Fed: Turkish, French, Israeli men join Australian honours list

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2000
Fed: Turkish, French, Israeli men join Australian honours list

CANBERRA, April 21 AAP - Turkish experts on the Gallipoli campaign are among the latest
additions to the honorary list of the Order of Australia, as the nation prepares to commemorate
the 85th anniversary of the Anzac landing.

Gallipoli guide Kenan Celik and historian Selcuk Kolay received honorary medals in
the Order of Australia for service to Australian-Turkish relations and to Australian Naval
History.

Mr Celik, head of English at Onsekiz Mart University at Canakkale, has guided about
10,000 visitors through the former battlefields over the past 15 years, including commonwealth
MPs and dignitaries as well as hundreds of backpackers.

Mr Kolay, director of the Rahmi M Koc museum, located the lost Australian submarine
AE2, 83 years after it was scuttled in the Sea of Marmora after being hit by Turkish fire.

Two Frenchmen also received honorary medals for service to Australian-French relations,
following their work in keeping alive the memory of Australia's World War I soldiers.

Andre Coillot proposed memorials to Australians missing and killed near Bullecourt
and in an RAAF crash at Houvin-Houvigneul, and has opened his private collection of war
memorabilia and documents to many visitors.

Former France-Australian Association president Marcel Pillon organised the twinning
of the towns of Robinvale in Victoria and Villers-Bretonneux, and is an honorary custodian
of the Australian War Memorial at the town's cemetery.

Israel-Australia, New Zealand and Oceania Chamber of Commerce chairman Gurion Meltzer
was appointed an honorary officer in the Order of Australia for service to Australian-Israeli
relations.

AAP kmh/mfh/cjh

KEYWORD: AWARDS

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.