Cashed-up Baby Boomers boot backpackers from Gallipoli centenary commemorations

IT WAS the backpacker who created the pilgrimage to Gallipoli, but cashed-up Baby Boomers have pushed the youngsters out for the battle’s 100th anniversary.

DAY 3. ANZAC celebrations under way in Gallipoli, Turkey for 100th anniversary. Tourists arrive at ANZAC Cove by the busload.

IT WAS the humble backpacker who created the Australian pilgrimage to Gallipoli, but cashed-up Baby Boomers have pushed the younger tourists out for the battle’s 100th anniversary.

The highly competitive ballot for passes to the exclusive centenary commemorations has been dominated by older Australians and, while the Gallipoli peninsula is usually teeming with backpackers at this time of year, in 2015 they are missing in action.

Instead, Baby Boomers have shelled out big bucks to take guided bus tours and boat cruises to the sacred site.

More than 42,000 applied for the 8120 spots allocated to Aussies for Anzac Day.

Traditionally, the average attendee at the Gallipoli commemorations is a 23-year-old woman but, this year, more than 60 per cent of attendees are over 40. More than 20 per cent are direct descendants of soldiers, who were automatically offered reserved seats if they were successful in the ballots; and only 6 per cent of the Australian crowd will be aged between 18 and 24.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has even offered mobility support to assist with the needs of this older demographic, including transport and disabled toilets.

Patriotic tour group Fanatics has been sending Aussies to Gallipoli for more than a decade and their events manager, Phillip Van Bentum, said the number of younger travellers had dropped off significantly in the past three years. This year, he said, there were “virtually no backpackers”.

Tourists are arrive by the busload at Anzac Cove, but backpackers are MIA.

Mr Van Bentum said it was backpackers who popularised the Aussie pilgrimage to the battlefields.

“It was the hardcore backpackers of the 80s and 90s who would fly over from London for a five-day or 10-day tour of the place,” he said.

Mr Van Bentum said it was disappointing that backpackers wouldn’t have as strong a presence at the services this year.

“That’s happened because old people are organised and they’ve got money and pay a little bit more to come from Australia,” he said.

“It is a shame in some regards, but at the moment the Australian economy isn’t that strong and (backpackers) have got a lower paid income.

“They are the future. But then again I suppose there are a lot of descendants who made the effort to be here to pay their respects.”

Despite the changed demographic this year, the Fanatics will still have 700 members present at the dawn service and Lone Pine commemorations on Saturday.

The first busload of Australians arrive at the holding beach, Mimosa, before they move to the Australian Commemorative Site about 6pm. Terry Howe and Kristie Young grab a hammock and catch-up on some reading on Gallipoli. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The group was among the first to check-in to the locked down peninsula Friday morning.

Tour member Terry Howe, of Mole Creek in Tasmania, was overwhelmed to finally reach the battlefields.

“I think we’ve all grown up hearing the amazing stories and to think that we are here is incredible,” the 37-year-old said.

“It’s a shame that everyone couldn’t make it and celebrate, but it would just be chaos if everyone did.”

Tour guide Kristie Young, 29, of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, said this year was different because many had travelled from Australia because they had personal connections to the Diggers.

“It’s really emotional to be here,” she said. “Everything you learn about in school, it’s here.”

Nicholas Breust, of Brisbane, said he found the battlefield “scenic but intimidating”.

“I’m 30, so I’m probably older compared to the Anzacs, but I know I couldn’t do what they did,” he said.

“Being here, it will really hit home that they came here for us. We wouldn’t be here without them. As Australians, we maybe couldn’t travel around the world as freely as we do without what they did.”

Herbert Dod Norrie Norris, right, arrives at Gallipoli with his son Steve Norris. Herbert’s father, also called Herbert, fought at Gallipoli. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The oldest member of the Fanatics’ crew is Herbert Dod Norrie Norris, 75, whose father survived the Gallipoli campaign.

He read out his father’s story on the bus and Miss Young said there “wasn’t a dry eye in the house”.

For those not lucky enough to win a pass, the Fanatics will give 350 of its members a tour of Gallipoli on Sunday.

As many as 10,000 people are expected to attend a rival service at the nearby town of Gelibolu on Saturday.

The DVA said that many tour operators arranged alternative products for those who did not win a place in the ballot, including watching the service on their cruise ship.

Josh Matthews takes a rest in a hammock at Mimosa before moving to the Anzac Commemorative Site. Picture: Sam Ruttyn