Thanks to Kristy McIntyre and Mark Fabik for putting on a great weekend of warmth and friendship of swimming sightseeing and eating in Sydney, NSW, Australia or as one local described Sydney, 'the city of signs'. It's true, there are signs for everything regarding what to do and what to fail to notice.
It all happened on Anzac Day (25 April) and Mark and Kristy had been up since 3am to take part in the ANZAC memorial service. We met at 7am for a swim at the Andrew (Boy) Charlton 50m pool which is built over the water. We had a lane to ourselves.
Next up was to witness a parade of acceptance, respect and compassion for anyone who had experienced war, and this included people from nations the world over. If ever there was way to unite a polyglot nation, then the Australians seem to have it right as this was an enormous procession lasting many hours. All races, colours and nationalities were present.
And Kemil Ataturk's lines from Gallipoli still remain valid and true: "those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country, therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lay side by side in this country of ours...
You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears; your sons and now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
Kemil Ataturk 1934
John Tierney (who swam the Dardanelles in 2011)
