War memorial in Melbourne, Australia
The Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial (Seeds of Friendship) is a war memorial in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Kings Domain on Birdwood Avenue.[1][2] It was built to mark Anzac Day's centennial anniversary and as a tribute to Australian-Turkish relations.[1][2][3]
The sculpture is a filigreed wreath shaped as a crescent made from interwoven marine-grade stainless steel.[1][2][3] Its woven steel strands honours the soldiers who died in the conflict and remembrance poppies can be placed onto the filigreed structure.[2][3] In front of the wreath are two seed pods based on the Australian casuarina and Turkish pinecone, hand carved from light-coloured granite and symbolising the future and friendship.[1][2][3] The "pine needles" are copper etched and contain engraved quotes from troops and their families.[3] The platform has a mosaic made from bluestone pebble.[3] The monument has a height of 3.8 metres and around its base are words [4] from Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk regarding reconciliation.[1][2]
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Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial (side view)
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Bluestone pebble mosaic with granite seed pods
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Hand carved granite Australian casuarina seed pod
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Hand carved granite Turkish pinecone seed pod
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Copper etched pine needles with engraved quotes
In 2014, the monument was commissioned by the Victorian RSL's Turkish Sub-branch and Matthew Harding, a sculptor designed and was tasked with its construction.[1][2][3] Funding for the project came from Australian state and federal sources.[1][2][3] Harding stated that the monument represented "the most poignant and most powerful part of remembrance services – the laying to rest of the fallen and the placing of the wreath".[2] The memorial was opened officially on 13 April 2015 for the 100th Anniversary of Anzac Day.
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