A unique and innovative fundraising event will showcase Greece’s link to Australia’s Anzac story in the photographs rarely shown in public.

The exhibition has been curated by historian and Secretary of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, Jim Claven.

Mr Claven has selected 40 photographs from the large archive of photographs taken by Anzac soldiers and other Allied photographers during the Gallipoli campaign. They reveal the role of Lemnos in the Allied campaign at the Dardanelles in amazing clarity.

The photographs have been sourced from collection in war memorials and museums, libraries and universities from across Australia and beyond. They include photographs taken by the Australian photographers Sergeant Albert Savage, Major Laurence Herschel Harris and War Correspondent Phillip Schuler, as well the British photographer Lieutenant Ernest Brookes held in London – amongst others.

Mr Claven said that this exhibition of high resolution images from 1915 is a great opportunity for the general public to see with their eyes the depth of the connection between Lemnos and the Anzacs.

“Since I first saw these rarely published images I have been captivated by them and been eager to bring them to the attention of the public”, Mr Claven said.

He explained that the exhibition photographs show the Anzacs arriving on Lemnos in their transport ships, its great harbour of Mudros filled with Allied ships preparing for war, the troops practicing their landing techniques on Lemnos’ shores, the hospitals where Australia’s 130 nurses cared for the sick of the campaign as well as the local villagers, the great Anzac camp at Sarpi and the graves of the 148 Australians and 76 New Zealanders who lie there.

Mr Claven said that one of the most fascinating aspects of the Lemnos Gallipoli photographic archive is the number of photographs revealing the inter-action between the local Lemnians and the Anzac soldiers and nurses.

“There are lots of images of Anzacs visiting local hora, of sitting in the local kafenio, enjoying the natural hot springs at Therma, viewing local churches and schools, and the natural beauty of the Island. Some of the most touching are those of Australians with local families. These reveal the first real links between Australians and Greeks in Greece.”

Mr Claven has produced an Exhibition booklet explaining the role of Lemnos and the story of the photographs. The booklet will be provided to all attendees as a momento of their attendance.

Committee President, Lee Tarlamis, urged people to attend the Exhibition.

“All who attend the Exhibition will be amazed at the images displayed and go away from it better informed and appreciative of the Australian presence on Lemnos 100 years ago.”

The Photographic Exhibition will be launched at the Thessaloniki Association Hall, 459 High Street Northcote, 6pm, Sunday 22 March 2015. Tickets cost $70, with refreshments and finger food provided.

All proceeds will go to the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial projects of the Committee – including its Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Statue to be erected in Albert Park in August this year and to the publication of a major new authoritative book telling the Lemnos Anzac story in words and pictures to be launched early in 2016. Funding and sponsorship is currently being sought for this publication.

The Exhibition will also feature a number of original paintings on the Lemnos Anzac connection by Melbourne-Cypriot artist, Mr George Petrou, which will be for sale.

After the launch the Photographic Exhibition will tour Melbourne and Victoria, being exhibited at schools and local councils. If an organisation is interested in subsequently hosting the Photographic Exhibition they are urged to contact Mr Claven.

Those interested in attending are urged to book their tickets early as the launch event is expected to sell out. You can book your ticket by contacting either Jim Claven (jimclaven@yahoo.com.au) or Lee Tarlamis, Committee President (lee.tarlamis@hotmail.com).

The Photographic Exhibition fundraiser was announced at an event revealing the completed clay statue of the nurse which will form the major component of the Committee’s Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Statue in Albert Park.

Held at sculptor Peter Corlett, OAM’s studio, the unveiling was attended by sponsors of the Memorial and was addressed by Peter Corlett and Lee Tarlamis. Peter explained his creative process and how he was inspired by the stories of the Anzac nurses on Lemnos and his appreciation of Classical Greek sculpture.

Lee Tarlamis explained how this was a major milestone in making the unique Memorial a reality. The clay statue will now be transformed in the sculpting process into a bronze statue, followed by the statute of the accompanying digger and stone plinth on which the statues are positioned. All is on track for the Memorial’s planned unveiling in August 2015.