TONY Abbott is poised to make his first visit to Albury-Wodonga since becoming Prime Minister next month.
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He is due to officially launch the Spirit of Anzac centenary experience travelling exhibition with Wodonga chosen as its first stop.
Mr Abbott's visit will also be a major boost to former parliamentary colleague Sophie Mirabella's re-election chances.
He had a cabinet spot reserved for Mrs Mirabella when the Coalition won the most recent federal election in 2013.
But she lost the seat of Indi to independent Cathy McGowan.
Mrs Mirabella has since won Liberal pre-selection in an attempt to reclaim the seat at the next election.
On Wednesday, Mrs Mirabella welcomed Mr Abbott’s visit.
"It is quite fitting for the Prime Minister to be invited to officiate at this important event," she said.
"Of course Tony Abbott is no stranger to the region having visited Indi on at least five occasions previously."
The Anzac centenary exhibition launch has been slated for early September at the Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre with The Border Mail obtaining a copy of the invitation presently being circulated to special guests.
He will be the first Prime Minister to visit the area since Julia Gillard opened the $240 million Holbrook bypass in 2013.
Mrs Mirabella is already on the campaign trail and recently hosted a visit to Wodonga by federal assistant minister for infrastructure and regional development Jamie Briggs to announce $1.7 million for a Thomas Mitchell Drive upgrade.
In the most recent cabinet reshuffle, Mr Abbott promoted member for Farrer Sussan Ley to health minister.
Ms Ley said on Wednesday she was honoured the region had been selected as the Anzac centenary exhibition’s first stop.
“Thousands of people from our region attended this year’s Anzac Day dawn service and on Thursday the nation will commemorate the 100th anniversary of one of the Gallipoli campaign’s fiercest conflicts, the Battle of Lone Pine”, she said.
“Next month our community has the chance to attend the exhibition and see priceless artefacts from the Gallipoli Campaign, as well as immersing themselves in Australia’s involvement in the entire World War 1 War, including the Western Front and the Middle East.”
“This is the first time many of these rare artefacts have toured Australia, so visiting the exhibition will be a truly unique way our community can engage with the Centenary of Anzac, the nation’s most significant period of commemoration.”
