Just over a year ago Ms Thompson and her sister Sally Clifton were retracing their grandfather Lieutenant Colonel Clive Wentworth Thompson’s steps in Gallipoli for the centenary of the Anzac landing.

On their journey the sisters passed through Istanbul's main international airport, which on Tuesday was the site of the horrific attacks.

Fairfax Media reported three suicide bombers carried out the attacks on Istanbul Ataturk, Turkey's largest airport and a major transport hub for international travellers.

Speaking to the Western Advocate on Wednesday, Ms Thompson said she had been left terribly shocked by news of the attacks in Istanbul.

“It’s terribly sad and it’s not what the world wants. It’s just tragic,” she said.

“It’s such a minority of people who think they have the right to destroy people’s lives and take people’s lives.

“The sadness is that this is not the majority [view], it’s a mean, nasty minority.”

During Ms Thompson’s visit to Istanbul last year she said a smaller bomb did explode in an area she had just visited, but nothing as serious as this week’s explosion.

She said every Turkish person she and her sister met during her trip was lovely and her heart weighed heavily for them following this week’s attacks.

“None of it’s logical and that’s where the greatest sadness lies,” Ms Thompson said.

Bathurst RSL Sub Branch president David Mills said Turkey, and in particular Gallipoli, was a place many Australians like to visit.

“It's certainly a pilgrimage for many Australians,” he said.

Despite the Istanbul attacks, Mr Mills hoped people will not cross Turkey off their travel list forever.

“Look at the appropriate government websites and warnings and take appropriate precautions,” he said.

The Australian Government’s Smart Traveller website urged people to exercise a high degree of caution if travelling to Turkey.

“We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Ankara and Istanbul because of the high threat of terrorist attack,” the website stated.