How bad for you is this drink?

Satirical consumer affairs show The Checkout returns new and improved* and has a look at The Truth About Australian Made labeling, your consumer rights when services go bad, and how to not get ripped off when reading credit card statements.

Are you best? If so, you should probably drink Gatorade. Source: Supplied

ONE bottle is as sugary as a can of Coke and it would take an hour of high-intensity exercise to burn off the kilojoules it contains. Yet we think it's good for us.

Sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade are promoted as a smart alternative to water, although they cost 3000 times more.

They're popular with active young people and children, but research shows it's unlikely any of us non-athletes are doing enough exercise to make them beneficial.

Sports teams regularly promote Powerade, but non-athletes don't need it. Source: News Corp Australia

"I was surprised at just how aggressive the marketing was and how long it's been going on," Ben Jenkins from ABC's The Checkout told news.com.au. "It uses spurious science and makes claims about endurance.

"We call this the 'halo effect' — making one claim about a food or drink product means customers will make other assumptions, that it's low in sugar, or healthy in other ways."

In the 1960s, Gatorade ads made the nonsense claim the drink would get into your system "approximately 12 times faster than water." Drinks companies don't focus on hydration so much any more, perhaps because of a crackdown on products — most recently coconut water — purporting to be superior to H2O.

Tonight's episode of The Checkout, which airs at 8pm on ABC, examines the claims made by the multibillion-dollar industry and the concerning truth about their products.

Ben Jenkins from The Checkout says sports drinks use spurious science. Source: SBS

A recent study in the British Medical Journal said poorly designed tests and small sample sizes meant sports drinks companies' 40 years of research "did not add up to much". It also found that conflicts of interest were rarely declared.

The Australian Dental Association says ingesting acidic drinks after exercise poses a high risk of dental erosion. In response to such claims, Gatorade made the bizarre suggestion that consumers should use a squeezy bottle to ensure the drink doesn't touch their teeth, while Powerade recommended minimising contact time by "swallowing immediately and rinsing your mouth with water regularly".

"That's funny, especially as they go on about how tasty it is," said Ben. He believes sports drinks are "more pernicious than soft drinks" because we aren't making an educated decision about what we're drinking.

Unless you're doing a high-intensity workout for more than hour, you won't benefit from a sports drink. Picture: Choice Source: Supplied

"A lot of sports stars are endorsing these products and that sends a message to kids," he said. "In terms of children especially, there's no real benefit. A kilojoule is a kilojoule."

Many sports drinks have extremely visible marketing strategies, appearing at major sporting events, and, in Gatorade's case, even sponsoring the Australian Institute of Sport's fluid intake guide.

Ben believes the solution is for us to be far more sceptical over the claims made in adverts for sports drinks and other supposedly healthy products. "I think there's enough evidence that they enhance performance in specific athletic contexts," he said.

"It's replacing electrolytes, but you'd have to go pretty hard before it kicks in. If you're just doing regular exercise, you aren't going to work it off."

A spokesperson for Gatorade told news.com.au: "Gatorade is an electrolyte drink which is specifically designed to rapidly replace fluid, carbohydrates and electrolytes. Sports drinks like this are most beneficial for athletes and people who lead active lifestyles, and it is marketed as such." Powerade has not yet responded to news.com.au's request for comment.

Watch the full episode of The Checkout on ABC at 8pm tonight.

Strangest of all, both Gatorade and Powerade recommend using squeezy bottles and rinsing your mouth out to minimise contact time between their drinks and your teeth. Source: Supplied

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Shocking video of racist bully on Sydney train

Facebook image of Stacey Eden, who came to the aid of a Muslim woman as she was racially abused on a Sydney Train. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

WHEN Stacey Eden saw a Muslim woman being subjected to vicious verbal attack as they travelled on one of Sydney's trains, she did the only thing she could do – she stepped in.

Unable to contain her anger at the middle-aged woman who had launched this vile assault the 23-year-old launched her own assault by defending the Muslim woman while also filming the encounter on her mobile phone.

She then uploaded the incident on social media on Wednesday evening.

It has since attracted almost 80,000 views and praise from hundreds of people around the world, including the young family she defended.

In one post on Ms Eden's Facebook page a man named Hafeez Ahmed Bhatti wrote; " Stacey thanks again for your support for us on that day...I generally believe that you and many other Australians do respect all religions."

To which Ms Eden replied: "Hafeez Ahmed Bhatti thank you so much for contacting me.

"I wish I said more to you and your wife yesterday, but as I said when you got off the train, I'm very sorry you had to experience this.

"Please don't let one woman's ignorance change your opinions on Australia or the people who live here.

"I really hope your wife is OK, it must have been very confrontational and upsetting for you and her both.

"I wish nothing but the best for you both and your child.

"Take care and God bless."

So i sat there for a good 10 minutes before i started recording this, while i listened to this woman bad mouth muslims...

Posted by Stacey Eden on Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Ms Eden said she began recording the incident, which took place on a CityRail train travelling from Town Hall to the airport around 1.30pm on Wednesday, ten minutes after the woman began her tirade.

"So I sat there for a good 10 minutes before I started recording this while I listened to this woman bad mouth Muslims and call the lady sitting opposite me an ISIS supporter because she wore a scarf, then she told me to go join ISIS because I was sticking up for her," Ms Eden from Mascot wrote on Facebook.

"People like this make me sick. People who are so ignorant and disrespectful to other people who were clearly sitting there minding their own business.

"She was saying some pretty horrible and hurtful things before I spoke up then as soon as I started defending them she stopped.

"People need to stop judging and putting others down over religion!"

In the 48-second video, you can hear the middle-aged woman attacking the Muslim woman for wearing a hijab.

She then begins listing the recent attacks by Islamic State and made reference to the Martin Place siege, and the mass murder of Christians in Kenya in an attempt to justify her verbal assault of the defenceless woman.

But Ms Eden steps in telling her that the killings have nothing to do with her or her husband.

"'That is not her doing it," she says in the video. "That is a minority of people. Not a majority of people OK?

"It doesn't matter what they're doing. Have some respect, have some respect.

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. What's that got to do with this poor lady? What's that got to do with her?'

Video still of a woman who carried on with a racist tirade against a Muslim woman on a Sydney train. Picture: Facebook / Stacey Eden Source: Facebook

Ms Eden also defended the Muslim woman's dress saying she "wears it for herself, OK".

"She wears it because she wants to be modest with her body not because of people like you who are going to sit there and disrespect her," Ms Eden says in the video.

Since she posted the video, Ms Eden has been hailed a "great example of being an awesome Australian", a "legend" and an "amazing human being".

Ms Eden said she has been overwhelmed by the response and thanked all those who responded positively to her video on Facebook.

Facebook comments on the page of Stacey Eden, who came to the aide of a Muslim woman as she was abused on a Sydney train. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

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‘It’s hard to hurt a brand that people don’t like’

Woolworths is grappling with a marketing disaster after being accused of exploiting the Anzac Day centenary.

Veteran's Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson asked Woolworths to take down the site. Source: Facebook

WAS it tacky and tasteless, or an honest mistake?

Woolworths and its advertising agency have come under fire over the 'Fresh in our Memories' Anzac website, which was last night taken down following a public outcry and massive social media backlash.

The campaign encouraged members of the public to share stories and pictures of loved ones affected by or lost to war on a website that then branded them with Woolworths logo and the phrase "Lest we Forget 1915-2015. Fresh in our memories."

The campaign caused uproar on social media. Source: Twitter

Veteran's Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson said Woolworths had not been given permission to use in the campaign the word "Anzac", which is protected under Australian law.

Senator Ronaldson asked Woolworths to take down the website once he became aware of it on Tuesday night. "In this instance, permission was not sought by the campaign proponents, nor would it have been approved," he said.

"Immediately upon having this campaign brought to my attention, I contacted Woolworths and asked them to end it. I am pleased that the campaign has now been withdrawn."

News.com.au asked four advertising experts and Gruen Transfer panellists for their take on how it happened, and what it will mean for Woolworths.

SIIMON REYNOLDS

Advertising Guru

Siimon Reynolds says Woolworths has been treated unfairly. Source: Supplied

First of all, as it turns out, it's against the law to use the Anzac name in that way, and there's no way in a million years the agency would have done that if they'd known. They would be feeling terrible right now.

Secondly, I think Woolies and the agency have been really unfairly treated. Woolworths doesn't need to increase its brand status, and I'd imagine the only reason they did it was out of respect for the Anzacs.

Their mistake was using a bit of cleverness in the headline, and that was a mistake, but you've got to look at the intention — it's ludicrous to think Woolworths was trying to boost its brand somehow. Australian consumers forgive pretty fast. It will be forgotten in less than a week, particularly in a few days when they need to buy food.

How did it happen? It's an interesting question. I think a lot of what happens is advertising people get too close to what they're doing and forget about the public. But the question should have been asked. It's a sacred subject and it would have been best to stay clear of it, but it's easy to say that in hindsight.

DEE MADIGAN

Campaign Edge

Fresh food and dead diggers don't mix, says Dee Madigan. Source: News Limited

What's surprising is that someone ever thought it was a good idea. There's no way to stick your logo on a photo of an old digger and for it to be in any way beneficial for your company. Even if they were being altruistic and donating money to the RSL, it still looks bad, and quite rightly so.

Companies have a really bad habit of talking themselves into the fact that they're doing good for the community, when in fact they're often not. It shouldn't have gotten through.

The difference between VB and Woolworths is that digger agreed to be in the ad, whereas the dead guy in the photo didn't, and the VB ad is quite clearly asking for donations to Legacy. Fresh food and dead people just don't work, there's no logical brand association.

The effect on Woolies will be minimal — it's hard to hurt a brand that people don't particularly like anyway. It's probably more the agency that will be affected.

ADAM FERRIER

Cummins&Partners

Adam Ferrier says the impact will be minimal. Source: Supplied

My thoughts are that people love to get outraged at the moment and any excuse they can find to get outraged they will. To marketers, all of these things are just feedback that helps them understand what is and isn't in line with societal standards.

There won't be any lasting negative impact on the Woolies brand because of this. It will be a blip in the ocean of consumers' interaction with Woolworths — it'll be forgotten within a week.

With the proliferation of media channels, it's more incumbent on brands to produce content across all of their channels, and so they're looking at things that are happening every day and wondering if they can comment.

Just like anybody else using social media, they can make mistakes. They're going to get it wrong from time to time, and that's okay. It's how they respond.

CAROLYN MILLER

Communications Strategist

Carolyn Miller says someone will definitely be held accountable. Source: Supplied

When you're dealing with anything to do with war or veterans, it has to be with the utmost respect. I think if they'd left the logo off of it, they might have been okay. 'Fresh in our memories' is close to the line, but the logo is the thing that bugs me the most.

Obviously there have to be approval processes, but how big it is and whether it got signed off by the top brass no one will know. The agency has gone to ground. It's entirely possible this was meant to be a small thing that blew up.

Someone is definitely going to be held accountable, and while I do think they've done the wrong thing I actually pity them. To know a campaign you've been responsible for has caused this amount of offence would make your heart sink.

In the old days there used to be a much longer lead time to do creative work for traditional advertising. You might have had a couple of months to consider things, go through changes and revisions. Now there's so much pressure to be reactive and topical, and as a result steps get missed.

frank.chung@news.com.au

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‘Why I won’t eat KFC again’

No longer finger lickin' good. Source: Supplied

ONE of the few people who have a copy of Colonel Saunders' secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices doesn't want to eat KFC ever again, labelling it "dreadful".

Raymond Allen was a personal friend of "the Colonel" and brought KFC to Britain but according to The Telegraph, the 87-year-old says the company has strayed so far from its original concept it's been "ruined".

"We have got one where I now live, but I would not go in there. I don't use it and I think it is dreadful. The company has ruined the product," Mr Allen said.

"Instead of staying with one good thing that was sellable, they have tried to compete with the other fast food units. They should have just stuck with the chicken."

Mr Allen did not give his verdict on whether the chicken still tasted the same as 50 years ago when he first met Harland Saunders, but his wife Shirley said the couple had visited a local KFC about a year ago.

"We had the traditional original chicken but there were so many different products it was difficult to know what to order. I don't think we will go back," she said.

Maybe they should have tried the DoubleDown burger? Source: Supplied

Or a zinger pie? Source: News Limited

Popcorn chicken? Source: Supplied

OK they could have a point ... Source: Supplied

The couple sold their business in 1973 after working hard to make it a success in the UK.

"It was slow to catch on at first because people didn't know what it was," Mr Allen said.

"In the UK in those days chicken was something you ate for Sunday dinner. It was way before its time. We had to give it away to passers-by initially.

"We would only use fresh chickens, and they had to be two and a half pounds in weight. It was initially difficult to source the chickens because of the demand."

Mr Allen still has a personal, handwritten copy of the secret recipe, which he said he had locked it in a safe.

"I have no idea how much it is worth but I would never sell it."

Remember when KFC went green and gold? Source: Supplied

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A sight that shocked passengers

Drunk Russian man sleeping on a luggage conveyor belt At Domodedovo airport

The man passes by hundreds of onlookers unaware of the spectacle he is creating. Source: YouTube

PASSENGERS waiting to collect their baggage at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport were met with a baffling sight.

As baggage came out onto the carousel, so did a man, fast asleep, with seemingly no idea at what was happening.

It is unclear just exactly how the man came to be on the carousel or his state — was he inebriated, just tired or lost?

And while a few passengers can be seen taking photos, the majority didn't flinch as he cruised past them on the baggage belt.

It's not the first time passengers have been busted taking a nap with their luggage. In 2012 a drunk Norwegian man fell asleep on the baggage belt at Rome's Fiumicino Airport. And earlier this year two boys were busted for jumping on the conveyor belt at Auckland airport in New Zealand.

Among passengers' suitcases was a man completely out to it. Source: YouTube

He caught the attention of a few onlookers but most didn't seem fazed by his presence. Source: YouTube

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FIFO tragedy: ‘They hate themselves and the world’

Everyday thousands of Australians fly in and out of remote mining sites to work in one of the nations most profitable industries. But workers say punishing rosters and long periods away from home are taking a toll with a growing number of FIFO workers taking their own lives. Tune in to The Feed on Tuesday 14 April at 7.30pm on SBS2.

FIFO camps can feel terribly lonely for some workers. Source: SBS

FROM the outside, the FIFO life looks tempting.

You earn big bucks fast, and get weeks off at a time to spend with your family.

You get to socialise with colleagues after a long day, and your food and accommodation are paid for by rich mining companies.

But the high-pressure job is taking a terrible toll on Australia's thousands of fly-in fly-out workers. Separated from their families, many struggle with depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse. For a large number, suicide seems to be the only way out.

The suicide rate is high, but no one knows the exact figures. Source: SBS

"I've had some bloody horrible thoughts go through my head," FIFO worker Simon* tells SBS2's The Feed in a special report to air tonight. "People on the ground have been basically saying that something's not right for years and years.

"You can always tell the people who have been out there too long, because their social skills are gone, they just basically hate themselves and the world in general."

In Western Australia, at least nine FIFO workers committed suicide in less than a year, but the exact numbers are not recorded, especially because some take their lives when back at home.

The challenges of the job are manifold. Workers spend weeks away from their families, working 12-hour days at a remote camp. When they get a week off, they can spend two days travelling home, and only have five days with their loved ones.

FIFO worker Luke Baker said many rooms are not much more than a prison cell, and the life could have an emotional toll. "You have these sinking, lonely feelings," he told news.com.au. "You feel isolated and alone.

"Men in general feel intimidated to talk about these things ... Generally speaking, I don't hear a lot of guys talk about how lonely they feel."

Many workers only see their families for five days a month. Source: SBS

A recent survey showed that many experience break-ups in their relationships or marriages, with their job putting added pressure on partners left at home with young children.

The Feed journalist Joel Tozer told news.com.au that many workers reported a detrimental effect on their mental health and alcohol was a big problem in many camps. "Even at camps with strict alcohol rules you can get it easily," he said.

Few want to confess to having difficulties. "It's a very macho culture," he added. "Men are afraid to put up their hand and say they are struggling.

"Workers are reluctant to use counsellors. The counsellors we spoke to said that often supervisors don't know how to deal with it and say it would be easier if they weren't working there."

Most workers know there are people queuing up to take their highly desirable jobs. They are trapped in "golden handcuffs", perhaps only having intended to take the job for a few years to pay off the mortgage, and now stuck in debt from buying assets.

"People are too scared to put their hands up and basically say, 'Oh listen, I'm having a hard time this week, I need a week off' because they are scared of job loss, simple as that," the father of a worker who took his own life tells The Feed in the program.

Counsellors say men are reluctant to discuss mental health problems because of a macho culture. Source: SBS

Lynette*, a paramedic at a FIFO camp in Queensland, treated many workers with mental health problems and saw several suicides.

"I want people to know that it is not all it is cracked up to be," she says of the job. "It is not for everybody and you make a lot of sacrifices for companies that don't really care about you."

She said mining companies would pressure employees to go back to work while injured.

A father killed himself just days after speaking to support group This Fifo Life about how his young son didn't recognise him.

Another man was found hanging on his door just 15 minutes after he was last seen by his colleagues. Afterwards, the mining company didn't want to talk about it. It could affect their reputation, and make people less willing to invest in them.

Both BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto refused to speak to the program.

Mining companies do not want to discuss suicides. Source: SBS

In the past, companies would set up communities and families would live there, with partners working in local hospitals, for example. But mining giants are taxed less on FIFO workers, so these days they set up dedicated camps, forcing jobless residents to move away, leaving ghost towns behind.

"It's the ideal work practice for a capitalist mining company," said former independent MP Tony Windsor, who produced a government report into the issue two years ago. "Traditionally dealing with mining communities, mining families, mining unions: all that's just been thrown into the toilet."

Mr Windsor recommended 12 major changes to save rural communities and stop the growing problem of suicide. Nothing has been done.

"MPs say it was written when the industry was booming and it's no longer relevant," said Joel. "He says it's more relevant than ever.

"As the mining boom declines, this is only going to get worse."

Anyone with personal struggles is urged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Lost Miners — the tragic toll of FIFO workairs on The Feed tonight at 7.30pm on SBS2.

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‘The button’ is driving us crazy

A screen capture of the button. Source: Supplied

AT first "the button" seemed like an April Fools' joke.

Now, 13 days later, Reddit's social experiment is still holding momentum.

The button feature was added to Reddit on April 1 and contains a timer which counts down from 60 seconds to zero.

However, every time the button is pushed, the timer is reset.

Although Reddit users have been speculating the reason for the experiment, no one knows its specific purpose.

Additionally, no one is aware what will happen when the countdown reaches zero because the timer is yet to fall below 29 seconds.

Redditors can only use the feature if they were a member of the website before April 1 and they can only push the button once.

As of this afternoon, over 711,000 members have pushed the button.

The color coding system. Source: Supplied

Since its inception, members have received coloured circles next to their username which indicate how long they waited to push the button.

Those who don't push the button receive a grey circle, while those who give in to temptation receive circles ranging from purple all the way down to red.

To date, no one has waited past the time restrictions of yellow meaning there are no orange or red circles floating around Reddit.

However, one can only assume interest will eventually disappear and the true purpose of the button will be revealed.

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‘Game of Thrones has just been ruined’

Justin Hill during one of his career highlights — interviewing Jamie Lannister (actually Nicholaj Coster-Waldau). Source: Supplied

EVERY now and then I walk into a book shop and lovingly linger near the enormous George R.R. Martin Game of Thrones books and think two things:

Can I even read that much?

And.

Should I just buy it for myself and ruin future viewing of the TV show?

From the very start of the Game of Thrones series I've gasped and clutched my chest at scenes like the red wedding. I've covered my eyes when there were beheadings, skull crushings and disembowelments.

I've grown up with Ayra Stark (I'm a 31 year old man BTW) and even DYED MY HAIR PLATINUM WHITE in honour of the snowy haired, Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen.

But I've managed to stay away from those sandstone slab sized books and just stick with watching the TV episodes as they were released each week. Last year I nearly fangirled as I interviewed Nicholaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie Lanister) at the premiere of Season 4 of Game of Thrones. We spoke about stumpy hand prosthetics and the joys of working on such a show while he flashed his million dollar smile and spoke in that euro-chic accent of his.

Before the cameras starting rolling on my interview with Kit Harrington I had to get all of my Jon Snow jokes out of my system. I even went to that Pompeii movie he was in (not my kind of movie FYI) just so I could interview him. I'm a massive fan, you get the picture.

But now it's all been ruined.

Justin Hill with Jon Snow (Kit Harrington). Source: Supplied

Because some snotty little reviewer (or so I presume) couldn't keep their review disc OFF the internet, now the first 4 episodes of GOT have been leaked and basically I feel like I should just give up now.

Watching a TV episode like this, before it's aired, is like eating a cake before it's ready. Why would you do it? You want it to bake all the way through otherwise it's just not the same. It cheats everyone involved — from the actors (my good friends Nicholaj and Kit) to the crew, the producers and the many people that spend months and months on this show, just to have it leaked online.

I feel like I've done ALL this work … cast myself out socially by staying away from my fellow GOT fans and loudly interrupting people and asking them to STOP talking about the storyline since the last season ended. And then someone goes and leaks four episodes online. Why did I bother?

But I won't give up.

Like the Khaleesi, I will persevere.

Like she treks across that harsh desert, with the lives of her subjects weighing heavily on her shoulders, I will be avoiding Facebook and quickly closing the app for fear of seeing any spoiler Tweet. I'll even stop posting selfies on Instagram until I watch the first episode tonight, along with the rest of the disgruntled fans joining me at the Sydney Opera House for the official premiere.

In the famous words of the Wilding Ygritte, no longer can I say 'YOU KNOW NOTHIN' JON SNOOO' … because those episodes leaked online and I accidentally saw a Tweet … and now I know something.

Justin Hill is an Entertainment Reporter on Today's hit network, The Scoopla Show, 6-7pm weeknights.

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Who our fiercest soldier looks up to

Hosted by Ben Roberts-Smith, the Sunday Night special 'The Power of Ten' focuses on Victoria Cross recipients.

Hosted by Ben Roberts-Smith, the Sunday Night special 'The Power of Ten' focuses on Victoria Cross recipients. Source: Channel 7

HE'S Australia's fiercest soldier. One of the most decorated members of the Australian Defence Force, he was singled out for acts of extraordinary bravery when locked in a bloody gunbattle with an unpredictable enemy in 2010.

But for Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, there is a group of men who put his achievements on the battlefield in the shade.

Tonight, Roberts-Smith will present a special episode of Sunday Night where he will uncover extraordinary stories of valour that turned 10 of the first Anzacs into legends.

There are not many Australians who can truly say that they've walked in the footsteps of the Anzacs, but Roberts-Smith truly has.

After completing two tours of East Timor, he was posted to the Special Air Service in 2003 and went on to play a crucial role in the war in Afghanistan.

He was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his actions as a patrol scout and sniper during Operation Slipper, but his most courageous act came during his fifth tour of Afghanistan in 2010.

Modern-day Anzac … SAS Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, VC, MG, leaves a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in Afghanistan in 2010. Source: News Limited

During the hunt for a senior Taliban commander, Roberts-Smith deliberately exposed his position to the enemy and drew heavy gunfire in order to protect his fellow patrol members.

Locked in a fierce, close-range exchange of bullets, Roberts-Smith valiantly stormed two enemy machinegun posts and shot dead the insurgents.

He was awarded a Victoria Cross for "demonstrating extreme devotion to duty and the most conspicuous gallantry … with a total disregard for his own safety".

So, what inspired this man to such a memorable act of gallantry?

When Roberts-Smith was growing up, his heroes weren't sportsmen like most Aussie boys; he looked up to the first Anzacs.

He was especially inspired by Anzac legend Albert Jacka, who was awarded Australia's first VC in World War I.

Jacka lives large in Anzac mythology for taking on seven Turks who stormed his trench, and killing every one single-handedly.

"He's quite prominent throughout our military history … (but) my connection with it is more personal," Roberts-Smith told news.com.au

Ben Roberts-Smith's Sunday Night specials will reconstruct the trenches from the Battle of Lone Pine. Source: Channel 7

"It's more about a guy that seemed fearless. In the end he took on seven blokes by himself. To me, it triggered that sense in me that this normal bloke wanted to make a difference, so he selflessly exposed himself to the enemy."

In valiantly taking on the Turks, Jacka's story from 1915 echoes the bravery Roberts-Smith would go on to display in 2010 in Afghanistan — but he is quick to reject the comparison.

"We are not in the same club as these guys," Roberts-Smith says. "They are on a pedestal.

"It's more of a case of, you have heroes growing up. It's much like sportsmen, when they are someone to idolise. It's hard to see ourselves as equal … These people are so highly regarded.

"You can never compare battles, you can never compare wars. We are professional soldiers. They were bank managers, carpenters, guys from the bush who were sold the idea that it was a big adventure but when they got there, that became a distant memory. You can't imagine what it's like to live in a trench for eight months. Eating the way they did, getting sick, watching your mates die: We don't have the insight into that.

"Shooting a machine gun then is pretty much the same as shooting a machine gun now — it's the same feeling, same sensation — but what these men went through is what we can't comprehend."

On the sacred site … Ben Roberts-Smith lived at Gallipoli for weeks to film the special reports. Source: Channel 7

However, when shooting the Sunday Night specials, Roberts-Smith came closer than most to understanding the Anzacs' plight.

He spent weeks living on the Gallipoli peninsula with a camera crew and one of Australia's foremost historians, Dr Peter Pedersen, to recreate the key moments of the campaign and offer viewers a "window into the past".

"I don't think many people get the chance to experience what I experienced," he said.

One of the key memories for him was arriving at the shores of Gallipoli at dusk via boat, just as his heroes did a century earlier.

"I arrived on the beach on a horrendous day — the wind was blowing, it was raining — and I remember there was no sound, just the wind as you move in slowly. That's when you get the tingle and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. And as the sun rose and I got on the beach, what you are faced with is the incredible terrain. Trying to scramble up those cliffs would've been a nightmare.

"As an Australian it's a really sacred place where we can feel back on what has made us Australian. You get that sensation, the tingle; there were so many Australians that fought there and died there to maintain the free world. The first thing that happened to us as a nation was Gallipoli. All politics aside, it did help define us as who we are. It's certainly part of the basis for who we are as Australians."

Continuing the Anzac tradition. Picture: Ray Strange Source: Supplied

Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith. Picture: Channel 7 Source: News Limited

While walking in the footsteps of the 10 solders who were awarded the Victoria Cross during the Gallipoli campaign, the story of Alfred Shout resonated the most with Roberts-Smith.

Shout is considered one of the bravest men to set foot on Gallipoli — but it was his trademark sense of humour that helped him go down in legend. Unlike many of his fellow soldiers, the carpenter from Sydney had experienced battle before.

"What's amazing is he had been in the Boer War. But even having seen that fighting and probably being fearful, on day one he proved himself and won the Victoria Cross," Roberts-Smith said.

Shout is remembered for throwing a barrage of bombs into a Turkish stronghold and driving the enemy out in August of 1915.

One bomb exploded in his right hand, blowing off half of his face. But despite his horrific injuries, Shout never lost the larrikin spirit that defined the Anzacs.

"He was always telling jokes and always had a smile on his face, even when it was in battle. When he was stretchered out of the trenches, he said, 'Don't worry about it, boys. I will see you in a minute'. He was still willing to motivate the boys."

Shout died from injuries two days later and was buried at sea.

"We've recreated their world in precise detail so we can fully understand their stories," Ben Roberts-Smith says. Source: Channel 7

The Sunday Night reports will also feature the stories of a cricketer who used his skills with the ball to catch live bombs for 48 hours straight, and a lovesick young soldier who was told the only way to get a mother's blessing to marry her daughter was to come back with a VC.

Ultimately, Roberts-Smith is on a mission to ensure that these stories live on as an inspiration for the Australians of tomorrow.

"I still look up to these guys," Roberts-Smith said. "I wanted to make sure we didn't lose these stories and I wanted to provide role models for the future generations. It's not just talking about the battle they were involved in. The important thing is who they were as men."

Sunday Night: The Power of Ten, presented by Ben Roberts-Smith, airs on Sunday, April 12 and 19, at 8.30pm on Seven

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Live: Dan fighting after shocking start

Daniel Ricciardo's troubles continue 1:12

F1: Daniel Ricciardo 's troublesome start to 2015 continues with this horrible first lap in the Chinese Grand Prix

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton has qualified on pole for the Chinese Grand Prix. Source: AFP

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