Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will form the backdrop of a moving tribute to Australia’s Anzac heroes in Sydney from Tuesday 3rd March as the ship visits the city for a two-day stay before sailing to Gallipoli as part of her world voyage.
The cruise line is inviting travel agents and the travel community to join Sydneysiders in paying their respects by leaving a red poppy in a two-metre high Poppy Wall in remembrance of the Anzacs, which will be in front of Queen Elizabeth at Circular Quay from 8am Tuesday 3rd March.
Formed in the shape of “100” to mark the upcoming centenary of the Gallipoli campaign, after a call to Auckland and two days in Sydney, it will be filled with 11,500 poppies representing the number of Australians and New Zealanders who lost their lives in the 1915 campaign.
Visitors will give a gold coin for each poppy and be invited to leave a personalised message in a special commemorative book, with all donations to go to Legacy.
Reflecting Cunard’s strong connection with Australian and New Zealand troops, the poppy wall and the book will be moved onto Queen Elizabeth when she departs Sydney late Wednesday and will form the centrepiece of a memorial service onboard the ship as she sails the waters off the Gallipoli Peninsula on April 24, the eve of Anzac Day, during her current world voyage.
A guest of honour at the Sydney and Anzac Cove services will be Braidwood resident Mark Keys, the great grandson of 2nd Lieutenant Francis Jensen who was killed on his third day of battle at Gallipoli. Mr Keys and his wife Germaine will travel as the custodians of the Australian poppies to Turkey, where Mr Keys will become the first family member to visit his ancestor’s memorial site at Lone Pine.
What: Queen Elizabeth Poppy Wall of remembrance
Where: In front of Queen Elizabeth at Circular Quay
When: The poppy wall will be available at Circular Quay from 8am to 6pm on Tuesday and from 730am to 6pm on Wednesday.
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SOURCE Cunard