Deakin Speaking

GALLIPOLI 2015- BALLOTING OPTIONS
THERE IS A BETTER SOLUTION

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Mr Snowdon, on 23 September 2012, announced that there would be a ballot for those wanting to attend the ceremonies at Gallipoli in 2015. The Anzac Ceremonial Site at North Beach could hold only 10,500 people and excluding the VIPs of 500, there would be 10,000 places, 8,000 for Australians and 2,000 for New Zealanders. These people would then walk 3.4 km up to Lone Pine for the Australian national ceremony there or even further to Chunuk Bair for the New Zealand national ceremony. The reasons given were security, safety, amenity and comfort of those attending and the need to ensure ceremonies were appropriate for the occasion. It was claimed that the Governments of New Zealand and Turkey were in agreement with this announcement.