Bay group takes flight to Gallipoli

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Author: Michaela Gower
• Publication title: Hastings Leader, The

The Hawke’s Bay group of 20 departed from Napier on April 11 on a journey to commemorate the 1915 landing and honour Kiwi soldiers

They would spend time taking in the sights of Gallipoli before attending the eagerly awaited dawn service on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Headed along for the trip is Monika Teepa who said she felt both nervous and excited when Hawke’s Bay Today spoke to her the day before the flight.

“I already know I will be crying.

“I will feel overwhelmed and I think it will be a reflective thing for me.”

Teepa had whānau in the Māori Battalion who were lucky enough to return to Hawke’s Bay.

“We didn’t have any fallen soldiers.”

She decided to go with a group of people aged from the late 30s up to early 80s, “for the experience”.

“We are tagging along with a group of blessed people and we thought why not. It’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Teepa had always been interested...