Ideas for AFF Gathering #7

[JessicaTam]

Could always work a brewery in

Mildura has a brewery!

 

[JohnK]

Could always work a brewery in

Not that exciting. Didn't we go to one in Hobart?

 

[oz_mark]

Not that exciting. Didn't we go to one in Hobart?

Who knows? That was one of the ozFests I missed.

 

[JohnK]

I think we went to the Cascade brewery for a tour and then dinner.

 

[anat0l]

Who knows? That was one of the ozFests I missed.

I think we went to the Cascade brewery for a tour and then dinner.

Yes, JohnK is right - we went to the Cascade brewery where we got a tour, a small play performance and dinner. (That was my first OzFest - photos if you follow my FT Gallery link).

Hobart is a nice enough place; picturesque. I haven't been to Mt Wellington, if that is event-worthy.

 

[Jkyn]

Hobart has MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), comes with its own winery and I think brewery.


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[DeKa]

Hobart has MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), comes with its own winery and I think brewery.


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Moo Brew. Mmmm.

 

[Deleted member]

Have you considered " A Common Ground" event. As organised by the Gourmet Farmer?

 

[coolumbla]

Hmmmm
doesnt look like wga will get many votes despite our brewery and vineyards and our old courses!

We do have a distinct lack of a QP though

c

 

[penegal]

Some more interesting ideas... I am happy to go anywhere that has been mentioned.

I wonder whether we should do a separate smaller food & wine do for the enthusiasts in the other end of the year (say March/April), and then the big flagship do in October.

Just a thought...

 

[drron]

I certainly have been thinking of a Sunshine Coast meeting but seeing the last was on the Gold Coast probably not next year.
We do have an air museum-
QAM - Site Plan

There is a brewery for JohnK-
Australian Beer online at www.brew.com.au | Beer ratings, Australian Beer info, Australian breweries details, brewing, beers, brewery and more!

There is also the SQ pilot training done by this group-
Aviation by Aeromil Pacific - Aircraft Sales - Aircraft Maintenance

And of course always the ability to do a charter flight to hervey Bay/Fraser Island or whale watching in season.

There appear to be a few of us here so hopefully someone has contacts.

 

[markis10]

I certainly have been thinking of a Sunshine Coast meeting but seeing the last was on the Gold Coast probably not next year.
We do have an air museum-
QAM - Site Plan

Soon to be the new home of Pig A8-129 http://www.qam.com.au/aircraft/f-111/A8-129-37.htm

 

[oz_mark]

I wonder whether we should do a separate smaller food & wine do for the enthusiasts in the other end of the year (say March/April), and then the big flagship do in October.

Doesn't that more or less happen now?

A Flagship Do, plus various special interest group things along the way?

 

[anat0l]

Some more interesting ideas... I am happy to go anywhere that has been mentioned.

I wonder whether we should do a separate smaller food & wine do for the enthusiasts in the other end of the year (say March/April), and then the big flagship do in October.

Just a thought...

Doesn't that more or less happen now?

A Flagship Do, plus various special interest group things along the way?

I agree with oz_mark.

Don't get me wrong, I mean not to add negativity or cynicism at all. That said, the "flagship" do's do tend to have some other physical (or sightseeing) activities, but that doesn't mean that in cases those activities can't involve food or wine, which is just particular of a region (e.g. Barossa). At the same time, notwithstanding popularity or what not, the fact that an area like the Barossa might not have much to do in terms of non-food or non-alcohol-related activities shouldn't auto-disqualify it.

I know all these considerations are going to add to the inevitable big tete-a-tete in deciding a place later, which I know caused several headaches last time before an executive decision was made to settle with the Gold Coast. So apologies in advance for my contribution...

I will maintain though that no matter the location selected, there will need to be a local champion (or someone willing to travel that much to scope things out).

 

[penegal]

Doesn't that more or less happen now?

A Flagship Do, plus various special interest group things along the way?

Don't get me wrong, I mean not to add negativity or cynicism at all. That said, the "flagship" do's do tend to have some other physical (or sightseeing) activities, but that doesn't mean that in cases those activities can't involve food or wine, which is just particular of a region (e.g. Barossa). At the same time, notwithstanding popularity or what not, the fact that an area like the Barossa might not have much to do in terms of non-food or non-alcohol-related activities shouldn't auto-disqualify it.

I see where you are coming from - I guess my question is do we have enough interest for a specific food and wine focused do, which would probably then deserve a new thread...

I will maintain though that no matter the location selected, there will need to be a local champion (or someone willing to travel that much to scope things out).

I agree, there should be someone to 'own' the organisation, and it helps if they live there, or have at least been there before

 

[anat0l]

I see where you are coming from - I guess my question is do we have enough interest for a specific food and wine focused do, which would probably then deserve a new thread...

Maybe, but then, as you say, that would be a dedicated do. That said delicately, it wouldn't be a food and wine do for the sake of a food and wine do, but it would just be that the timing or interest would work for that. It doesn't necessarily need to be regular; it's just that, like many do's on AFF (whether they are recurring or 'once-off'), some do's fall together as a result of interest. If it so happens that the "flagship" AFF do has a food and wine focussed activity, that is only by virtue that it would be a distinctive activity for the do location, not that we really need (or must avoid) it for the event.

That is why I'm probably not too particular on location; I'm more interested about the organisation of it, because having organised an AFF Gathering before, and probably not done too well on the non-dining event side of things, finding, organising and coordinating activities is not a trivial task at all. Lack of chain hotels is also not a limiting factor for me

It should probably be kept carefully in mind that a good handful of locations will require either a bus or fleet of cars to get to and from activity sites (again, not a limiting factor, but something for the organising party to ponder).

That all said, if I had to make the most diplomatic choice, I'd probably be siding with Hobart. I know a few people have been to Hobart before, either for OzFest, or just as a pique of interest, but I frequently concede that I can't be so fussy about location choice just because I've been there (or perhaps that the activities chosen may not be my cup of tea), and instead focus that I'm enjoying activities in the company of like-minded people. So I'm happy to suggest a cruise around Peppermint Bay, day trip to Port Arthur, hike at Mount Wellington.... probably not too many aviation related activities there (unless we try and do something related to the Antarctica operations), but definitely some good activities to enjoy with good company.

I have to admit there are some other suggestions (Sunshine Coast, Mildura....) but I'm not too familiar what to do at those locations, so that's the only reason I can't suggest them.

 

[JohnK]

I certainly have been thinking of a Sunshine Coast meeting but seeing the last was on the Gold Coast probably not next year.

Why not? It is as good a place as any and if someone decides that they want to include a winery tour for the day those staying behind are not bored sitting around doing nothing.

 

[docjames]

/Left field/
In the tradition of LA status run etc, would Akl/Chc/Wel be an option?

Chc could certainly use more visitors....

 

[tuapekastar]

I have been to 5,

Oz_mark has been to all 6. :idea:

I think it should be held in Queensland so Sam can organise next years as well.

The odd other member may have been to all 6.

To be fair, AFF 2 in ADL was quite small. The group enjoyed McLaren Vale during that Gathering.

There's a good case to recommend ADL again by virtue that hopefully we'll have a higher crowd there to actually do justice to say we had an AFF Do there.

That said, it'll be interesting to see if we can get company reps to ADL, since it's a non-trivial cost and 2 hr flight from SYD. But it'd be cool to have, say, Red Roo joining us on a road trip through Barossa Valley. Besides, besides Yarra Valley and the Riverina, a lot of Qantas' cellar is from SA and Barossa, plus Maggie Beer is also in the same area.

Also, the big key for ADL is we need a local champion to help with organisation.....

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Quality over quantity. ADL was a most pleasant weekend.

/Left field/
In the tradition of LA status run etc, would Akl/Chc/Wel be an option?

Chc could certainly use more visitors....

Despite me being on record as saying exhaust major OZ locations first, I would be quite amenable to NZ (ZQN included).

 

[gwilli1]

Left field sounds good ... thats why i like the ideas of bypassing the capital cities appealing , most of us live in a capital city , so it becomes an adventure to look at a regional or possible NZ location ( considering how cheap TT fares are). To me Mildura, Alice Springs ,Wellington & Christchurch , all sound appealing and would have quiet a bit to offer a group for a few days.

/Left field/
In the tradition of LA status run etc, would Akl/Chc/Wel be an option?

Chc could certainly use more visitors....