AFF Gathering #15 in NTL on 21 – 23 October 2022

​

Newcastle has been chosen as the AFF Annual Gathering destination for 2022 (postponed from 2021), occurring over the weekend of the 21st to 23rd 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 make it known 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 21st 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 22nd 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 Cricketers Arms. There is a cash bar. The special guest is a local Newcastle breakfast DJ.

Sunday 23rd October​

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

Click HERE to Register!!​

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	Fighter World	Departure Details
Bindibuys	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	Limousine
Bindibuys +1	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	Limousine
Hvr	21/10 QF1596	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
drron	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Limousine
mrs.dr.ron	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	23/10 Limousine
Doug_Westcott	21/10 VA1591	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	24/10 VA1592
serfty	20/10 QF1598	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
zig	Friday only	Local	No	No
kpc	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Limousine
kpc +1	Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Limousine
Mattg	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 FC208
samh004	21/10 QF2421	Novotel	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF1946
FishFood	21/10 QF1948	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF1599
Fifa	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	Limousine
Fifa +1	21/10 Limousine	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	Limousine
straitman	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	24/10 VA1594
Sue Oz	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	24/10 VA1594
straitman +1	Sat Dinner Only	N/A	No	No	TBA Limousine
kangarooflyer88	21/10 Train	Ibis Budget	Yes	Yes	23/10 QF
Eija	21/10 QF1596	TBA	No	Yes	23/10 QF1599
QFWP	22/10 VA1102	Holiday Inn Express	No	Yes	23/10 VA1109
Bundy Bear	21/10 VA932 then Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	23/10 JQ455
Matt_01	21/10 QF1948	TBA	Yes	Interested	23/10 QF1949
Jacques Vert	21/10 Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Train
Gem56	21/10 Train	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23/10 Train
Sprucegoose	21/10 VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	Yes	24/10 VA1594
Exceladdict	Friday only
Aeolus	Friday TBA	Holiday Inn Express	No	No	Sunday TBA
sharpinjr	Limousine	Local	No	Yes	Limousine
sharpinjr + 1	Limousine	Local	No	Yes	Limousine
admin	21 Oct VA1593	Holiday Inn Express	Yes	No	23 Oct VA1594
Princess Fiona	Limousine	Local	No	No	Limousine
CMA222			Yes	No
CMA222 +1			Yes	No
CaptJCool			Yes	Yes
CBR_Flyer	Friday		No	Yes

 

[justinbrett]

No, it is a bus service #130 - not that frequent but can work for me,

And just five minute walk from Newcastle interchange to HIX.

You can also get the 136 from NTL to Stockton Wharf which connects to the ferry (and then light rail if needed). Quite a pleasant way to travel especially if you miss the 130.

I’ll keep an eye out

for you

should your flight run late, it appears there’s services at 1.45, 2.15, 3.15 (arrives 5.49) 3.50, 4.20, 4.35, 4.50, 5.04, 5.20, 5.34, 5.50, 6.20, 7.15

Make sure you look at the arrival times - although the trains are half hourly, one is express and the other is all stations. IMO it’s much better to wait for the express, which is much faster.

 

[Fifa]

Anyone else want to pre-order lunch for Sunday?
I need to give them list by tomorrow afternoon.

We'll just wing it and have coffee/milkshake and muffin etc. thanks

 

[Mattg]

Anyone else want to pre-order lunch for Sunday?
I need to give them list by tomorrow afternoon.

Will it be possible just to order something off the menu on Sunday?

 

[Bindibuys]

Will it be possible just to order something off the menu on Sunday?

Yes, we were just trying to help a small business be ready for a group of 26 hitting at once.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes, we were just trying to help a small business be ready for a group of 26 hitting at once.

They get hit with about 100 RAAFies all at once most lunch hours - they can handle it!

Not quite as busy any more, the previous cafe was evicted after many many years of service and was beloved by the RAAFies. They did move to Salt Ash after eviction but sadly I don't think they're in business any more.

All of their sandwiches were named after aircraft. The B-52 was legendary.

 

[Bindibuys]

They get hit with about 100 RAAFies all at once most lunch hours - they can handle it!

Not quite as busy any more, the previous cafe was evicted after many many years of service and was beloved by the RAAFies. They did move to Salt Ash after eviction but sadly I don't think they're in business any more.

All of their sandwiches were named after aircraft. The B-52 was legendary.

Kylie Gurr is the current operator. (well, who I am dealing with anyway)

 

[justinbrett]

Kylie Gurr is the current operator. (well, who I am dealing with anyway)

Yes I follow them on facebook. They work hard. They just replaced something special which can't be re-created.

They're a fine cafe, but not especially unique.

 

[Bindibuys]

Yes I follow them on facebook. They work hard. They just replaced something special which can't be re-created.

They're a fine cafe, but not especially unique.

Location, location, location, was the premise for picking it.

 

[Bindibuys]

To keep every one in the loop, here are the times for this weekend.

FRIDAY - arrive anytime at The Landing, get your own dinner and drinks. I should be there from around 6pm
SATURDAY - bus pickup at 9am for wine tour.
SATURDAY NIGHT - arrive 6:30pm, entree served at 7pm, guest speaker 7:15-8pm, Mains served 8pm Dessert served 8:45pm.
SUNDAY - bus pickup at 9am

Post automatically merged: Oct 20, 2022

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c70e891b10f25809eaee3fe/t/62be4e5900524f45403c0213/1656639065800/Landing+Menu+A5_0622.pdf

The Landing menu

 

[Bindibuys]

 

[kpc]

Could be a very wet WE!

Weather bureau warns of heavy rain that could flood Hawkesbury, Nepean rivers again

The bureau is warning that Sydney’s Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers may flood again after forecasting pointed to heavy rain over the Sydney basin on Friday and into the weekend.

www.smh.com.au

Newcastle local weather forecast | SMH Weather

Newcastle local weather forecast. 48 hour forecast, 7-day weather forecast, weather radar and rainfall from The Sydney Morning Herald

weather.smh.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

Location, location, location, was the premise for picking it.

No criticism at all, it's really the only thing within 5Km if visiting fighterworld on a Sunday (appart from Maccas).

Was just making a point that a - they do get quite busy during the week with the RAAF business, and b - the old cafe was so much better.

In fact during the week, the hack is to go to their sister cafe "Central Beans Cafe" in the aviation precinct on the airport side - the queues are much sorter than the fighterworld cafe. But won't be a problem on a Sunday.

 

[Matt_01]

I have done the flight check in so I guess that means the adventure has started, well almost

 

[sharpinjr]

To keep every one in the loop, here are the times for this weekend.

FRIDAY - arrive anytime at The Landing, get your own dinner and drinks. I should be there from around 6pm
SATURDAY - bus pickup at 9am for wine tour.
SATURDAY NIGHT - arrive 6:30pm, entree served at 7pm, guest speaker 7:15-8pm, Mains served 8pm Dessert served 8:45pm.
SUNDAY - bus pickup at 9am

Post automatically merged: Oct 20, 2022

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c70e891b10f25809eaee3fe/t/62be4e5900524f45403c0213/1656639065800/Landing+Menu+A5_0622.pdf

The Landing menu

Hi again Bindibuys

For those of us that have the pleasure of living locally, can I assume there is a singular bus pick up point at the Holiday Inn only on both days? We should just park somewhere and gather there to loiter about in the lobby?

 

[drron]

Well we are now halfway to NTL. But have stopped for the night.

 

[justinbrett]

You might need an umbrella (pic taken just now from my balcony - the strip of bars including The Landing is at the end of the road (the one in the pic is The Dockyard - The Landing is on the far end of the strip):



Sorry I won’t be attending, I’ll be on JQ484 this time tomorrow heading up to Brisbane.

 

[CMA222]

....
now on Friday my aim is to catch the 1.14pm service from Central to Newcastle (I think there’s half a. Dozen of us training up so I’m happy to do a mini meet up on the train (but probably not in the silent carriage) if that suits (aside the part of the trip up the Hawkesbury where the splendour of the journey needs a lil silent time)

cheers

I will be on the 1.14pm from Central and +1 will join at Hornsby. If the aim is to avoid a "Quiet car" (being my normal preference to get some peace and quiet) I will be on car 2 (from the front) upstairs. No compulsion to join.

 

[serfty]

You might need an umbrella (pic taken just now from my balcony - the strip of bars including The Landing is at the end of the road (the one in the pic is The Dockyard - The Landing is on the far end of the strip):

I'm due to land in a bit over two hours, hope it has cleared somewhat.

 

[CaptJCool]

I have done the flight check in so I guess that means the adventure has started, well almost

5 days and you’re flying again !

 

[justinbrett]

I'm due to land in a bit over two hours, hope it has cleared somewhat.

View attachment 304319

The bulk just just passed through the city (peaked when I took the photo), but still showering and dark. Will be like this all tomorrow I think.