Penelope Robinson and Omid Namdar had flown from Perth on the red-eye flight on Wednesday morning, only to be told they could not get in despite receiving an email confirming their registration. Flew from Perth: Penelope Robinson and Omid Namdar, denied entry despite receiving an email. "This is so unfair. I got through university because of Gough and I named my third son because of him. Mr Whitlam even signed his birth certificate," Ms Robinson said. Rodney Ranners came from Seven Hills by train in his wheelchair. "I came all the way in because my carer received an email, I haven't got the email, I don't have a mobile phone. They won't let me in," he said, close to tears.

Ron Miles, from Leichhardt, said he had phoned to register to attend the memorial service on the day registration opened. Rodney Ranners was refused entry. Credit:Damien Murphy "The woman I spoke to took my name, and I said 'What happens now?' She said nothing, it was first in, best dressed. That was how she phrased it," he said. Mr Miles arrived at the town hall about 8am on Wednesday and joined a line of people on George Street, who were told by an official that if they did not have an email they would not be allowed to enter. "We weren't asked for our email addresses," he said.

"The people around me were just absolutely fuming. I live in Leichhardt, but the person in front of me was from Melbourne, and two other people were from Townsville. It's just so absolutely bloody frustrating. "There was another couple of people there who I felt really sorry for. They were saying how much Gough meant to them and how this was a travesty for his memory. "I was 24 when Gough was elected and he just changed the world, as far as I was concerned. I didn't benefit from the free university education, I'd been through university by then, however he embodied all the things that I think governments should do for people. He meant a lot to me. I'm really upset that I couldn't get in." Mr Miles went home and had plans to watch the service on television. Loading

Mr Whitlam died in Sydney on October 21, aged 98, and was cremated at a private family funeral last week. The memorial service at the Sydney Town Hall is due to start at 11am.