More photographs and notes from the tour
Our last journey.
Da girls!! Trying to look cool in Simons gear!! Arras. Last night.
On way to our last dinner together. Arras.
Georgie-Rose and Justine sampling chocolate laden Belgian waffles!! Ypres.
Loved those underground tunnels. Further over in Arras there are the Wellington tunnels which were designed and excavated by the kiwis. They house 24,000 groups at one time. Incredible!
WW1 clip and tribute to the fallen inside the cathedral.
Cathedral, Arras after WW1.
Cathedral, Arras.
Bullet holes on the walls of the cathedral of Notre Dame, Arras.
Versailles exhibition. Good old Louis IV and Marie Antoinette.
Abbey, Arras.
Adam and I trotted off to the medieval abbey that is now a gallery.
Sarcophagus at town hall and another snap.
View of Arras from belfry tower.
And then we did a belfry tower of the town hall. And yes, one of the bells did chime whilst we were right next to it!
The Nazis overtook this hall in WW2 and judged members of the resistance. They condemned around 198 to execution.
In the war the tunnels were used as refuge.
WWI. The dogs lauded a role too! Arras
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Then there's the underground tunnel tour under the town hall. The tunnels were cut to mine chalk for building. Also for storing produce.
Town hall tour. Arras.
And the food goes on and on .... Just one of the many patisseries we went into today. Turns out on a Sunday rest day in Arras all there is to do is go from cafe to cafe to drink coffee and eat sweets!
Patisserie heaven! John, Dante and Sarah (Cheeky) having a Sunday snack!
Morning tea at Arras! Last day in heaven!!
Mission accomplished! Crofty can relax after the 1.30 am start. G2 from the double gees!! Georgia Ryan.
Anzac service, Bullecourt
The past at the Somme.
Buckets of olives and pate stall, Alberts.
Fromage stall at market. Alberta, after dawn service.
Cathedral at Amiens. Amazing
New life in the tree. The Somme.
Tunnel tour, Arras.
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Dinner in the tunnels with medieval tunnel tour to boot!
Theipval. Found ancestors.
Theipval memorial for the British.
The Windmill Cemetery
Pozierres and villages like Amiens, Bullecourt and Albert. References to Aussies everywhere in these villages.
Pozierres. Before.....now
A big salute to James Moulden who was an absolute Trojan. Played for us on many,any occasions. Well done James.
Mrs Curran
You can be very proud of him! He played and played until his lips were bleeding. It added so much to our commemoration of all our relatives and Collie soldiers at so many cemeteries and memorials. He did great!
Mr Croft
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Anzac Day
"After a very early rise and some very cold and wet weather we are now enjoying a coffee after the VB dawn service before attending our next one. What an amazing experience, it's one that will stay with me forever. Lest we forget xx"
Miss Bottega
What a surreal day it has been. Up at 1, 3 services done and now time for dinner before heading to bed to catch up on some much needed sleep.
Miss Bottega
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"Well after a long day, I think it's starting to finally sink in how amazing the experience was today...a wet, chilly start put into perspective the struggle the soldiers would have gone through day in, day out & then to see our students standing proud all afternoon & being such wonderful representatives of our school, our state & our country. Feeling proud, humble & content..."
Miss Wellington
Incredible service at Villers Bretonneux this morning. So proud of all the students. You have represented Collie Senior High School & the town of Collie in amazing fashion. The respect & dignity you showed the fallen men & women of WW1 in this journey has been heartwarming. I am proud to have been on this journey with all of you!
Mrs Abbott
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After a few hours sleep we get ready for one of the most memorable days of our lives...as it should be to remember those who have sacrificed everything for us & our country...Lest We Forget
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Lochnagar Crater. Another underground mine. Note the scale of the kids.
Because Camembert doesn't have enough calories already yummy!
"The Last Tree" this was the last tree standing on the entire Somme during WW1. It has been looked after ever since.
South African monument Delville Wood. Incredible!
Georgia Rose's tribute.
High wood cemetery.
Basilica. Alberts.
Amazing tunnel museum . Peronne.
Before......after...
View from V-B.
Morning rehearsals at Villers-Bretenneux. World media assembled. Getting ready for Anzac Day.
Dinner in 5 star Michelin award winning restaurant in Arras. The town has catacombs of tunnels under it which date back to 20th century.
Roman coins from around 50 BC found in Somme Around Peronne. The town hall has an art collection which was buried during both wars. 95 percent was never found, presumed stolen by enemy forces.
Official meeting with mayor and dignitaries in Peronne.
We even had frogs legs for lunch. The Fried Camembert was by far the best!!
What an amazing day! Visited some beautiful cemeteries & monuments. After tea in Arras we were invited to explore some underground tunnels used during the war. Very exciting!
Had a ceremony at Villers Bretonneux this arvo and found my great, great Uncles memorial on the wall...very humbling...
Miss Wellington.
Just looking through tour photos. This one caught my attention. Only the French would think to dot stylish club chairs throughout the underground crypts of the Pantheon!!! So French!
Mont Saint Quentin near Peronne.
Meeting students from a French school and touring some of their campus. Wonderful opportunity. Their music students sang "Sailing" by Rod Stewart and we sang the French National Anthem.
Official duties meeting dignitaries from the Peronne town hall including the mayor. They showed us their precious art collection which had to be hidden and buried during WWI and WWII. Despite this care, 95% of their collection was lost- presumed stolen by the opposing forces.
So much history here. Roman ruins from about 50BC. All these aspect of history combined with war relics and remnants of thousands of soldiers when the farmers plough their fields.
Adelaide cemetery. The Somme.
Fromelles today. Amazing. All agriculture.
The Peace Pool. This is the largest crater caused by underground mining to place explosives by Australians. They detonated 91,000 lbs of explosives which caused a massive eruption. It is said that the explosion made the chandeliers shake at Buckingham palace.
Christmas cemetery. Both sides stopped shooting each other Christmas Day 1914 and played soccer. Next day, carnage again. Insane.
Cobbers cemetery. Fromelles.
Fromelles. Mass graves.
Justine's hand luggage! Solid Belgian chocolate!
The Belgians really like their tobacco!
Before..... After.....
Nothing unusual on Flanders Fields. Another shell unearthed by a farmer, put to one side so that the 'iron harvest' truck can come and collect it. Has been happening Monday to Friday for nearly 100 years.
One of the many picturesque cemeteries on the front.
Back in France. Heading for Arras. Unusual cafe table setting?
Cathedral in Ypres. All rebuilt after WW1.
Flanders fields now and after the battles. Amazing!
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Hooges Crater Museum. Somme.
The Hill 60 crater near Ypres and the Menin Road.
Caterpillar crater next to hill 60 on the Somme. Blown up By the allies 100 years ago.
Caterpillar crater. The scale of the explosion comes closer to home when you look at the size of the kids.
Last night in Ypres, Belgium. Had a great day today touring Memorial sites with a group of 31 Belgium students. Then back to the Menin Gate ceremony and a last cup of tea & Belgian waffle, yum, yum!!
Ploughed field behind Tyne Cot cemetery. Farmer has recently placed another mortar shell off to one side! This cemetery the largest on the front. 12,000 graves and 60,000 more written on the walls of those whose bodies still lay in the fields. 2,000 actually drowned in the mud. Crazy stuff.
Belgium architecture is different again. Quite gothic.
Entrance to Vimy cemetery. About 1,400 of these metal posts with a different day of the year over 3 years of WW1. Each slot at the base represent men from allied forces killed on that day, just at that area on the Western front. The shadows on the pathway show an eerie story.
We have been very fortunate to have had our security detail on this tour. The Men in Black have stopped us being mobbed on numerous occasions!! Thanks guys.
Lovely ceremony at Menin Gate tonight.
Canadian memorial at Vimy, France
Trenches and blast craters at Vimy.
Ypres Belgium
Belgians like Chocolate and Ice- cream
LOTS of Chocolate!!
Apparently Belgians like to smoke. These buckets of cigarettes can be appreciated when you compare the scale of the coat jacket on the right. About 1000 per bucket!
Our last night in Paris. We have had a wonderful time. Tonight was particularly amazing as we all participated in the lighting of the flame for the unknown soldier at the Arc de triomphe. We walked up the Champs Élysées & across the roundabout! Students did an excellent job of the Australian & French National Anthems. Here is James wearing Pop's medal. Very proud moment!
Georgie -Rose's chariot up the Champs Elysses.
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Paris - And then there's the food!!!
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| Mmmmm escargot |
The Eiffel Tower
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La Louvre
Notre dame!!! All brain cells exploded!!!
Other Paris Sights
On the Metro
Fire fighters at the station in Paris!!! Oo la laaaa!!!
The Pantheon
The crypts of the Pantheon
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| Pantheon |
Le palaise du Versailles ! Blows the mind!! Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette
Hall of Mirrors
Sacre Coeur
Montmartre
The underground cisterns in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia
The girls out shopping!! Time to fuel up first!! Grand Bazaar and Spice Markets, Istanbul.
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| Justine Bottega. Today I was asked for the second time whether she was my daughter. When I said 'no' the Turkish man said that if I had been her mother he was going to ask me how many camels I wanted for her! |
Amazing Istanbul. Tokapi Palace
Blue Mosque, Istanbul
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| Keeping up with the fashion at the Blue Mosque |
Sights of Istanbul
OMG The Parking!!
OMG The Food!!
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| Lunchtime view |
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| Beautiful fountain in Istanbul! |
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| Sunday afternoon Istanbul!! People who live in apartments love the sunshine on a spring day!! |
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| Traffic entering old area of Istanbul! Picture tram lane with tram running on left, tram lane with tram running on right and us in large Mercedes bus squeezing in middle! Add to that, cars entering at right angles from left and lots of pedestrian traffic! Awesome bus driver! |
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| Could not get over this ferry in Canakkle!! It fitted 12 large Mercedes tourist busses in it!! One after the other!! On they went!! |
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| Natalia and I had a wonderful dinner in this authentic Turkish restaurant!! Great meal and wonderful atmosphere in Istanbul! |
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| Hagia Sophia |
Here are a few more pics...the last pic is of kids singing at the ancient amphitheatre at Troy. We had a captive audience of French who roared with laughter when we sang the French national anthem!
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| Cape Helles |
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| Preparations under way at Lone Pine, Gallipoli Peninsula |
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| Australian and New Zealand trenches still visible after 100 years. Gallipoli. |
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| Visiting the ancient city of Troy near Canakkle in Turkey. Amazing ruins from 2900BC and this model of the mythical horse. |
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| Turkish Memorial |
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| Canakkle |
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| Troy |
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| Canakkle |
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| Troy |
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| Canakkle |
Worsley Christmas BBQ
Just a quick note to say a massive thank you to Croz & Chris Vickers, Rod, Kelsey & Sam Salmeri, Jen and Mason and Rachel for their work today at the Worsley Xmas tree.
We cooked nearly 1,700 sausages and 40kg of onion in a little under 3 hours…. the line of hungry people did not dip below 50m long for nearly 2 hours.
A special mention to Chris and Croz who stayed well past the time they had agreed to – and although none of you probably know him – an extra special thanks to Paul Craig (who works for me and was at the Xmas tree with his family) who stepped in to help when I went to complete my Santa duties.
It was a huge day and we made $1,100 for the work ($900 for cooking & $200 for Santa)… thanks again to those that came down.
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| Dear Santa....for Christmas I'd like the fundraising to be all finished..... |
Remembrance Day 2014
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| Alyssia speaking at the ceremony |
Prize for October Raffle
First prize is the choice of these two quilts
  Rail Trail   Enduro Event at Jacksons Farm
So there are 2 girls in the group who got really bored one afternoon whilst waiting for their mother who likes to have a chat.
The eggs decorated by the "said 2 girls" were very popular and sold well at the enduro.
Leonie wore the contents of a full shade/shelter after a downpour at the enduro.
Poo Collection Day - Boyup Brook    The Great Doughnut Delivery    2014 Griffin Festival   COLLIE ROTARY DINNER
August 30 2014
Table Service
Thanks to Collie Rotary for providing this opportunity.
   COLLIE IDOL 2014
Sat 16th Aug Collie Idol door entry fee gold coin donation = $800
Thankyou very much to the Crown Hotel for this opportunity!
Pictured - ( L to R) Emma ,Georgie-Rose, Liam and Kelsey
P.S. Well done Mr Washbourne R/u 2014 Collie Idol champ!!!!
Sheep Poo Acquisition Day Number 2
So we have shed number 3 to clean out, the CSHS 2015 Anzac Tour Poo Patrol arrive with trailers, upgraded tools and determination. The poo never stood a chance. The shed vanished in a cloud of finely pulverised manure. After a little over an three and a half hours, the dust settled. The poo was bagged and loaded all ready for sale, the shed back together, sans its fertile treasure and the poo patrol were munching on a gourmet sausage sizzle with chocolate delights for dessert.
Pity help shed 4.......Beware the CSHS 2015 Anzac Tour Poo Patrol!!
"Hey all you trojans from today how r the blisters going? hahaha
Just have to say that I was totally stoked today with the amount of people and kids out there getting their hands dirty. Well done! I know Murray Llyod was happy with the job we did and couldn't believe that we managed to clear out the shed in only around 4 hours. From a quick think with the numbers I have in my shed and what Jamie and Anthea and the Turleys took to Leonie's, I reckon where looking at at least 400 + bags (yeehaa), So I aint that good with numbers but there's 20 kids, so if each kid tried to get rid of 20 bags each. thats about $3000 worth of poo. So all get onto to family, grandparents, friends, facebook friends and lets move it along with the straw as well. At a quick glance with what we have and what we have sold already, once this lot is gone where looking at around 1000 bags worth of poo we have sold which doesn't take a genius to work out thats $8000 in poo alone .
Cheers for the hard work"
Trev
      Premier Coal Roadside Cleanup   Ode to a Wet and Windy May Car Boot Sale By N Ambrose
'twas a wet and stormy day
the marquee began to blow away
thoroughly drenched
dreams of record breaking sales quenched
we listened to what Collie Early Learning Centre had to say...
"a key a key, I really have a key!"
so into the PCYC all went we.
smiles again brightened
for we were no longer frightened
that our sheep poo would turn into p**.
pickles, jams, oil poo and hay
remained in the PCYC for the entire day
Our smiles were bright
no matter that out take was light
and I don't think we would have had it any other way
for we became a part of a community
We watched Marnie do broggies on the Coman's trolley
We oohed at Coralie's labels
on the cake laden tables
and helped Collie Early Learning Centre make more than a grand at the PCYC.
Scoring the Footy in the Rain Kelsey survived torrential rain, huge wind gusts and freezing fingers at the league footy match on Saturday (she was a lone soldier). Her maths teacher will be pleased to know scores and totals were 100% accurate each quarter so brain freeze must have been avoided (just)!  
Did someone score a point? I really don't want to come out of my cave.
 "Game over! Collie Eagles victory - and a hot shower / warm fire ASAP !!!!!" Crutching Day 2
Hi All!
We had an awesome morning today, we crutched 290 sheep in 3 hours. A massive thank you to Dave Moulden an Jordan for the first day, and to John Jackson, Anne-Marie and Natalia Camera, Jordan Maxwell, Kelsey Salmeri an my daughter Rhi for the marvellous effort this morning. That is a total of around 660 sheep and the wool, once Steve Thompson has sold the wool from this he is going to write us a cheque, so I will let you all know then how much it was worth.
Now I'll give you all a little insight on today.
First of all, if you have ever seen three young adult girls in a shearing shed, there is more then enough laughs there, they did an awesome job though. They all had a go at doing the wool and penning up, plus all had a go at turning a sheep over which was quite amusing by it self. WELL DONE GIRLS YOU ARE ALL LEGENDS!
Jordan, well you have heard it before, thank you for your work ethic today mate, Mr Jackson thinks he did more than me that last hour with you dragging for him (haha don't think so haha) but we will let him believe that!
Thank you so much Anne-Marie for doing such a wonderful job of the wool, with the kids today and for bringing Kelsey and Natalia out for me. I really hope you enjoyed the day.
Finally thank-you John, I could easily crutch 600 or more with you in a day haha, but cheers big time mate for giving me a hand. It would of been a lot bigger of a day with out you. We have photos of today, including one of each kid with their sheep they turned!
Cheers!
Trev Murphy
    
Many thanks Trevor and John for your hard work and efforts in the shearing shed with the apprentice rousabouts - Anne Marie, Nat, Rhiannon and Kels!
Kelsey had a fantastic day, loved every minute of it and is determined to do it again-despite never having done anything like this before. She is very proud of the sheep she “turned over” and assures us no animals were harmed in the process of her conquering the beastly creatures (traumatised perhaps!).
Hard work-yes Jordan…. I believe you had sweat pouring off your brow…(probably due to the fact that Kelsey was your assistant) but done with friends with so many laughs is something pretty special.
Thanks Trevor for the opportunity to do something well outside their comfort zone.
Cheers
Sheree
Mothers Day Raffle  |
| Third Prize - Maxine Bell with a Donna Hay hamper from Cadburys |
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| Christine Roberts with the quilt made and donated by the talented Lorraine Dowey |
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| Mothers Day Raffle Prize |
Crutching Day 1
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| Jordan removing the dags from the wool |
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| This lamb was born in the shed whilst we were working |
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| Naawwwww too cute! |
Easter Raffle
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Winner of the Easter Raffle, Marie Hicks with Alyssia and Monique Wishart.
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Hamilton Bridge to Town Roadside Cleanup
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| The litter never stood a chance! |
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| And it's in the bag. |
Sheep Poo Collection Day 1
Cake Stall
The Buglers from Menin Gate
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The Buglers from Menin Gate with 10 somewhat drenched ANZAC Tour students.
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