AFF Gathering 8: Melbourne - "choosing a date"

[samh004]

With the second poll having ended with MEL again the winner, it's now time to choose a date to host the yearly (currently) gathering. If there is a tie, it'll be up to those stepping forward to organise the event to decide the course of action (be it winner or a run-off poll).

This will be the second time Melbourne has hosted a gathering, with the last event being the first event, in August 2008. For that event, they had 29 attendees (from my count - post 341) enjoyed beer, coffee, guests from an airline formerly known as Virgin Blue and AMEX representatives, tram rides and an AFL game.

I have taken some time this afternoon looking at various holidays and events on in Melbourne and around the country, though have no doubt missed some events and dates. The dates I do have are presented though to give you the best idea of what is going on, and when would be a good time to travel (especially considering flight and accommodation costs).

Off the bat, I have excluded one weekend in early September as I am limited to 10 poll choices and past events have been later than this. I've included a number of different state-based holidays, that may make Melbourne an attractive long weekend trip, including before and after the Melbourne Cup. I have also included the G20 Leaders Summit (to be held in Brisbane in November) as a consideration for anyone in Brisbane looking to flee while that is taking place. Additionally, the VIC State Election must take place by 29th November 2014.

The poll is multiple choice so you can select all weekends that apply to you.

The average temperatures are:

September (8-17.2ºC)
October (9.5-19.7ºC)
November (11.2-22ºC)

Dates:

[-]19th - 21st September[/-]
School holidays: NSW, QLD, VIC
Fringe Festival

26th - 28th September
School holidays: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
Family & Community Day: ACT (29th September)
Queen's Birthday: WA (29th September)
Fringe Festival
AFL GF

3rd - 5th October
School holidays: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
Labour Day: ACT, NSW, QLD, SA (6th October)
Fringe Festival
NRL GF

10th - 12th October
School holidays: ACT, SA, TAS, WA
Bathurst V8 Supercars
Melbourne Festival

17th - 19th October
Caulfield Cup (18th October)
Moto GP (Phillip Island)
Melbourne Festival

24th - 26th October
Melbourne Festival
Cox Plate (25th October)

31st October - 2nd November
pre-Melbourne Cup weekend

7th - 9th November
post-Melbourne Cup weekend

14th - 16th November
G20 Leaders Summit: BNE-area (14th November)

21st - 23rd November

28th - 30th November
DPRV Election (29th November)

 

[JessicaTam]

The DPRV election is on the 29th November.

 

[markis10]

Oct 9-12 is Bathurst.
Sep 17-Oct 5 is the fringe festival
Oct 11-27 Melbourne festival

 

[Mwenenzi]

18th October is Caulfeild Cup
25th October is Cox Plate at Moonee Valley: the best horse race in Australia

1st November is Derby Day, the first day of Melbourne Cup week. Will be very busy for Melbourne hotels. Derby day on the Saturday is the best day of racing. At times has had more people on track than Tuesday. Good horses run in weight for age races. The horses on the Tuesday are plodders. ~80,000 - 100,000 attend

4th November is Cup day Flemington. ~100,000 plus attend
6th November is Oaks day Flemington. Many attend ~ 75,000
8th November is Stakes day Flemington. Not many attend

Mid Sept - Oct - Nov has a lot going on in Melbourne & surrounding area

 

[nlagalle]

17-19th October is also the Moto GP at Phillip Island. While most stay on the island, flights can be busy.

 

[samh004]

The DPRV election is on the 29th November.

Oct 9-12 is Bathurst.
Sep 17-Oct 5 is the fringe festival
Oct 11-27 Melbourne festival

18th October is Caulfeild Cup
25th October is Cox Plate at Moonee Valley: the best horse race in Australia

1st November is the first day of Melbourne Cup week. Will be very busy for Melbourne hotels. Derby day on the Saturday is the best day of racing. At times has had more people on track than Tuesday. Good horses run in weight for age races. The horses on the Tuesday are plodders. ~80,000 - 100,000 attend

4th November is Cup day Flemington. ~100,000 plus attend
6th November is Oaks day Flemington. Many attend ~ 75,000
8th November is Stakes day Flemington. Not many attend

17-19th October is also the Moto GP at Phillip Island. While most stay on the island, flights can be busy.

I have updated the different weekends accordingly, to reflect this new information.

 

[Bundy Bear]

AFL grand final weekend would work for me, Fremantle will be playing in the grand final, although accommodation for late comers could be a problem, and good that its a long weekend for WA on the 28 September.

But a bunch of weekends in October work for me as well.

 

[blackcat20]

End of October/start of November is out for me, I'll be in the US.

 

[bass_ke]

End of October/start of November is out for me, I'll be in the US.

Ditto, let's bring up a 3rd location poll and make it somewhere in the states

 

[Simo]

What is the DPRV Election???

 

[Hvr]

What is the DPRV Election???

Democratic People's Republic of Victoria state election.
<redacted>

 

[Simo]

An election would not have a huge effect on the weekend.

 

[JohnK]

AFL grand final weekend would work for me, Fremantle will be playing in the grand final, although accommodation for late comers could be a problem, and good that its a long weekend for WA on the 28 September.

Huh! Once was bad enough. And you are not even a Westralian....

 

[basso]

Are we going to vote on each restaurant and each activity for the weekend! I love the democratic process!

 

[markis10]

Are we going to vote on each restaurant and each activity for the weekend! I love the democratic process!

I would have thought someone that has been a member since 2002 would have seen the process in the past, once a date is set the organisers get to work sans polls.

 

[basso]

I would have thought someone that has been a member since 2002 would have seen the process in the past, once a date is set the organisers get to work sans polls.

Being a member since 2002 doesn't equate with constantly reading the site since 2002. I have come and gone many times over the years.

 

[samh004]

Being a member since 2002 doesn't equate with constantly reading the site since 2002. I have come and gone many times over the years.

Good point.

Essentially, a poll to decide the location and then the date. After that, the thread is started and hopefully some people volunteer to make arrangements, and others can suggest ideas for the weekend. It's easier to suggest ideas for things to do, see, eat etc when you know where and when the event is happening

Perhaps suggestions will be made for out there things to do, that wouldn't otherwise be considered. It'll be a weekend to show off Melbourne, and as Melbourne has so many members and meets already, there's perhaps a lot that has been done. But there must be things that haven't been done too, and not just because they're bad, but because they're overlooked or too hard to do at night (most meets tend to be over a beer/vino).

 

[basso]

Good point.

Also you need to consider that my post on voting on activities and restaurants was more said in jest than in seriousness. Maybe a smilie was missing....

 

[samh004]

Also you need to consider that my post on voting on activities and restaurants was more said in jest than in seriousness. Maybe a smilie was missing....

I didn't quote it, but you must always add a smile

 

[Major]

End of October/start of November is out for me, I'll be in the US.

So will I...