AFF Gathering #17 in BNE on 18 - 20 October 2024

We're pleased to announce that the 2024 AFF annual gathering will be held in Brisbane, the sunny capital of Queensland!

The weekend of Friday 18 - Sunday 20 October 2024 has been chosen for the event. As per past years, there will be a welcome dinner on the Friday evening, optional activities on Saturday and a main dinner on Saturday evening. There may also be an optional activity on Sunday in the late morning.

All AFF members (and +1's, etc.) are welcome to attend. Most people usually fly in on Friday afternoon and leave on the Sunday afternoon/evening.

Your lead organisers for this year's event are @NM and @QF WP. Other Brisbane-based members are also welcome to volunteer to assist.

We'll update this thread over the coming months with more information about the planned activities, dinner venues and costs, which we expect to be similar to past gatherings. There will be a $5 registration fee per participant, plus the cost of any activities and/or meals that you choose to join.

For now, please feel free to let us know in this thread if you think you'll be able to make it! For those unfamiliar with the AFF terminology:

• "Platinum" means you're planning to attend and have booked flights/accommodation
• "Gold" means you're likely to attend but will need to confirm at a later time
• "Silver" means you're unlikely to attend at this stage.
• "Bronze" means you're unable to attend.

The AFF Leadership Team can provide support in terms of money collection and distribution, and editing this thread as needed. If something needs to be updated, please simply report the post with the update so anyone on the team can action it (starting a conversation only alerts one person).

We're looking forward to seeing you all in Brissie!

 

[samh004]

I’m also surprised many of the island states in the Caribbean had not been visited

I visited the Cayman Islands when I was a boy... and I was there on Friday night. Was that pin entered?

 

[NM]

I visited the Cayman Islands when I was a boy... and I was there on Friday night. Was that pin entered?

It seems that Cayman Islands is not officially considered a county. It is a British Overseas Territory. While it does have its own flag, it is not its own country and a flag pin is not included in the set of National Flags that I have for this purpose.

List of Countries in the World in Alphabetical Order | Britannica

This is an alphabetically ordered list of the countries of the world. (See also geography and

www.britannica.com

Flag of Cayman Islands | Colors, Meaning & History | Britannica

British overseas territory flag consisting of a dark blue field (background) with a Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter and a badge containing the Cayman Islands coat of arms in the centre of the fly end; the flag may be described as a defaced British Blue Ensign. The flag’s width-to-length ratio

www.britannica.com

 

[drron]

Sorry I had to miss the event. Could add a few flags having been to every US state,most Canadian provinces and a few in West Africa.

 

[NM]

Sorry I had to miss the event. Could add a few flags having been to every US state,most Canadian provinces and a few in West Africa.

Very sorry, but requirement for adding flag pins to the map is that you must have attended the AFF Gathering #17 event (Friday dinner, Saturday experiences or Saturday dinner).

But I will say that you were missed ... though perhaps your shorts were not. @Congewai did have a great attempt at outdoing the shorts with his blazer on Saturday night.

 

[boxo]

Had I not canceled my trip, I could have pushed a few pins into the map, but I'm not sure I would have been comfortable doing so. I have the unfair geographical advantage of being American.

Antigua
Barbados
Canary Islands
Costa Rica
Faroe Islands
Connecticut
New Hampshire
Yukon Territory

 

[CaptJCool]

Had I not canceled my trip, I could have pushed a few pins into the map, but I'm not sure I would have been comfortable doing so. I have the unfair geographical advantage of being American.

Antigua
Barbados
Canary Islands
Costa Rica
Faroe Islands
Connecticut
New Hampshire
Yukon Territory

Ahh

Your presence was missed especially after the stellar effort of getting along to Launceston. however hopefully see you in Adelaide in May 2025 seeing I’m resident here

So clearly no one’s actively chasing the “pie in the sky” of visiting every country in the world ….

 

[boxo]

Ahh

Your presence was missed especially after the stellar effort of getting along to Launceston. however hopefully see you in Adelaide in May 2025 seeing I’m resident here

So clearly no one’s actively chasing the “pie in the sky” of visiting every country in the world ….

Yes, see you in Adelaide.

Really, I would have thought AFF has a lot of pie-chasers!

 

[NM]

Had I not canceled my trip, I could have pushed a few pins into the map, but I'm not sure I would have been comfortable doing so. I have the unfair geographical advantage of being American.

Antigua
Barbados
Canary Islands
Costa Rica
Faroe Islands
Connecticut
New Hampshire
Yukon Territory

And we would have happily accepted the contribution. After all, it was a joint activity for all those in attendance, not an individual competition for most pins pinned

I did add Connecticut myself - I visited Stamford CT in 1997. I was very close to New Hampshire in August, but remained west of the border at all times.

 

[boxo]

No no, I hadn't perceived the pin-pushing as individual competition. My thinking was my additions would skew an Aussie tally. I only joined AFF last year because I wanted to attend the LST DO, to see more than Hobart for two nights a decade ago.

 

[NM]

No no, I hadn't perceived the pin-pushing as individual competition. My thinking was my additions would skew an Aussie tally. I only joined AFF last year because I wanted to attend the LST DO, to see more than Hobart for two nights a decade ago.

Nahhh, not at all worried about a skew. All welcome to contribute !! The more pins pinned the better

 

[Ade]

I'm a bit late to say thanks - but a massive thank you to the organisers of the event. I had so much fun - the 737 Sims, FA-18 VR Sim and most importantly the session by Mal. OMG! the session by Mal was super good - so good that I was talking about it to so many people at work for the past 2 days.

We at AFF, are friendly bunch and it shows - shows in every part of the weekend and I thoroughly loved it. My thanks to those that participated, it was so nice to put faces to handles

I'm looking forward to the next one and the next one after that and so on ...

 

[RooFlyer]

So now we wait until the mods meet in conclave and the white smoke appears for the location and date of the next Gathering.

I'm tipping Perth - or how about Kalgoorlie. If the Diggers and Dealers can whoop it up there over three days, I'm sure AFFers can work up a thirst.

 

[AIRwin]

I'm tipping Perth - or how about Kalgoorlie.

Paraburdoo?

Passengers message loved ones during 'terrifying' Qantas flight in regional WA

A Qantas flight from Perth to the Pilbara region was diverted to Geraldton due to a mechanical issue. A passenger onboard says they were "terrified" and called for aircraft used on the route to be replaced.

www.abc.net.au

 

[CaptJCool]

Paraburdoo?

Passengers message loved ones during 'terrifying' Qantas flight in regional WA

A Qantas flight from Perth to the Pilbara region was diverted to Geraldton due to a mechanical issue. A passenger onboard says they were "terrified" and called for aircraft used on the route to be replaced.

www.abc.net.au

Todays tour is brought to you by
Mine Shaft

 

[Larko1]

Are they renovating the Sydney J Lounge Ade?

Was there yesterday and they have pushed back the wall on the left hand side of the lounge. Plenty more seating and a new food area and access to toilets and exit from lounge.

 

[NM]

Paraburdoo?

Passengers message loved ones during 'terrifying' Qantas flight in regional WA

A Qantas flight from Perth to the Pilbara region was diverted to Geraldton due to a mechanical issue. A passenger onboard says they were "terrified" and called for aircraft used on the route to be replaced.

www.abc.net.au

I'll bring the NM Bus

 

[Bjet]

@QF WP and @NM thank you for efforts as it was a great event. The next part of the post maybe read by some as not appropriate however a big heads up for arranging an interpreter so every)one was included.

Sorry for a little bit late thank-you note. I also want to say a big THANK YOU to @QF WP, @NM and @Captain Halliday for organizing event and for having an Auslan interpreter (for Deaf Attendee and I) in our dinner. This marked a major breakthrough in communication between deaf world and hearing world. It was so awesome to see everyone was included and thanks again to everyone for understanding and patience.

Looking forwards to the next one in the near future!

oh wow this post number is #717

 

[craven morehead]

Yes, see you in Adelaide.

Really, I would have thought AFF has a lot of pie-chasers!

Maybe a few Pie-Eaters

 

[straitman]

I'll bring the NM Bus

We will believe it when we see it!

 

[RooFlyer]

I'll bring the NM Bus

Great! But don't feel obliged to dress up, on the road to Paraburdoo (or Kal)