AFF Gathering #19 in ADL on 30 October - 1 November 2026

[admin]

Save the date! The 2026 AFF annual member gathering will be in Adelaide from 30 October - 1 November 2026.

This event will include welcome drinks on Friday evening, a winery tour to McLaren Vale on Saturday, and a more formal dinner with a guest speaker on Saturday evening.

All AFF members and their friends & family are welcome to attend. Most people usually fly into the host city on Friday afternoon, and leave on Sunday afternoon. Of course, if you're an Adelaide local, the flying part is optional.

You can read more about the planned activities, dinner venues and costs and post #2 of this thread.

There is a $5 registration fee per participant, plus the cost of any activities and/or meals that you choose to join.

If you'd like to attend, keep an eye out for updates on this thread - and feel free to post your status (see below for more info)! Once you've booked flights and accommodation, please also post your flight/hotel details in this thread!

For those unfamiliar with the AFF terminology:

• "Platinum" means your attendance is confirmed and you 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 entire AFF team looks forward to seeing you in October in Adelaide!

---

Registrations are now open!
Please register & pay here​

 

[admin]

Gathering Schedule

Here's an overview of the activities and dinners that will be held throughout the weekend. We will update this post with more details closer to the event.

Friday 30 October - Welcome Drinks

Join us on Friday evening for a casual dinner and drinks from 6.30pm at Seven Stars Hotel. This is a pay-as-you-go event and you can order food & drinks directly from the bar.

Saturday 31 October - McLaren Vale Winery Experience

Join us on Saturday for a memorable trip to two exquisite wineries in McLaren Vale. The bus will depart from Pullman Adelaide Hotel at 9.15am and return at 4pm - giving you enough time to rest and freshen up before dinner.

The first stop will be d'Arenberg, where our group will have a private hosted tasting experience in the d'Arenberg Cube. You'll get to try a hand picked selection of delicious d'Arenberg wines, and tour the Alternate Realities Museum.

We'll then head to Wirra Wirra Vineyards, where our group will enjoy a private tasting experience in the vineyard's original ironstone cellars - accompanied by bread, dukkah and olive oil.

This will be followed by lunch at Wirra Wirra's restaurant, Harry's Deli. There is a shared, seasonal set menu which looks really good. The restaurant will also fully cater to any dietary requirements - just be sure to let us know when you register for the gathering. Drinks and desserts are not included but can be optionally purchased directly from the restaurant with lunch.

The cost for this experience is $195 including bus transportation, all wine tastings and lunch.

Saturday 31 October - Dinner

As per past AFF gatherings, the Saturday night dinner is the main event. This year, it will be held at Astor Hotel from 6.30pm-10pm, where we have a private function room booked.

The cost for dinner is $70, which includes a 3-course meal. You will be able to select your preferred entree, main course and dessert when you register for the gathering. Drinks will be available to purchase directly from the bar on the night. (Note that this venue does not permit BYO, unfortunately.)

Sunday 1 November - Optional Activity

The organisers aren't planning any official gathering activities on Sunday, however some AFF members may wish to join the Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour tour from 11am-12.30pm.

This is a public tour with a maximum capacity of 30 people. The cost is $29 for adults. If you'd like to join this, please purchase your own ticket on the Adelaide Oval website: Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour - Adelaide Oval Tours & Museums Reservations

 

[admin]

The following AFF members have confirmed their attendance at this event. Please note that only members who have registered and paid can be marked as "Yes" for the activities.

Username	Friday Dinner	Winery Experience	Saturday Dinner	Arriving Flight	Hotel	Departing Flight
@WilsonM	Yes	Yes	Yes		Pullman
@Mattg	Yes	Yes	Yes		Pullman
@RooFlyer	Yes	Yes	Yes		Sofitel
@PrezRegan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri QF1977 15:25		Sun QF1976 16:20
@I love to travel	Yes		Yes		With family
@Doug_Westcott	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri QF683 13:40	Pullman	Mon QF686 14:25
@JessicaTam	Yes	Yes	Yes		InterContinental
@Tacce73	Yes		Yes		Pullman
@Jacques Vert	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri QF691	Quest on Franklin	Sun QF2589
@Gem56	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri QF691	Quest on Franklin	Sun QF2589
@straitman	Yes		Yes	Fri VA229	InterContinental	Sun VA218
@somebol	Yes	Yes	Yes	Thu VA217 10:00	Sofitel	Sun VA580 17:15
@NM	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri QF1983 14:20	InterContinental	Sun QF1278 13:20
@n7of9	Yes		Yes	Fri QF735 11:50	Oaks Embassy	Sun QF740 12:35
@Dantas	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri QF683 13:40	Pullman	Sun QF678
@Askance	Yes		Yes
@Human		Yes	Yes	Fri VA249		Sun VA226
@Sprucegoose	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri VA219	Sofitel	Sun VA236
@Hvr	Yes		Yes	QF685 15:45	Holiday Inn Express	QF686 14:25
@MG1	Yes		Yes
@serfty	Yes		Yes	Fri VA227		Sun VA234
@Ade	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri QF675	Pullman	Sun QF1976
@jagungal		Yes	Yes	Fri QF749		Sun QF744
@bPeteb	Yes	Yes	Yes	QF1935 15:25	Ibis	QF1936 14:10
@bAlt	Yes	Yes	Yes	QF1935 15:25	Ibis	QF1936 14:10
@hutch			Yes	Sat QF1975	Sofitel	Mon QF2550
@goldenhorn	Yes		Yes	QF735 11:50		QF742 14:30
@goldenhorn +1	Yes		Yes	QF735 11:50		QF742 14:30
@gwilli1	Yes	Yes	Yes	Fri VA418 13:55	Pullman	Sun VA431 17:05
@jswong	Yes	Yes	Yes	Thu QF737 13:45	Pullman/Sofitel	Wed NZ192
@Kev66				VA722		VA721
@CMA222		Yes	Yes	QF737 13:45	Playford	QF742 14:30
@CMA222 +1		Yes	Yes	QF737 13:45	Playford	QF742 14:30
@Port Power	Yes	Yes	Yes	Thu QF884 14:35	Pullman	Sun QF889 15:25
@XavierP			Yes
@jumpjam	Yes		Yes	Fri VA223	Peppers Waymouth	Sun VA425
@DC-Treks	Yes		Yes
@SRC-Treks	Yes		Yes
@joelby	Yes	Yes	Yes
@VPS	Yes		Yes

 

[admin]

Here are the menu options for dinner on Saturday night (each person can choose 1 entree, main course and dessert):

BREAD
Selection of Artisan Rolls & Butter

ENTREE
Arrabbiata Arancini with Reggiano & Aioli
Spiced Lamb Koftas with Green Leaf Salad, Mint & Coriander Yoghurt (gf)
Salt ’n’ Pepper Squid with Green Leaf Salad, Lemon & Aioli
Whipped Ricotta & Beetroot Jam Bruschetta with Toasted Walnuts (v)

MAIN
Grain Fed Porterhouse (Cooked Medium) with Charred Broccolini, Kipfler Potatoes & Red Wine Jus(gf)
Chicken Roulade with Prosciutto, Scamorza, Basil Pesto & Parmesan Mash
Atlantic Salmon with Broccolini, Piccata Butter & Kipfler Potatoes (gf)
Baked Eggplant Parmigiana with Sweet Potatoes & Green Leaf Salad (v)(gf)(vga)

DESSERT
Coconut & Lime Panna Cotta with Pineapple & Rum Salsa & Coulis
Brandy Snap Basket with Lemon Sorbet, Macerated Berries & Mint (gf, Vg)
Biscoff Brownie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream & Biscoff Crumb

 

[zig]

Golf at this stage. Love Adelaide

 

[NM]

Platinum.

 

[RB001]

Golf at this stage. Love Adelaide

I don't think they've announced activities yet...

 

[kpc]

Damn! Just 2 days ago, I booked a trip to Palau which covers these dates

Bronze.

 

[CaptJCool]

Play plat seeing I can fly in from home

 

[Human]

Hmmm. Maybe silver?

Many Melburnians (including me) take the Monday before the Melbourne Cup (that’s 2 November in 2026) off and make it a 4-day long weekend. I just might need to put my marriage before AFF and sadly give this one a miss! But I’m not slamming the door shut just yet…

 

[zig]

Golf at this stage. Love Adelaide

Damn auto correct Gold, but maybe some golf as well.

 

[Bindibuys]

Bugger!!! Bronze.
We are having our combined birthday party that weekend. (the big one got canx by Covid) and we still have all 6 crates of Halloween gear for decorations.
So we are calling it 60 plus GST Party.

 

[craven morehead]

Would like to think I'm Gold. Need to check my roster.

 

[RooFlyer]

Gold (yet to confirm flights). Timing-wise, it's going to work in very well as my international flight departure port for my November Med cruises.

 

[Pushka]

Gold (yet to confirm flights). Timing-wise, it's going to work in very well as my international flight departure port for my November Med cruises.

Gold here. Just need to confirm our Police course 50th reunion date.

 

[FishFood]

Gold - fortunately haven't planned that far ahead so I'll put it on the calendar

 

[NM]

Hmmm. Maybe silver?

Many Melburnians (including me) take the Monday before the Melbourne Cup (that’s 2 November in 2026) off and make it a 4-day long weekend. I just might need to put my marriage before AFF and sadly give this one a miss! But I’m not slamming the door shut just yet…

+1s are very welcome

 

[PrezRegan]

Platinum - just booked flights
Arriving 30 Oct at 15:25 on QF1977
Departing 01 Nov at 16:20 on QF1976

 

[QF WP]

Colour me Gold and Mrs QF WP Silver.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Colour me Gold there is another event that might clash so hopefully its the weekend after.