The foundation for a new sculpture honouring the friendship between Turks and Australians was laid last week.
The sculpture, titled Seeds of Friendship, will stand near the Shrine of Remembrance, on Birdwood Avenue in Kings Domain, and will be in place in time for the Anzac Day centenary in April.
Brainchild of the Turkish branch of the Victorian Returned and Services League president, Ramazan Altintas, the Australian-Turkish Friendship Memorial sculpture has been five years in the making.
Mr Altintas said the sculpture recognised the respect and friendship forged between Australia and Turkey during the battle for Gallipoli, and since.
“Yes, the Johnnies and the Mehmets fought against each other in 1915, but the conduct of friendship and comradeship existed among them,” Mr Altintas said.
“A time has come for us all to reflect with pride on our history and values that unite us as Australians and Turks.”
The work was designed by artist Matthew Harding and features two hand-carved granite seed pods, a pine cone from Turkey and a casuarina pod from Australia, to represent the fallen, the seeds of friendship and the future.
Mr Altintas said he hoped the sculpture would connect young Australians to the stories of respect and friendship between Australians and the people of Turkey.
There are more than 40,000 Turkish Australians living in Victoria.
Funding for the sculpture has come from the Australian, Turkish and Victorian governments, with a recent contribution of $10,000 from the Anzac Centenary local grants program.
