History buff starts Gallipoli tour
India Stanley will spend Anzac Day this year standing on the same soil where Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women stood 100 years ago as the Gallipoli campaign began in World War I.
It's a surreal and life-changing experience for the Margaret River Senior High School student, who will be among 32 other WA teenagers as part of the Premier's Anzac Day student tour.
The journey started late last year when Miss Stanley submitted an application for the tour.
She was shortlisted in September and selected in October.
The self-confessed history buff said it was the adventure she was seeking.
"I'm hoping to get a wider experience of the world," she said.
"I think I will also be able to come to terms with it more and understand what I'm learning."
Miss Stanley said the trip would be an amazing opportunity, giving her the chance to understand the "horrible, but extraordinary" efforts Australians went to during World War I.
She added this year's commemorations were very special, not only to the families of servicemen and women, but also to Australians and the Australian identity.
Miss Stanley flew to Turkey yesterday and will spend 11 days there in the company of other students from WA.
As Miss Stanley prepares for her overseas adventure, Returned and Service League sub-branches in the region are preparing for a busy Anzac Day long weekend.
Karridale-Augusta RSL will host a 6.20am dawn service before a gunfire breakfast, with an 11am service also to be held at Memorial Park.
A dawn service will also be held at 6am in Margaret River at Memorial Park on Townview Terrace before an 11.30am parade through town.
The Margaret River RSL will hold a gunfire breakfast for $15 per person at the Margaret River and District Club.
