AUSTRALIANS TAKING THE SPIRIT HOME, RAISING $85 000

April 2005 has seen thousands of Australians secure their Sands of Gallipoli and help raise $85,000 for the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL).

Managing Director of Market Link Solutions, Mr Stephen Davie, said, "Australians are commemorating the ANZAC Spirit and in the process have contributed to the $85,000 raised in less than 4 weeks"

"There has been great demand for this year's Collection because people know they were helping to support veteran welfare and also because it is the 90th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings," he said.

Mr Davie expects the company's contribution to the RSL will increase during the year.

"Our goal is to raise $150,000 for the RSL and with continued public support, I am confidant we will achieve this by the end of the year."

"We have worked with Ex-Service organisations for three years on the Sands of Gallipoli concept", said Mr Davie. "The experience has been inspirational and brought home to us the enormous debt Australia owes its veterans and the need to get behind the people who support them".

The National President of the RSL, Major General Bill Crews, said that RSL is pleased to support the Sands of Gallipoli initiative and receive a 12.5% donation from all sales of the 2005 products.

Australians have purchased 125 000 Sands of Gallipoli items since they were introduced in 2003. This year the most popular item has been the Limited Edition set of six commemorative medallions that depict key stages in the Gallipoli campaign. Initial stocks had sold out quickly and production has been accelerated to make more sets available immediately after ANZAC Day.

To help raise awareness of the 90th Anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings, Market Link Solutions had used Internet technology to create a web blog at www.sandsofgallipoli.com.au to encourage Australians to record their ANZAC stories and share with others how those back home kept families, farms and businesses going