Anzac Centenary Commemorations 2015

Batchelor - Cherry Anzac Centenary 2015

We are very pleased to announce that our family WILL have a representative at the 100th Anzac day service on Gallipoli.

Ben Batchelor, youngest son of Cyril Batchelor and nephew of Percy Cherry and Archie Batchelor; together with his wife June, will represent the whole family at the dawn service on Gallipoli, this year.

Whilst the family did not gain a pass in the initial ballot to attend this important event, he was allocated a double pass during the year when one became availalble. We thank anyone who may have played a part in this process.

Ben and June with Serena, Clinton and Gina 2014

Ben and June will travel to Turkey with daughter Gina, and Tony Scott. It has been quite a challenge to organise a"first big overeses trip" for the older people but all is in order and they are looking forward to being the family representatives at this huge event. They were granted "mobility passes" which means they will be looked after to a degree, but still have to be independant. The bags are packed with all the necessary warm clothing and double because they are now from Queensland. They even have an emergency "survival bag" each to help keep warm whilst being exposed to the elements overnight. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for a warmer, drier than usual, night at Anzac Cove please.

Cyril was one of the first to land on Gallipoli in 1915, he was wounded in the left leg, and managed to be rescued after three days and sent to Lemnos for recovery, until he was shipped back to Tasmania in august 1915. He famously spoke about his recovery tactic - a stout every day on the ship home.

Would you like to tell us what you are doing this year for Anzac day? Just send us an email please.

Ben and June have done an interview with the ABC and we will let you know the link to listen when it s available.

Anzac 2014 Batchelor Cherry Reunion

We did it! Enjoyed it! and forgot to tell you about it!

Yes, Anzac day and weekend 2014, was commemorated by the family at Huonville, Cradoc and Hobart.

The family elders Yvonne, Rose, Ben and Walter with Percy Cherry at the Memorial Park in Cradoc 2014

William Westhead addressed the Anzac service in Huonville 2014

The family gathering - everyone who attended Crodoc 2014

The family also enjoyed dinner at the Angelsea Barracks in Hobart.

It was nice to see everyone scrubbed up in formal attire for the very special occassion. William Westhead adressed the gathering again with some brilliant research he had conducted regarding the war history of  our great uncles Percy Cherry and Archie Batchelor and our grand father Cyril Batchelor.

If you would like any information or pictures of the events of our family reunion in 2014 please contact Gina Scott.

Thank you to all who made the effort to attend the three events and made all the organisation worthwhile. Thank you also to William Westhead and Andrew Schwinghammer for their huge contribution to the success of the family reunion.

The Cradoc Percy Cherry Memorial Park was the perfect location to hold our family gathering and allowed everyone the opportunity to swap stories, have a laugh, and generally catch up with people they had not seen for many decades.