AFF Gathering #15 in NTL 2021 **Rescheduled** to 21-23 October 2022

​

Newcastle has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2021, occurring over the weekend of the 22nd to 24th October. The average temperature range for October is 14.1ºC – 22.1ºC. The average rainfall is 72.5mm with 11 rainy days. It is NSW's second most populated area and Australia's seventh most populous, representing 1.95% of Australia.

The weekend is likely to take in a wine tour, owing to the proximity of the Hunter Valley. Please note if you are interested in attending a wine tour when indicating your interest for the weekend as this will help organisers make a good start on venues that can cater to our group size.

The lead organiser this year is a member that has turned up to many previous events, @Bindibuys.

Members that have offered help include: @support @Bindibuys @Princess Fiona

---

Activities​

Friday 22nd October​

The dinner venue is The Landing Bar and Kitchen, located next to the Rydges on the water front. We will have the outdoor marquee all to ourselves, with the sides down for privacy. Menus are available online, and the exact kickoff time will be advised closer to the weekend.

Saturday 23rd October​

During the day will be a wine tour for those who have indicated interest/are booked for the tour and another tour – possibly dolphins – for those not attending the wine tour.

The dinner venue is The Wickham Boatshed, where some canapés will be followed by a two-course meal. There is a cash bar. The special guest is a local Newcastle breakfast DJ.

Sunday 24th October​

A tour of the city will follow on the last day, ending at Fighter World, located conveniently next to the airport.

Tentative Attendees​

This list simply indicates an interest in attending the event and additionally, the wine tour. Members are in order of response to the thread and are not ranked from silver to platinum (least likely to most likely to attend).

Username	Arrival Details	Accommodation	Wine Tour?	Departure Details
I love to travel			Yes
Bindibuys
Congewai
Lynda2475			Yes
AIRwin
kpc
Doug_Westcott	22/10 VA1593	Rydges	Yes	25/10 VA1594
samh004	22/10 QF1776	Novotel	Yes	24/10 QF2424
Townsend	Driving		Yes	Driving
Townsend +1	Driving		Yes	Driving
Mattg			Yes
kookaburra75	22/10 Driving	Noah's on the Beach	Yes	24/10 Driving Noon
kookaburra75 +1	22/10 Driving	Noah's on the Beach	Yes	24/10 Driving Noon
Matt_01			Yes
oz_mark
Drakecula			Yes
Drakecula +1
NM			Yes
NM +1
Eija			Yes	24/10 QF1567
RooFlyer		Novotel	Yes	25/10 QF1565
tuapekastar			Yes
serfty	22/10 VA1593			25/10 VA1594
JessicaTam			Yes
CaptJCool
Sprucegoose			Yes
Jacques Vert	Driving		Yes	Driving
Gem56	Driving		Yes	Driving
ellen10
Hvr	22/10 QF1564	Holiday Inn Express		24/10 QF1567
Major
Major +1
justinbrett
Simo			Yes
motef	Local	Local	Yes	Local
motef +1	Local	Local	Yes	Local
sharpinjr			Yes
sharpinjr +1			Yes
Fifa		Holiday Inn Express	Yes	24/10 Afternoon
Princess Fiona	Local	Local		Local
penegal			Yes
Ade			Yes
drron
mrs.dr.ron
BVT			Yes
admin
admin +1
Glider_	22/10 Train?			24/10 Afternoon
straitman
straitman +1
aleaf			Yes

 

[Hvr]

My flights and hotel booking are both on points and fully refundable.

I hope to get there but in these uncertain times planning for the worst to happen is prudent.

 

[straitman]

I am going to take myself off the list for this in case someone else wants my spot. Domestic travel just not worth the stress atm

We are thinking the same thing but will hang on for a while longer

I understand your sentiments but I wouldn't cancel yet.

We are meant to be leaving for Noosa on Tuesday and I have no idea about that let alone October.

 

[Princess Fiona]

FWIW the Hunter Region/ Newcastle has been relatively fortunate so far with respect to lockdowns and border closures. It’s one of the reasons we chose this area IIRC.
We haven’t had any lockdown here except the initial nationwide one at the start of the pandemic in 2020. All of our shops and hospitality have remained open since that finished.

I’ve probably jinxed us now lol but I remain reasonably optimistic of a good outcome for this event.

 

[drron]

I dobt that the Hunter will be shut down .the real problem though is getting home.You can't trust QLD,WA,SA,Victoria to keep their borders open if there are a couple of cases in the Hunter.Tasmania usually only closes their border when a lockdown is announced in the State concerned.Problem is they then keep it going after the lockdown is lifted.
Despite that If I am not working then may be a late starter if space available then.

 

[kpc]

We Sydneysiders will probably still be in lockdown

 

[oz_mark]

Well, being from Perth, this could all go to custard for me. On the other hand, Perth itself may be in and out of lockdown a couple of times by then

It's far enough away that anything could happen from this point.....

 

[Simo]

Silver at the moment... Closer to the date will firm up..

 

[drron]

I am now a definite non starter.Will be working in either Mt,Isa or Tasmania.A bit too far for a weekend.

 

[AIRwin]

Will be working in either Mt,Isa or Tasmania.

Looking forward to ISA? I Sure Am (never been there)... Can I come visit?

 

[drron]

Looking forward to ISA? I Sure Am (never been there)... Can I come visit?

If I am sure but more likely to be Tassie again.

 

[Matt_01]

I am still hopeful that I can attend and finally got around to booking flights and accommodation, plan is:

• Arriving 22/10 - VA1593 1:35pm
• Booked the Rydges Newcastle however this may change.
• Leaving 24/10 - VA1594 2:15pm

 

[Matt_01]

It was only a few days ago I was still hopeful that I would be attending. After looking at the SA cross border restriction things are not looking so good. The latest update details from 12:01am 29 July 2021, travellers arriving from New South Wales (excluding the LGA of Broken Hill) is currently prohibited from entering South Australia Although it is still a couple of months away I cannot see the SA Government easing their restrictions, my last hope is that vaccinated people may be able to travel but I am not holding my breath. At least all the travel arrangements are refundable.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Unfortunately I'm unable to attend.

 

[AIRwin]

QF sale?

QF has another regional sale until 9 August...

 

[Sprucegoose]

I would be booking flexible tickets.....

 

[motef]

I would be booking flexible tickets.....

Aren’t all tickets flexible at the moment?

 

[Flashback]

Aren’t all tickets flexible at the moment?

If you print them out on paper and wave them in the air, yes - fully flexible!

 

[justinbrett]

FWIW the Hunter Region/ Newcastle has been relatively fortunate so far with respect to lockdowns and border closures. It’s one of the reasons we chose this area IIRC.
We haven’t had any lockdown here except the initial nationwide one at the start of the pandemic in 2020. All of our shops and hospitality have remained open since that finished.

I’ve probably jinxed us now lol but I remain reasonably optimistic of a good outcome for this event.

Yep, you certainly did!

 

[motef]

Yep, you certainly did!

Was the backup Armidale?

 

[Bindibuys]

No, but your organiser was in Armidale last Saturday night….
I never left the motel, hubby picked up a pizza, waiting to see where the hot spots were.
Had my 2nd jab yesterday