2015 Gallipoli Ballot - 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings

[Rick93]

I've only just found this thread ...

I intend to ( slowly ) read each post ( over 18 pages ! ) ...

but further back, I noted someone mentioned, that they had four ( 4 ) passes - that both partners applied, and were each successful.

Can I please ask, that any readers here, who do have Passes they WILL NOT be using ... to PLEASE hand them back, so those of us on The Wait List can slowly move upward ( and hopefully secure a Pass ).

This may have been said previously, but I haven't seen it yet.

I'm currently ( 9th. October ) sitting at number 82*

Which means, there are about 450 people before me.

 

[Rick93]

.... also, has anybody heard something about a 'Commemorative Medal' being issued to those who actually attend ?

( something like the Centenary Medal of 2001 )

 

[Groundhog]

I've only just found this thread ...

I intend to ( slowly ) read each post ( over 18 pages ! ) ...

but further back, I noted someone mentioned, that they had four ( 4 ) passes - that both partners applied, and were each successful.

Can I please ask, that any readers here, who do have Passes they WILL NOT be using ... to PLEASE hand them back, so those of us on The Wait List can slowly move upward ( and hopefully secure a Pass ).

This may have been said previously, but I haven't seen it yet.

I'm currently ( 9th. October ) sitting at number 82*

Which means, there are about 450 people before me.

You might be lucky here Rick. The deadline has passed for people to updated their details so those that havent will have automatically lost their tickets to the next person in the queue. Given that a lot of people cant go that have registered their interest you will probably get a shot.

 

[Rick93]

Yes, I feel somewhat confident now ( after going through this thread, and clicking on a few links here and there ).

I've found, there are still some good QANTAS airfares - Premium Economy Sale seats etc.

Got lots of IHG points for accommodation, and just enough for upgrades to Business coming back ( BA Lounge access + additional luggage etc. )

But it's not really about the 'trip' ...

I'm an RSL sub branch member. No AASM or ASM. Just did one term in the RAAF. It would seem that the term 'ballot' means just that - numbers game. If my number gets up, I won't be waisting my tickets ...

 

[Groundhog]

Well hopefully for you it does. There is talk of an AFF drinks catch up as well, proposed by Amaroo, but i dont think a date and place have been formalised yet. Keep an eye out for that. I think most of us have booked on RSL tours if that helps your selection to get to the event.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Well hopefully for you it does. There is talk of an AFF drinks catch up as well, proposed by Amaroo, but i dont think a date and place have been formalised yet. Keep an eye out for that. I think most of us have booked on RSL tours if that helps your selection to get to the event.

I think the 19th is looking as the most viable date for people already interested - not sure anything else has been decided apart from probably somewhere in Sultanahmet.

 

[ksthommo]

I'm a huge 36810 on the roster, anyway will head to Wellingtom, attend the services
and watch the Saints/Blues match later in the day.

 

[Atleastonce]

Have we confirmed we will meet at the FS? We are about 8km from there at the Hilton. We start our tour on 18th, and leave Istanbul on the 20th. There was some talk of a lunch meet up for drinks. Is it possible that we do an evening as we are on an Istanbul tour on the 19th and won't be available for lunch. Is anyone else in the same situation?

 

[Groundhog]

i am ok for any day up till the 24th, pretty flexible so lunch or dinner is fine. Will leave you all to decide the time place and venue ( although the rooftop bar on the FS did look pretty good ) and will see you there

 

[Flying mermaid]

Have we confirmed we will meet at the FS? We are about 8km from there at the Hilton. We start our tour on 18th, and leave Istanbul on the 20th. There was some talk of a lunch meet up for drinks. Is it possible that we do an evening as we are on an Istanbul tour on the 19th and won't be available for lunch. Is anyone else in the same situation?

I think we were leaning towards meeting at the FS - what time are you available as I would prefer not to be too late getting back to the boat, so late afternoon/early evening drinks could be nice - most of the sights are in Sultanahmet, so maybe you would be near the FS at the end of the tour? I think we have an evening function, but I am sure we can miss it...

 

[Pushka]

Found my Grandfathers WWI records in the National Archives Register last night. (He was significantly shorter than me. Two generations and heights have changed.)

Nothing from the ballot though.

 

[Atleastonce]

I think we were leaning towards meeting at the FS - what time are you available as I would prefer not to be too late getting back to the boat, so late afternoon/early evening drinks could be nice - most of the sights are in Sultanahmet, so maybe you would be near the FS at the end of the tour? I think we have an evening function, but I am sure we can miss it...

Hi, I am waiting on confirmation from the tour group about the times for the day.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hi, I am waiting on confirmation from the tour group about the times for the day.

Yes we really should lock this down in late February when we all know a bit more

 

[amaroo]

Collection of post showing interest for an AFF (IST) drinks - hope I tagged all of them.

What are your dates?

IST dates....

Flying mermaid 19th - 20th
Atleastonce 18th - 19th
amaroo 18th - 21st

Any other takers?

18th - 26th although the first day will probably be a right off for me as i am travelling for 22hrs with 2 kids, SWMBO and a friend

Looking like the 19th. Plenty of time for the second rounders to get on board .... maybe a Mod (please) could start a first post sticky so we can build-up participant interest ? Would be great to have an IST AFF event leading into such a momentous occasion.

Any ideas where we should meet?

Well hopefully for you it does. There is talk of an AFF drinks catch up as well, proposed by Amaroo, but i dont think a date and place have been formalised yet. Keep an eye out for that. I think most of us have booked on RSL tours if that helps your selection to get to the event.

I think the 19th is looking as the most viable date for people already interested - not sure anything else has been decided apart from probably somewhere in Sultanahmet.

Have we confirmed we will meet at the FS? We are about 8km from there at the Hilton. We start our tour on 18th, and leave Istanbul on the 20th. There was some talk of a lunch meet up for drinks. Is it possible that we do an evening as we are on an Istanbul tour on the 19th and won't be available for lunch. Is anyone else in the same situation?

We've started the process of getting some date options on paper ... I'm completely open with day/venue/location/timing.

We have 4 nights in IST with a 6am departure on the 22nd to begin our tour ... like others have mentioned we have booked the 4 day option with RSL.

Do you think we should start a thread in the Meetings and Social Events board or keep it in this one?

 

[serfty]

Just received this:

Important Information
This email is sent by Ticketek on behalf of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Please do not reply to this email. 31 October 2014 Customer ID Number: xx_x xx_x We are writing to update you on the operation of the Gallipoli 2015 ballot wait list. Using your Customer ID number (listed above), you can find out where you are ranked on the wait list. Following the recent deadline for acceptance of ballot offers, more than 900 offers of a double attandance pass will be made to wait listed ballot applicants within the next fortnight. If you receive an offer of attendance passes, you will be notified by email and/or letter, which will provide details of the offer, how to accept the offer, and the offer expiry date. You will have 14 calendar days (including the date of notification of offer) to accept the offer and complete all mandatory travel questions in your ballot account for both yourself and your accompanying pass holder. If you decline the offer, or it expires without being accepted, you will be removed from the wait list and can no longer participate in the ballot process to attend the Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015. The wait list will remain operational until 31 March 2015. No further passes will be issued after that date. If you are on the wait list and need to update your email address or contact details, please contact Ticketek on 1300 364 002. Further information about the operation of the wait list is available on the Gallipoli 2015 website. Yours sincerely The Gallipoli Ballot Team

Up to a fortnight?

900+ Offers to be made; How many were in the original?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Just received this: Up to a fortnight?

900+ Offers to be made; How many were in the original?

There were 3,000 general passes (doubles) plus another 800 special (descendants/vets). So 25 - 30 % turn down which is actually lower than I thought would happen - be interesting to see how many accept at this point in time - I would suspect a high refusal rate, so I am sure there will be more offers. I said earlier that I thought anyone lower than 10,000 was still in with a chance!

 

[Atleastonce]

Collection of post showing interest for an AFF (IST) drinks - hope I tagged all of them.













We've started the process of getting some date options on paper ... I'm completely open with day/venue/location/timing.

We have 4 nights in IST with a 6am departure on the 22nd to begin our tour ... like others have mentioned we have booked the 4 day option with RSL.

Do you think we should start a thread in the Meetings and Social Events board or keep it in this one?

Well, I got an answer from the tour operator. The reply went like this, "the tour times will depend on traffic and crowds, you may be back at the hotel between 4:30 and 5:30pm, but it could be as late as 7:00pm". Really!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Well, I got an answer from the tour operator. The reply went like this, "the tour times will depend on traffic and crowds, you may be back at the hotel between 4:30 and 5:30pm, but it could be as late as 7:00pm". Really!

makes it a bit hard to plan! Traffic can be bad....

 

[Gogo65]

I've only just found this thread ...

I intend to ( slowly ) read each post ( over 18 pages ! ) ...

but further back, I noted someone mentioned, that they had four ( 4 ) passes - that both partners applied, and were each successful.

Can I please ask, that any readers here, who do have Passes they WILL NOT be using ... to PLEASE hand them back, so those of us on The Wait List can slowly move upward ( and hopefully secure a Pass )..

Hey that was me, both my husband and myself were successful in the ballot, however our best friends also applied and were both unsuccessful, we had agreed in the unlikely event that two of us were successful, we would offer the accompanying person pass to our friends. We have accepted our positions and the accompanying person pass for our friends. We have booked a 14 day private tour with peregrine, all flights etc booked.
Both of my grandfathers fought at Gallipoli, so this was a dream come true, something we had planned to do for a very long time.
Good luck moving up the wait list.

 

[Rick93]

I understand your position now.
Thought there may be others with 2 or even 3 double passes in the one family.
Anyway, this week's news = the "900" passes to be distributed.
My number is 82*
Then there were about 350 issued.
That left me sitting at around number 480.

That means, I should be IN easily ...
Just waiting for the Official message now ...

I've looked at some dates / flights.
The question is: London BEFORE or AFTER the Service on the 25th.
I don't think I could say where I'll be ( for the purpose of AFF Meeting / drinks etc. ), until I've got confirmed flights.