New Zealand-born Richard Laurent was recruited to the 13th Battalion in 1914 and was sent to the stalemate at Gallipoli and then went on to serve elsewhere on the Western Front.

A young, unmarried man, he probably witnessed atrocities considered impossible to fathom at his age.

"He was quite a big man, he was a good father, a provider, and quite a normal dad," said Richard Laurent's 87-year-old son.

"And looking back at what I've read a lot about the Anzac Cove, it will bring back a lot of memories about him and those that fought."

Mr Laurent is another of the lucky Riverina residents selected to attend the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli next year - marking 100 years since the defining moment in Australia's military history.

The trek to Gallipoli will be a fact-finding mission for Mr Laurent.

His father rarely chose to speak of his time at war, instead opting to share lighthearted stories about golf and bowls with other Diggers.

"We used to have friends of Dad's come around as a child, but they spoke of virtually anything but the army," he said.

"I never questioned it."

Mr Laurent won a Gallipoli ticket under the "direct descendent" category, but jointly won a ticket under the "veterans" category.

He enlisted with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force and served in Japan.

Another Riverina resident, Hugh Belling, is another returned soldier to win a ticket in the Gallipoli ballot.

Mr Belling served in Bouganville as a signaler with his regiment.

At 90 years old, he recalls Gallipoli as the most important milestone of the Anzac battle and the spirit that lives on.