AFF Gathering #8 at MEL on 24 - 26 October

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Announcement - Event Updates:

We have enough to people to qualify for the group rate for the river cruise, meaning it will reduce from $22 to $20 per person. (It's actually $19.80, but I will collect 80 cents towards the RAAF museum donation).

We have arranged a bus on Saturday afternoon (Williamstown to RAAF to City Hotel). The exact cost will vary depending on how many actually attend, but I will collect $20 prepayment per person. This also includes a donation to the museum (e.g. entry is by donation).

Lunch in Williamstown will be at your own expense.

The Main Do Dinner remains a $60 per head charge.


Therefore for an AFF user to attend all of the prepaid events the cost be $100 per person. Please bring cash to other events to split the bill (small notes preferred).



Announcement - How to register and pay:

Official registration will be by the following Google form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1M84QADP70W4iQ1tcvelyOv41kBHRyBn6jmmXARBUJ4M/viewform

If you have already made your intentions clear on the thread, please also fill in the form, so we have the information in one place.
If you make a mistake or your plans change please PM me, and I will update your registration.

Bank details removed.

If you have any issues with making this payment (e.g. you don't have an Australian bank account), please PM me.

All payments comply with the guidelines, listed here. Specifically,

  • The payment will be for the Saturday cruise and/or Saturday bus/RAAF Museum and/or Saturday dinner.
  • There wont be any administrative charges as it'll be into a bank account administered by myself. The same account was used for AFF#6 on the Gold Coast.
  • In the event of a cancellation by the organisers, a transfer back to the member will happen when their bank details have been provided and as quickly as possible, most likely the following week.
  • In the event of a cancellation by the member, a refund will depend on whether or not the activity is refundable (a non-refundable activity could be the Saturday cruise combo for example).
  • In the unlikely event there are excess funds following the weekend, those will be donated to charity.

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Following the dates poll, October 24 - 26 was chosen as the date for the next gathering.

As with the previous 7 AFF Gatherings, the event is open to all, and is a great way for new and old members alike to experience the true community spirit that makes AFF what it is. Events, watering holes, restaurants, golf, art, accommodation, flights... these will all be discussed to extract the most value from both the weekend, and the journeys to and from it from across the country, and maybe even the world.

Please speak up if you think there's something we must experience in and around the Melbourne area. We'll be happy to hear your ideas and perhaps even include them.

I know, with the communities guidance, we'll all have a fabulous weekend!

Let the bookings commence!

Committee:

  • penegal
  • samh004
 
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Schedule

A number of the Saturday activities will require minimum numbers to get off the ground or trigger discounts, so please sign up ASAP.

Friday
6pm - Welcome Drinks at European Bier Cafe and AER bar, 120 Exhibition St, Melbourne
These two venues are essentially the same. The European Bier Cafe is located on the lower floors, and the AER bar is the open air rooftop bar. If the weather is good we will be upstairs in the rooftop bar, but if it is raining we will be on one of the other floors. Keep an eye on the thread for our location.
Cost: Drinks at bar prices
HOME - European Bier Cafe
HOME - Aer Bar


8pm - Dinner at Sichuan House, 22-26 Corrs Lane, Melbourne
Sichuan House is something of an underground Melbourne institution. It is hidden away down an alley, but once you find this place you keep coming back. As the name suggests this restaurant specialises in Sichuanese cuisine (e.g SPICY Chinese food). However rest assured, there are some non-spicy options (tea-smoked duck, dumplings, noodles, veg, etc). If you don't like spicy food please speak up during ordering process!
You can BYO bottled wine, but I recommend washing the spice down with a Tsingtao.
www.sichuanhouse.com.au
Cost: $20-$50 depending on exact combination of food & drinks. Pay on the night. BRING CASH!

Saturday
8am - Optional morning walk
For early risers I am happy to lead a walk around 'the tan' and the Royal botanic gardens just south of the city. The area is quite poplar with joggers, however I will do the circuit at a leisurely pace, and retire for coffee before meeting for the river cruise.


10am - Meet at Southgate Promenade, Berth 5 for River Cruise to Williamstown (look for "Cruise C" on their website)
Please arrive at 10am for the 10:30am river cruise from the city down to Williamstown. The meeting point in on Southgate Promenade in front of the Southgate Plaza building. This is a really great way to see the city from a different perspective, and the cruise has some commentary along the way. Duration is approximately 1 hour.
https://www.melbcruises.com.au/index.php/cruises/
Cost: Tickets are $22 (or slightly less on group rate). Please do not book on their website, as I am trying to get the group rate. Prepayment will be required.

12pm - Lunch & exploring at Williamstown -
Williamstown has a lot of history and is now one of the most trendy suburbs of Melbourne. There are plenty of small shops to visit, and nice houses to admire in the area right near the ferry dock.
Lunch is TBC - It could be a BBQ in the park if the weather is good, otherwise we could go to the pub. Let me know if you have a preference for either.
Cost: TBC

2pm - Bus depart Williamstown for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Museum in Point Cook
- I will let straitman lead us here given he has flown several of the aircraft on display. Their website says "the birthplace of the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force, the museum tells one of Australia's most important aviation stories, that of the second oldest air force in the world."

The Museum is free to enter, but a donation is encouraged. We also need to get from Williamstown to the museum, and then back to the city, which means some kind of bus is required. Depending on numbers we have a few options (minibus / big bus / etc), and I shall updated the thread once we have a better grasp on numbers.
www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/
Cost: TBC - Likely to be $20-30 contribution to bus and museum donation. Prepayment will be required.

NB: You will need a photo ID to gain access to the museum as it is attached to an active military base.

The bus will depart after 4:30pm to return to the city hotels.​

5pm - Free time / Relax / Hotel Lounges

7pm - Informal Pre Dinner drinks at "The Imperial" Hotel
Enjoy 1 or 3 convivial pre-dinner drinks at the Imperial Hotel, 2-8 Bourke St, East Melb from 7pm - Pub in Melbourne | Function Venue Melbourne CBD | The Imperial Hotel :: Imperial Hotel - map here - 3 minute walk to Mezzo.

View attachment 36518


Main Do Dinner
8pm - Main Do Dinner at Mezzo, 35 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
This is the main event. Mezzo is an modern Australian/Italian restaurant at the top end of town. The atmosphere is casual, but the food maintains a high standard given the [all Italian] boys in the Kitchen. Our host Silvio runs a great place and nobody will go hungry.

Dinner will be a $60 fixed price 3 course menu, consisting of Shared Entrée, Pick your own Main (with shared sides for table) and Shared Dessert. This type of menu works really well with groups as you get to try many different tastes, but still have your own main course (we did a similar thing at the last do). Silvio is about to release a new seasonal menu, but our menu will be quite similar to this sample - http://118.88.25.169/~mezzobar/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2014-04-08_mezzo_group_menu2_50_60.pdf

Drinks are available at bar prices, and they are licensed for BYO wine at $10 corkage per bottle.
As such, I will bring some wine from the penegal cellar to share for those willing to tip in a small contribution to cover the corkage charge. Watch this space for details.

Cost: $60 for dinner, plus drinks at bar prices. Prepayment will be required.
Mezzo Bar | 35 Little Bourke Street



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We are also trying to round up some door prizes for the Saturday dinner, which will be drawn at random on the night for registered attendees.

Sunday


Option A - led by penegal & JohnK:
10am Golf at Melbourne Airport Golf Club, 96 Operations Rd, Tullamarine
We have space for up to 8 people. Tee Times: 10:30, 10:40
Cost: Green Fees - $27.50
Melbourne Airport Golf Club

Option B - led by straitman:
12pm/2pm Monthly MEL Yum Cha, Venue TBC
straitman to provide an update on location...
Cost: $15-$30. Pay on the Day. BRING CASH!

6pm Farewell dinner at TBC
We will have a Sunday night dinner for those in MEL. This will also be a combined birthday party for Hillary Clinton, AIRwin and mickeyc747. The restaurant I wanted to do this at has decided to stop trading on Sundays, so I am back to the drawing board, but will post shortly with a new plan.
Cost: TBC


Please sign up for events ASAP, and keep an eye on the thread for updates.
 
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Participants

Platinum (41) (yes)
penegal
samh004
chicka
kpc
mickeyc747
robbie1984
Doug_Westcott
Kiwi
straitman
Sue Oz
Hvr
Buzzard
Awesom Andy
Fifa +1
oz_mark +1
gwilli1
JohnK
Pooch
hossein_au
froggerADL
tuapekastar
[noparse]UpInTheAir:)[/noparse] +1
boomy
logos 01 +1
rainbowgirl +1
Lowjhg
QF WP
jojen +1
Jimmy124 +1
Sze_x2 +1
Cruiser Elite
serfty +1


Gold (6) (maybe)
Steady
Simo
Cool Cat Phil
Lawlass
Lisa10
slc767338


Silver (1) (maybe-not)
Princess Fiona


Bronze (18) (no)
blackcat20
bass_ke
PeteJ
harvyk
Jacques Vert
Anna
Newk
Grogan
Goodonya
TomVexille
coolumbla
amaroo +1
Bundy Bear
MartinMemo
SQ421
JessicaTam
Ewing
 
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Transport

Arriving
Friday
07:35 VA800 - gwilli1
14:05 QF433 - samh004, chicka
16:35 VA850 - Pooch
18:00 - hossein_au
23:25 VA354 - QF WP

Saturday
07:30 QF36 - Awesom Andy
07:50 QF1527 - Kiwi
09:15 - Buzzard
15:15 QF1504 - Fifa
16:10 QF815 - Lowjhg
17:35 QF - JohnK

Departing
Sunday
08:35 QF814 - Lowjhg
10:30 - hossein_au
18:05 QF632 - QF WP
20:00 VA - JohnK
21:00 VA897 - gwilli1

Monday
08:40 VA1316 - Fifa
11:00 VA837 - Pooch
11:30 JQ18 - Kiwi, mickeyc747, markis10
14:00 QF438 - samh004, chicka
 
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Accommodation

Grand Hotel
Awesom Andy



Hilton On The Park
kpc
Grogan
froggerADL
Fifa (Sunday)
Hvr (Saturday)
Buzzard (Saturday)
Pooch
serfty (Saturday)
QF WP (Saturday)



Hilton South Wharf
robbie1984
Doug_Westcott
Ewing
Lowjhg
Fifa (Saturday)
oz_mark (Saturday)
QF WP (Friday)
jojen +1



Novotel - Collins St
UpInTheAir[noparse]:)[/noparse]



Tune Hotel
samh004
chicka
Kiwi
 
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Re: Accommodation

Naturally I shall attend and assist with the organisation of events.
 
Re: Accommodation

I'm a definite no, in the US for business :-|
 
My plan is to make at least one of the events once they are organised. To be safe it would be best to put me down as a maybe.

What about a lunch at the Melbourne Zoo. I could bring the family and they could see some of the zoo while I slip away to the luncheon at the restaurant.

If not the zoo, how about another family friendly venue like Zagemes Reservoir for Saturday or Sunday lunch. They have a bistro, bar, pokies and a large playground for the children.
 
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What about a lunch at the Melbourne Zoo. I could bring the family and they could see some of the zoo while I slip away to the luncheon at the restaurant.

If not the zoo, how about another family friendly venue like Zagemes Reservour for Saturday or Sunday lunch. They have a bistro, bar, pokies and a large playground for the children.

Pretty sure the idea of draining Penegals wine collection a BYO lunch was raised, and given the fascination for Mongolia, a Mongolian BBQ dinner would seem apt!
 
I like the idea of draining penegal's wine collection :p

Would also be interested in a round of golf somewhere if others are keen.
 
I'm Silver at the moment but may just make a cancellable booking at HotP for Fri night - very hard for me to do as it's a weekend and I have fatherly responsibilities on weekends...
 
Re: Accommodation

Hi,

Having not been before can you tell us more about the format?

Is it done with seminars, presentations or just meet ups in the bar!

Thanks.
 
Re: Accommodation

dalereardon, this post in the previous years' thread (2013) should give you a good idea (as it was in HBA, you'll have an understanding of the organisation needed).
 
Having not been before can you tell us more about the format?

Is it done with seminars, presentations or just meet ups in the bar!

In the past these events have tended to be quite casual in nature.

We meet up, talk shop, enjoy some good food and drink, then also do a few group activities. Past activities have included golf, art galleries, boat trips, airline tours, sightseeing, etc. It's more of a holiday than a serious convention, however there are some who have suggested more formal sessions in the past.
 
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Unfortunately bronze guys, will also be in the US, will be midway over the pacific on the 24th!
 
Re: Participants

Reserved for Participants.

Platinum (yes)
penegal
samh004
markis10
TomVexille


Gold (maybe)
rainbowgirl


Silver (maybe-not)
QF WP


Bronze (no)
blackcat20
bass_ke

Colour me Platinum the 26th is my Birthday
 
Re: Participants

Bronze (no)
blackcat20
bass_ke

I'll be off to console myself with a bottle of Bolly... J class to the US won't be so bad either, so at least I will actually be flying somewhere that weekend.
 
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