Boronia Travel Centre

How You Can Best Prepare for the Impending Announcement

As the Department Of Veteran Affairs is drawing closer to making an official announcement regarding the arrangements for the Gallipoli 2015 services, we are receiving a number of phone calls from people around Australia about the rumours they are hearing.

We are even receiving calls from other tour operators wanting to know if we have any information about the impending arrangements.

Whilst Boronia Travel Centre is the ‘Official’ partner to the Australian War Memorial and operates the most in-depth tours available in the market, the Government is remaining very protective about their future plans for Gallipoli in 2015 and we do not know what the procedure will be.

However, we do know that there will be a ballot, and the number is capped at 10,500, as advised by Minister Snowden on 08 June 2012, and this must be shared with New Zealand. If this number is then split, e.g. 75% - 25%, that leaves around 8,000, which is not many.

Until the Government makes an official public announcement of the ballot system and who will be eligible and how it will work, we can only make an educated guess as to the impending arrangements while addressing some of the rumours.

In order to prepare you for the impending announcement, we suggest that those of you, who have booked with us for the Gallipoli Tour in 2015, please ensure that you have provided us with the following details where appropriate, as priority may be given to these people:

1. Ex-service organisation members or former members of the ADF. Please ensure your membership is valid.
2. Descendants and their Families. Please ensure you can prove direct or indirect descendancy. Start doing your homework now. If you need help, please visit our family research centre for more information. Due to the large numbers who have registered with us, we are unable to assist with research for 2015; all the relevant links are listed.
3. School Groups.
4. War Widows and their Families. You may need to join a War Widows Association in your state, if eligible.
5. Apply to your local Member of Parliament for limited places in each electorate. Know who your member is, just in case.
6. First in Best Dressed. We are very doubtful about this policy.

These are only some of the rumors we have heard. PLEASE NOTE: To assist us with planning requirements, it would be appreciated if you could please advise us by return email to battlefields@boroniatravel.com.au if you would not travel in 2015 should you be unsuccessful or ineligible in the ballot?

Our Gallipoli 2015 Tour will still operate as per the proposed itinerary, with all exclusive accommodation still in place.

For those of you who are unsuccessful in the ballot, and still intend to travel, we will make alternative arrangements for the morning of Anzac Day. We will endeavor to make these alternative arrangements just as poignant and special for those who cannot attend the official Dawn Service at North Beach

We would also suggest consideration be given to our Australian War Memorial Gallipoli in Depth Battlefield Tour in 2013, and our special August Offensive 2015 tour to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the charge at The Nek, the Battle of Lone Pine, Australian assault on Hill 971 and the New Zealand attack on Chunuk Bair, plus the British landings at Suvla Bay. This tour will also allow tour participants to lay a wreath during an exclusive service, as they do on Anzac Day.

Please note that we already have two coaches nearly full for the August 2015 tour.

There is no limit on numbers at the services for these tours and if similar numbers to the past few years attend, it will be very comfortable and a memorable experience.

Should you have any further queries about our Anzac Day Tours and the Gallipoli Centenary in 2015, please contact us today on 1800 035 350 or email battlefields@boroniatravel.com.au.