Mackay North High’s most recent overseas pilgrimage to past WW1 battlefields contained many memorable moments. Whilst the itinerary was planned to the minute, a number of unexpected events added immensely to the overall experience.

One such event occurred during the group’s visit to Gallipoli. Tour organiser, Mike Goodwin, had organised a special surprise for the group – a private charter boat cruise from Gaba Tepe Port up to the Anzac battlefields. In organising this from Australia, though, Mike was unsure of exactly what the cruise would be like (or if it would actually come off).

As things turned out, the cruise did come off and became one of the great highlights of the tour due to an unexpected turn of events. The charter boat was a dive boat that operated around the coast of the peninsula and, after a wonderful cruise off the Anzac coastline, the skipper anchored off the Anzac Commemorative Site at North Beach and pointed out a sunken Anzac barge in the water.

None of the group had ever heard of this barge, nor had the guide, who was a frequent visitor to the battlefields. Of course, with a boat full of eager, adventurous young Aussies and a box of snorkelling gear on deck, there was only going to be one outcome. The students excitedly donned whatever swimwear (or equivalent) they had and spent the next hour swimming and snorkelling over the sunken barge.

The sense of history and the importance of the location was not lost on the students as they enjoyed a very unique Gallipoli experience.

 

 

 

 

A view of the barge