Handshake for Peace Memorial
Lone Pine, Leura NSW
 
 
The Handshake for Peace Memorial, an initiative of Tom Colless OAM and Central Blue Mountains Rotary, in conjunction with the Ambassador of Turkey, His Excellency Mr Reha Keskintepe and Katoomba RSL, was unveiled Saturday, April 18, 2015. 
 
To honour the 100th anniversary of ANZAC the two metre high sandstone memorial, depicts two military hands shaking, one representing Turkey and the other Australia, celebrating peace between our two nations. 
 
There are also two inscriptions of Ataturk’s poem to mothers in both Turkish and English. Written in 1934 as a tribute to the men killed at Gallipoli, the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey’s first President, also appear on the Australian War Memorial, at Anzac Cove. 
 
Peace Park Dedication
 
Gates at the entrance to Lone Pine memorial
 
The area surrounding the Handshake for Peace Memorial was dedicated as a Peace Park, part of the Global International Institute for Peace through Tourism and SKAL International Peace Parks, the first of its kind in Australia.
 
SKAL International is a worldwide association of travel and tourism professionals promoting global tourism and friendship.
 
 
 
The inscription reads: “His Excellency Mr Reha Keskintepe, Ambassador of Turkey, dedicated this reserve as the Lone Pine Peace Park on 18 April, 2015. The dedication coincided with The Great Gathering of Peace, Friendship and Understanding in Istanbul on the same day, marking the centenary of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War 1 and wishing for peace across all nations.”