The names of 105 Illawarra soldiers who fought at Gallipoli and never came home will hit the water off Anzac Cove next year in a special 100th anniversary tribute.
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Inscribed on a boat, the names will feature as part of the Gallipoli 100 Surfboat Race.
The 60-kilometre course, which starts and finishes at Morto Bay, runs past every major landing point of the 1915 conflict.
Among them are Y Beach where Allied forces landed and Fisherman's Hut, where most didn't progress any further.
Although the vessels will differ from the boats used at the time, the experience will be similar.
"On that day, the surfboats rowed into shore with the soldiers in them," Austinmer boat crew member Michael Doyle said.
"There were many men that were in surf lifesaving in Australia ... that showed those guys how to row and were part of that [landing]."
The crew includes rowers Martin Wilton, Brennan Wilton and Dean Salm, with Ken Lawrence as sweep.
"We're all, in some way, attached to it ... being part of that [commemorative service] and representing where we all come from will be pretty special," Mr Doyle said.
The surfboat will be donated to Turkish surf clubs, and Mr Doyle said part of their time overseas would be spent teaching kids and lifesaving members about the boats and rowing.
A fund-raiser, with boxer Daniel Geale as special guest, will be held at Wollongong's City Diggers on December 5.
Tickets are $95 per person, or a table of 10 for $900, and any money remaining after the surfboat challenge will be donated to Legacy.
For more information call City Diggers on 4228 8522 or Cathie on 0418 433 393.