A Sydney neighborhood seen as the heart of Australia's Turkish community on Saturday revealed a "Wall of Friendship" to mark the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli. Hundreds of residents in Auburn, a suburb of western Sydney, gathered at a ceremony to unveil the 20 meter-long wall. The 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign, known as the Battle of Çanakkale in Turkey, is seen as a defining moment in the early nationhood of both countries, and April 25 is marked as ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand in honor of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who fought and died on Turkish soil.
The wall in Auburn, where a population of around 33,000 includes 5,000 residents of Turkish ancestry, features three plaques.
Councilor Semra Batık-Dundar, who instigated the building of the wall, told Anadolu Agency the metal plates conveyed "a story of compassion" that was sometimes overlooked in the history of a nine-month battle that saw 130,000 men killed, including 87,000 Ottoman troops and 9,000 Australian and New Zealanders.
The central plaque depicts an Ottoman soldier carrying a wounded ANZAC officer.
The scene, which is also replicated as a statue in Turkey, symbolizes the chivalry and compassion shown by both sides in the battle.
The shared history of Turkey and Australia, symbolized by crossed flags on one of the plaques, is recorded by the wall that, according to Batik-Dündar, represents "two outstretched arms embracing and hugging the Auburn war memorial."
Auburn Mayor Ronney Oueik said: "The Auburn City Council is home to a significant population of people with Turkish ancestry, numbering around 5,000. Together, we will all commemorate, remember and pay tribute to those who fought against each other 100 years ago. We do so as friends and neighbors who live together in the spirit of a shared legacy and history today.
