2015 Gallipoli Ballot - 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings

[medhead]

My feeling was that there would be some kind of ordering for the descendants ballot with preference to those whose relative served at Gallipoli. But the application was so long ago I can't really remember now.

 

[Flying mermaid]

My feeling was that there would be some kind of ordering for the descendants ballot with preference to those whose relative served at Gallipoli. But the application was so long ago I can't really remember now.

I suspect the waitlist might be for general people as I thought there were different pools - one for gallipoli descendants and one for vets and then the general pool. I assume if someone drops out of the gallipoli descendant pool for e.g. then it will go to another gallipoli descendent but they also have a random chance of the general pool - all too hard. I knew with our luck at raffles etc we would never stand a chance, so am content with our military history tour and just being on a random beach at Gallipoli on the day for a dawn service - the main event is going to be so polly and hangers on heavy, it will be nice to have a simple service!

 

[vetrade]

Never considered Gallipoli for 2015 - nowadays it's seemingly a right-of-passage (without the rock bands and with less "weed") on every trendy backpacker's must-do list. Add to that the hordes of politicians and public servants on a taxpayer funded holiday taking up all the seats with a decent view of proceedings for the 100th, plus the commercialisation and there seems to be way too much potential for the solemnity of the occasion to be lost amid the seething crowds and revelry next year. And before anyone berates me, that's just my inner skeptic talking - and I dislike crowds at the best of times.

We'll be in Villers Bretonneux instead for AD next year - yes, somewhat (unavoidably) commercialised too I guess but definitely at a much lower order of magnitude than Gallipoli. Maybe that's an alternative venue for all you ppl way down the list for Gallipoli.

And then I score some points for organising for some friends to fly over for a surprise birthday dinner in Paris for Mrs V.

 

[Ikara]

We'll be in Villers Bretonneux instead for AD next year - yes, somewhat (unavoidably) commercialised too I guess but definitely at a much lower order of magnitude than Gallipoli. Maybe that's an alternative venue for all you ppl way down the list for Gallipoli.

We did Villers Bretonneux for Anzac Day in 2013. I didn't think that it was commercialised in any way. Politicised maybe! You'll enjoy it.

JB

 

[sinophile888]

Is anyone worried about the situation in Turkey and surrounding regions? My son is booked to go, with everything prepaid. I don't imagine all travel insurance covers civil unrest. Has anyone got travel insurance which would give cover for any eventuality?

 

[straitman]

Wow.

I'm way ahead of you guys as I'm #6000+ on the wait list.

Don't think I'll hold my breath :!:

 

[Flying mermaid]

Is anyone worried about the situation in Turkey and surrounding regions? My son is booked to go, with everything prepaid. I don't imagine all travel insurance covers civil unrest. Has anyone got travel insurance which would give cover for any eventuality?

We actually did have a bit if a think about it, but finally decided it was all a bit of a luck thing. We are ready if things really implode to just forfeit the money - we normally use our credit card insurance but that covers for hijacking and terrorism but not civil unrest or military type stuff. We have been looking at taking an additional policy with travel insurance direct which does seem to cover severe civil unrest (I.e. DFAT issues a do not travel warning) but still busy evaluating. We have booked a round the world so if worst come to worst, we will just cut out the flight back from Istanbul and spend more time in Europe.

Tend to be optimists - we took the whole family to Europe straight after 9/11 - it was great - Tower of London was totally empty and no queue for the Crown Jewels!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Wow.

I'm way ahead of you guys as I'm #6000+ on the wait list.

Don't think I'll hold my breath :!:

I have this gut feel (based on absolutely no scientific analysis) that anyone below 10,000 is in with a chance, as at this point in time drop out rate will be huge, so hope you get there.

 

[ksthommo]

36815 out of 38236 on the wait list, wouldn't be going at this late stage anyway.
Looks like my previous service hasn't been taken into account being so far down the ladder.
All was noted on the application.

 

[medhead]

36815 out of 38236 on the wait list, wouldn't be going at this late stage anyway.
Looks like my previous service hasn't been taken into account being so far down the ladder.
All was noted on the application.

As I already alluded your service (and my service) means nothing unless you have an ASM. Still as my spot on the wait list is in the 400s I feel a little confident.

 

[turtlemichael]

As I already alluded your service (and my service) means nothing unless you have an ASM. Still as my spot on the wait list is in the 400s I feel a little confident.

Greater transparency might have been a good idea. On the other hand that may have only prompted more debate. A WWI descendent is worth 3 Vietnam vets and 6 members of the general public? My partner is at 33000+, has the ASM and has no indication from Ticketek or the DVA that his position is any different on the veterans list under which he enrolled. As I said, it is academic now as we are locked in to other plans. For those well down the list I would still have some hope as the turn down rate should increase as the days go by. Either that or there will be a lot of untaken spots. I urge anyone, who does have the opportunity, to take it as it is a place of great significance, haunting beauty and where no one can be but extremely moved when you think about what happened under your feet.

 

[ksthommo]

As I already alluded your service (and my service) means nothing unless you have an ASM. Still as my spot on the wait list is in the 400s I feel a little confident.

I have the ASM & AASM and applied on the first day the ballot opened.

 

[serfty]

Self in 25K, SWMBO 26K ranges.

 

[medhead]

Agreed the multiple lists aspect could be more transparent.

 

[DGW]

I'm at around 8,000 on the list so I'm not holding my breath. I do note from reading the FAQ however that anyone successful in the ballot who hasn't confirmed their attendance by 25th October will have their passes returned to the pool so there may be some faint hope.

 

[amaroo]

SWMBO is in the low 12,000 ... she will be one wait-lister that won't be needing another ticket.

 

[amaroo]

Is anyone worried about the situation in Turkey and surrounding regions? My son is booked to go, with everything prepaid. I don't imagine all travel insurance covers civil unrest. Has anyone got travel insurance which would give cover for any eventuality?

Have just come back from four nights in HKG - TBH we were/are far more concerned about Turkey (next April) than we ever were about HKG and the "Occupy Central" shenanigans.

We've booked direct with airlines/hotels/tour operator so in the event we need to cancel before commencing our trip and our insurance coverage turns out to be a "Big Fat Zero" - we'll toast around $2K as all other bookings are fully flexible. If it all goes pair shape mid trip - different story.

We're with TID and they advise that the Smart Traveller advice of "Do Not Travel" will be their yard stick for paying out claims for cancellations .... the other ratings = tough luck, you're going.

It "appears" if you act within a reasonable timeframe of issued warnings - cover will be granted (including whilst travelling) .. Once an act of Terror has been committed - all bets are off.

We will not pay for any of the following:
9. A loss that arises because you did not follow advice in the mass media of a government or other official body’s warning:

a) against travel to a particular country or parts of a country; or
b) of a strike, riot, bad weather, civil commotion or contagious disease; or
c) of a likely or actual epidemic or pandemic; or
d) of a threat of an epidemic or pandemic that requires the closure of a country’s borders; or
e) of an epidemic or pandemic that results in you being quarantined;
and you did not take the appropriate action to avoid or minimise any potential claim under your policy (including delay of travel referred to in the warning). Please refer to who.int, smartraveller.gov.au and dfat.gov.au for further information.
No cover is available for any event under any section of this policy should you travel to a country or region where the Australian government has issued a “Do Not Travel” warning

Can't see the Gov issuing the "DO Not Travel" advice - before the Dawn Service is completed. Will be interesting to watch how the Gov handles being a Major Sponsor of an event and also maintaining independence as the controlling safety officer for Oz travellers.

 

[amaroo]

I'm up for this,

Where is everyone staying? I will be in Beyoglu near the Gatala bridge

What are your dates?

IST dates....

Flying mermaid 19th - 20th
Atleastonce 18th - 19th
amaroo 18th - 22nd

Any other takers?

 

[notsure]

I'm in the low 3000's - circumstances have changed since I applied however, and I doubt we'll have the funding for that sort of trip so soon after making the move from Norway to Australia, so likely I will have to pass if by chance my number came up.

One thing I've noticed looking at the waitlist, is that aside from the first 210 who have been made offers, there are random people at least as far down as around 3500, who have received offers, which I assume were for tickets from one of the restricted categories - so it's entirely possible that someone further down who qualifies for one of those groups may yet get an offer.

Will be interesting to see what happens in a couple of weeks when the first round of offers needs to be accepted.

 

[Groundhog]

What are your dates?

IST dates....

Flying mermaid 19th - 20th
Atleastonce 18th - 19th
amaroo 18th - 22nd

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