This is good news for the 40,000 people on the wait list who now have a better chance of being offered a place. 

There are reports that accommodation prices in Turkey for the centenary have tripled, which is putting some travellers off.

While those who booked early or arranged travel and accommodation immediately through a travel agent have not had any problems, there are many who now feel they can’t afford to make the trip.

The capacity of the Anzac commemorative site is 10,500 people and in 2015, this will comprise places for 8000 Australians, 2000 New Zealanders and 500 official representatives of countries involved in the Gallipoli campaign, including some 250 representatives of the host nation, Turkey.

While a number of places were reserved for direct descendants of Gallipoli veterans, other members of the ADF and school children, 1400 people in the general category have not confirmed their attendance. 

Those who won tickets have until 11.59pm, October 25 to accept and provide their travel details before the tickets are revoked.

The places will then be allocated to those on the wait list.

In April 2013, Margaret Vandenberg and her husband Chief Petty Officer Kane Vandenberg attended the Anzac dawn service in Canberra together for the first time.

That day they vowed they would attend the service together every year, and also that they would one day go to the dawn service at Gallipoli. 

Tragically, that was to be their last Anzac day together; Kane died during the Defence Mountain Bike Championship at Mt Stromlo just six months later.

So when Margaret’s name was drawn out in the national Gallipoli ballot in January, she felt her husband was looking over her shoulder.

In April next year she will travel to Europe with her youngest son, Lachlan. As well as Gallipoli she will also visit the Western Front in France where her grandfather fought. 

With her grandfather, father and husband all serving members of the military, it will be a special journey for Margaret, and for Lachlan, who is keen to follow in their footsteps. 

Margaret said she entered the Gallipoli ballot, not really expecting to be chosen.

“I was watching the news one night and they said the ballot had been drawn and the winners had been sent an email,” she said. 

“I went and checked my emails, and there it was. It was meant to be.”

While Margaret has already booked her travel, tours and accommodation for her trip, she said she can understand that other ballot winners could be having second thoughts. 

“I’ve heard they’ve upped the accommodation prices in some cases by 300 per cent, and it is hard to get affordable flights,” she said. 

“I think there were also people who thought winning the ballot meant you were winning a golden ticket for the whole trip, not just for attendance at the service.

“It would be quite difficult for many people – they would need to have the money eight months ahead.”

Earlier this year Kane Vandenberg became the first of his generation to receive the prestigious Graywood Medal, which Margaret will wear along with her father’s and grandfather’s medals at Gallipoli.

“Kane would tell me we would go to Gallipoli one day. Now I get that chance, and that’s a gift,” she said.

“We always believed very much that things happen for a reason. It’s something that was meant to be, and I feel he’ll be there with us.”