WODONGA has trumped Launceston in terms of crowd numbers for the Spirit of Anzac exhibition by 5000 people.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Border city was the first port of call for the major Anzac showcase which was officially opened by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in early September.
The second stop was Launceston with just under 10,000 visitors before heading to its second Tasmanian destination, Hobart.
The event is a $35 million travelling exhibition from the Australian War Memorial with each stop including a local element.
Former deputy Prime Minister and member for Farrer Tim Fischer is the special envoy for the exhibition.
"I attended both openings and there was a large crowd of very satisfied customers at both locations," he said.
"Wodonga was open for seven days and Launceston for six days.
"But attendance figures are quite dramatic.
"Perhaps this reflects the fact Wodonga was the first location thus drawing more attention and the Prime Minister attending.
"But Launceston was during the school holidays which I would have thought would bring more people in.
"At this stage Wodonga can walk tall and be very proud of its handling of the Spirit of Anzac exhibit.
"It says a lot about the assistance of Wodonga Council, in particular, who gave great help and the local media."
Mr Abbott has since been replaced by Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister.
The Wodonga event was held at the sports and lesiure centre and the Launceston Silverdome was used for the first Tasmanian stop.
Hobart's Derwent Entertainment Centre will host the next exhibition from October 14 to 20.
The interactive exhibit features 200 items ranging from an artillery piece to Diggers’ diaries and other personal possessions.
The exhibition returns to Victoria after Hobart with back-to-back regional stopovers in Ballarat and Bendigo.
Other locations are Wollongong, Melbourne, Adelaide, Tamworth, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Mackay, Cairns, Townsville, Darwin, Port Augusta, Perth, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Geelong, Orange and Newcastle.
It will culminate in Sydney in April 2017 and is free to the public.
The exhibition is based on a timeline from pre-war Australia to present day.
