Twenty students from schools across the Hunter embarked on a three-week journey last Monday, which would culminate in a visit to Gallipoli to mark the 100th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove.

Maitland Christian School teacher Craig Shafer, who is one of the supervisors for the journey, sent an email to the Mercury to update the Hunter residents on the pilgrimage so far.

He said the group had spent the first few days of the journey in Venice, Italy, where they 

visited tourist sites and swam in the Adriatic Sea while they waited for their cruise ship, the MSC Opera.

“Activities have included a lot of walking as we explored the many alleys and shops within them, a lunch on the Grand Canal, a Venetian mask-making workshop, a visit to St Mark’s Square and the Basilica, and a trip to Murano and Burano islands which are famous for their glass and lace items,” Mr Shafer wrote.

The group then boarded the ship which would take them on the next leg of their journey to Turkey.

Anzac Centenary Walkway opening

Mr Shafer wrote that the wreaths that students were carrying with their luggage had been constant reminders of the solemn reason for the trip.

“It appears that many students are mindful of this as they make comparisons to a group of young people in the past similarly responding to an opportunity, getting to know each other and then embarking by ship on an adventure,” he wrote.  

“A key difference being that we come armed with wreaths and poppies, not rifles.” 

Hunter Valley District Council of RSL sub-branches selected the students to go on the journey.

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