service."
He said the inclusion of an Aboriginal message by Warrnambool College Kalay Academy student Trephy Grant was an important addition to this year's service.
Trephy read a verse by then Prime Minister Paul Keating from 1992, where he commended the immense contribution Indigenous people had made to Australia.
Mr Miles thanked the public who came to the service, and said he was also overwhelmed with the amount of support shown over the weeks leading up to Anzac Day for the badge appeal.
He said the community had been incredibly generous.
"I was selling the badges down the street and a gentleman walked past and gave me $50 and kept walking," he said.
"Every cent made in Warrnambool stays in Warrnambool. The money will go towards our Veteran's Support Centre at the RSL. A lot of soldiers are returning not only with physical injuries but with mental health issues as well."
Mr Miles said the Veteran's Support Centre was an important community service.
"A lot of people say the RSL is commercial with the bar and bistro, but without them the Veteran's Support Centre would not operate," he said.
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