A Towradgi woman's face will be beamed across the world on Anzac Day when she steps up to the podium at the Gallipoli dawn service on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Corporal Annelies McPherson has been given the honour of reciting the Ode, scheduled to take place at 11am Australian eastern standard time.
The 24-year-old recruit instructor, based at Kapooka in Wagga, left Australia for Gallipoli last Thursday on an army scholarship.
Proud parents Donna and Greg said the announcement of the two-week scholarship had been excitement enough - then came Annelies' extra honour.
"We were just dumbfounded. We thought, 'God, this is just so big'," Mrs McPherson said.
"The major who was following them around said that, in his eyes, there was no-one else.
"Because of Annelies' knowledge of history and keenness to learn, she was the one. He could not have chosen a better person."
Mrs McPherson said her daughter had been humbled by the choice.
"She knows the Ode is usually read by a Digger and keeps asking, 'Why me? Why did I get picked?' "
Annelies had a keen love of history, fostered during her education at Corrimal High School, where she also excelled at public speaking.
Her departure last Thursday coincided with the seventh anniversary of her enlistment.
"She has been in the army since she was 17 - she knew what she wanted," Mrs McPherson said.
After initial training at Kapooka and a spell at Townsville, Annelies was asked if she wanted to return to Kapooka as an instructor.
"She's had to prove herself in the army but she's had the personality, the grace and dignity to see it through," Mrs McPherson said.
"She loves her job and she loves seeing the recruits go through their paces. She's had a lot of respect from her peers which is why she was nominated to go to Turkey."
Annelies was one of 20 chosen to undertake the first-time army scholarship, which includes a study of Turkey, its history and customs and a history of the Gallipoli landing.
"Yesterday they went over to Anzac Cove. The major actually asked Annelies if she wanted to jump in the water, so that's something else she'll be doing. It will be her way of paying respect to the Diggers who lost their lives," Mrs McPherson said.
"It's been a very emotional time for them. It's emotional for us just thinking about it ... it just makes us so very proud."
Annelies will return next Wednesday to her family and a boyfriend in Wagga.
