Suzuki and Storm Spearhead Anzac Day Fundraiser

LAVERTON, AUSTRALIA – Apr 19, 2012: Suzuki and Melbourne Storm have joined forces to provide funding for the commemoration of Australia’s costliest battle.

On Anzac Day Suzuki and Storm will launch the raffle of a unique Suzuki Boulevard motorcycle to support the Pozieres Remembrance Association.

Painted in Storm colours, the one-off motorcycle is valued at $19,000, and will be autographed by Storm captain Cameron Smith and Auckland Warriors captain Simon Mannering.

The Battle of Pozieres was a struggle for the French village of Pozieres and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme.

Fought predominantly by Australian soldiers, the cost of the battle was enormous. In six weeks more than 23,000 casualties were suffered by Australians, with 7000 dead.

Those six weeks were – in human terms – the costliest ever in Australia’s history. They total more than the entire Gallipoli campaign and account for more than 10 per cent of the total deaths suffered by Australia in World War 1.

In the words of Australian official historian Charles Bean, the Pozieres ridge "is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth."

In Australia, the majority of citizens are totally unaware of Pozieres and what happened there, so Australian History has condemned them to the status of generic War Dead.

Fortunately, the sacrifices of these men are still commemorated every year by the people of the town of Pozieres France.

The people of Pozieres remember their Sacrifice in the first two weekends of July each year with 5 days of celebration followed by a "Son et Lumiere" (Sound and Light) Show to honour their memory, all conducted at their own expense.

Suzuki, Storm and the Association will be raffling 7000 $5 tickets for the motorbike - one for every Australian solider who fell at Pozieres.

“Suzuki is honoured to work with the Pozieres Remembrance Association in this magnificent commemoration of the sacrifices of Australian soldiers in World War 1,” said Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers.

“We would like to thank Melbourne Storm and the Auckland Warriors for their support as we hope to raise more than $30,000 to help preserve the memory of the 7000 who fell at Pozieres.”

Tickets can be purchased online at pozieresremembered.com.au. The raffle will be drawn on June 29.