AFF Gathering #14 in CBR on 4 - 6 December 2020

Added to Calendar: 04-12-20, 05-12-20, 06-12-20

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**This event is now fully booked! For those who've already registered, this thread contains important information & updates about the weekend. We look forward to seeing you soon.**

Canberra has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2020, occurring over the weekend of the 4th to 6th December; this will be the second time the event has been held in the final month of the year. The average temperature range for December is 11.9ºC to 26.3ºC. The average rainfall is 53.2mm with 7 rainy days. It is Australia's eighth most populous city (as of June 2018) representing 1.83% of Australia.

Canberra has previously played host to an Annual Gathering, as the fifth city chosen in the fourth year (2011). On that occasion, 13 attendees made the journey. Canberra is not the first city to play host twice, with Melbourne previously taking that honour as the first (2008) and eighth (2014); Adelaide as the second (2008) and twelfth (2018); and more recently Sydney as the third (2009) and thirteenth (2019).

Helping to organise this year will be @support & @Mattg.

If you're attending, we recommend downloading the Check in CBR App. Due to COVID-19, please be mindful to practice good hygiene and social distancing where possible. If you are unwell, please do not attend.




Schedule

Here is the itinerary for the weekend:

Friday 4th December
To start the weekend, we'll be holding a dinner at Southern Cross Yacht Club, Yarralumla. You are welcome to arrive between 6.30pm-7.30pm for drinks at the bar, and dinner will be served from 7.30pm-9.30pm. There will be a fixed 3-course menu (we can account for dietary requirements), and the cost is $59 per person. Drinks will be available for purchase from the bar on the night.

Saturday 5th December - morning activities

Saturday Activity Option 1 - Parliament House tour

We'll meet at Parliament House and join a 30-minute public tour of the building. There is no cost for this activity - you'll just need to make your own transport arrangements to/from Parliament House. You must be at Parliament House by 10.15am, in preparation for the tour which will take place from 10.30-11am. We'll meet outside the main entrance, before the security checkpoint.

Saturday Activity Option 2 - visit to Australian War Memorial
Join other AFF members for a visit to Australian War Memorial. Please note that tours are not currently available, so you'll be visiting as a guest. There is no cost for this activity - you'll just need to make your own transport arrangements to/from Australian War Memorial. Meet outside the main entrance at 11.30am.

Saturday Activity Option 3 - Full-day winery tour
This will be a full-day winery tour with a maximum of 10 people, running from around 9.30am until approximately 3.30pm. You'll be picked up from Pepper's Gallery Hotel in Civic in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle and visit 3 wineries in the Canberra region. The cost is $190/person and includes lunch at Olleyville as well as a professional guide for the day. Note: This tour includes visits to wineries in NSW and it is recommended that you eat breakfast before joining the tour.

Saturday 5th December - evening
On Saturday evening, we'll be holding a dinner at Kingston Hotel. Before the dinner, there will be an optional one-hour Frequent Flyer Points Masterclass + Q&A session hosted by AFF editor Matt Graham from 6-7pm. This event is sponsored by Frequent Flyer Solutions and attendance is free, but you'll need to register.

After this, the main dinner will commence at 7.15pm. There will be a guest speaker at this dinner. Members will be able to order and pay for food & drinks on the night - no pre-payment is required.

Sunday 6th December
On Sunday we're offering a sightseeing tour to some of Canberra's best outdoor spots.

Sunday Tour - Mt Ainslie, Lanyon Homestead & Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Departing from Pepper's Hotel at 9.45am on Sunday morning, we'll visit Mt Ainslie for panoramic views over Canberra before heading to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in the south of Canberra, where you'll see some of the local wildlife including koalas and we'll stop for a short walk. Along the way, we'll visit Lanyon Homestead for a homestead heritage tour and lunch at the Barracks Café. We'll return to the airport by 4.45pm & the city at around 5pm. The cost is $80/person excluding lunch. This tour will remain entirely within the ACT and we recommend bringing a bottle of water with you.
 
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Another consideration is that are velocity waiving cancellation fees? 4500 points is not really that much though.

I believe both QF and VA are waiving change/cancel fees on reward bookings at the moment.
 
I believe both QF and VA are waiving change/cancel fees on reward bookings at the moment.
No fees for cancellation of Velocity redemption bookings until 31 October only:
 
No fees for cancellation of Velocity redemption bookings until 31 October only:

Ah, yes, you're right. Changes are still free until 31 January, but not cancellations.

I can't keep up with all the changes! :eek:
 
Virgin has a Cheers to 20 Years sale on until 27 October:
 
I have some more information about the Saturday winery tour.

The pickup will be from Pepper's Gallery Hotel in Civic (several tour participants have indicated they are staying at or near that hotel) at 9.30am. The tour will return to the same place at approximately 3.30pm. (You'll then have a few hours to rest before dinner.)

There will be 3 cellar door tastings and lunch at Olleyville restaurant at Shaw Vineyard Estate, Murrumbateman, which is included in the price.

As it looks like we should get 10 people for this tour, we may be able to reduce the price to $190/person. (I was originally quoted $225/person.) I will confirm this before opening payments.

I still have 1 spot available on the winery tour if anyone else would like to join.
 
...and just like that, the winery tour is now FULL!

We still have a few spots available on the Sunday tour.
 
Just come back from surgeon need some minor surgery and you guessed it 2 days before event so need to withdraw my EOI. Bugger. Will be right for Mel dinner though
 
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Just come back from surgeon need some minor surgery and you guessed it 2 days before event so need to withdraw my EOI. Bugger. Will be right for Mel dinner though

That's a shame! But thank you for letting me know so quickly.
 
Don't worry, I am sure there is an article somewhere on AFF that sumarises them for you. ;)

Good idea ;)


It was probably about time I put together a summary of all the info in one place. Although, it seems I'm not the only one confused. Even the QF & VA websites have conflicting information. 😲
 
I can now confirm that the Sunday tour will go ahead. We'll meet at Pepper's Hotel at 9.45am. The bus will return to the airport at 4.45pm and Pepper's at 5pm.

We've now pretty much finalised plans for the weekend, so I will shortly open up payments for those who've expressed interest in coming. I'll have more details about this shortly, but as there is limited capacity I will give everyone who's already expressed interest in attending a chance to pay & reserve their spots before opening up the waitlists for the sold-out activities. We're also considering whether any special arrangements can be made for Victorians who are not yet sure whether they'll be able to attend.
 
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It has been announced today the Australia & India will be playing a One day cricket match on Fri 4th Dec & a T20 match on Sun 6th Dec at Manuka Oval , so those that haven't booked accomodation , might be advised to get in quick before prices go up. I have just booked Rydges.
 
It has been announced today the Australia & India will be playing a One day cricket match on Fri 4th Dec & a T20 match on Sun 6th Dec at Manuka Oval , so those that haven't booked accomodation , might be advised to get in quick before prices go up. I have just booked Rydges.

Just having a look into this, and it looks like the games in CBR are on 2 & 4 December. But the advice to book accomodation ASAP still applies!
 
Just having a look into this, and it looks like the games in CBR are on 2 & 4 December. But the advice to book accomodation ASAP still applies!

news.com.au all over the place in their article ( no surprise there) The Indian summer is FINALLY locked in — and a Boxing Day Test with fans is on the menu

"The two sides will then travel to the nation’s capital, with Manuka Oval to host the ODI series decider on December 4 and the opening two Twenty20s on December 6 and 8"

and then this ......

ODI SERIES

Friday, November 27, 2:40pm at the SCG (D/N)

Sunday, November 29, 2:40pm at the SCG (D/N)

Wednesday, December 2, 2:40pm at Manuka Oval, Canberra (D/N)

T20 SERIES

Friday, December 4, 7:10pm at Manuka Oval, Canberra (Night)

Sunday, December 6, 7:10pm at SCG , Canberra (Night)

Tuesday, December 8, 7:10pm at SCG, Canberra (Night)
 
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I have two hotels booked - the Rydges at $106 a night and the Ovolo Nishi at $379 for two nights

1 x Snug Sun
Qantas Luxury Offer with Bonus Points
Stay 2 nights and enjoy: Continental Breakfast; Minibar replenished daily; Social Hour Drink; Midday late checkout & Bicycle Hire
Inclusions: WiFi Included, Breakfast Included, Late Checkout Included​

I am about to cancel these because I can't see myself getting there.

I'm not sure if I can change the names but if these prices are cheaper than anything currently available let me know and I'll see what I can do
 
I have two hotels booked - the Rydges at $106 a night and the Ovolo Nishi at $379 for two nights

1 x Snug Sun
Qantas Luxury Offer with Bonus Points
Stay 2 nights and enjoy: Continental Breakfast; Minibar replenished daily; Social Hour Drink; Midday late checkout & Bicycle Hire
Inclusions: WiFi Included, Breakfast Included, Late Checkout Included​

I am about to cancel these because I can't see myself getting there.

I'm not sure if I can change the names but if these prices are cheaper than anything currently available let me know and I'll see what I can do

@VPS If the Rydges booking is refundable , I will be interested as my travel is uncertain at this time because of border restrictions for Victorians. Thanks
 
@VPS If the Rydges booking is refundable , I will be interested as my travel is uncertain at this time because of border restrictions for Victorians. Thanks

It is fully flexible until 24 hours before hand but I would probably like to give them at least a weeks notice. I will not cancel this one until I hear from you then. If I haven't heard by the 25th November I will cancel
 
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