PM delivers first Gallipoli pass

The first recipient of a double pass to attend the Anzac Day centenary dawn service in Gallipoli is the son of a Gallipoli veteran.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Kimberley Cornish

Tony Abbott has handed over the first attendance pass for the Anzac Day centenary in Gallipoli. (AAP)

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has personally handed over the first attendance pass for the Anzac Day centenary on Gallipoli to the son of a Gallipoli veteran.

That went to Kimberley Cornish, of Blackburn North, Melbourne, the son of WWI veteran Albert Cornish who was wounded at Gallipoli in 1915.

Mr Cornish will take his son Dominic to the service at Anzac Cove. There Mr Cornish will meet his brother Christopher, who was also successful in the ballot for passes to attend the dawn service on Gallipoli.

Veterans Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson, who accompanied Mr Abbott to deliver the pass to Mr Cornish on Thursday, said the attendance passes would start arriving in the mail from Friday.

"For those who have received passes to the Gallipoli Dawn Service, they will be sent to the primary pass holder's nominated address via express post over the coming weeks," he said in a statement.

Because of the small size of the commemorative site on Gallipoli and the anticipated large interest in the Anzac centenary, Australia and New Zealand resorted to a ballot for places in the dawn service.

Each double pass only permits entry to the dawn service - recipients have to make their own arrangements for travel to Turkey and accommodation when there. Visitors will also require a Turkish visa.

Senator Ronaldson said those unsuccessful in the ballot should consider visiting Gallipoli for the commemoration of the Battle of Lone Pine on August 6.

"The Battle of Lone Pine saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Gallipoli campaign," he said.


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Source: AAP


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