Hi all, Regarding the Aussie GFM (I'm aware of the incorrectness of this term, but it's catchy.. we can give it a name of its own when we know where it is!), there doesn't seem to be much of a plan as yet. As such, I've decided to compile the relevant info, hopefully in a format slightly more useful to the (brave) undertaking organiser, and attendees.
This post is fairly long, so here's what's in it. - Aussie PDMLers (if you're missing please yell out) - Potential guests (see above.. and even if you've got the slightest inkling of a temptation to jump on a budget flight and come down here, that includes you too) - Suggestions (ideas where to go..) - Considerations (ands & buts) I know it's still a while away, but I think it's nice to have a plan to sit on. Best Regards, Ryan ------------------------------------ **Updated population down under: ------------------------------------ Kevin Waterson (Port Macquarie, NSW) Trevor Bailey (Grafton, NSW) Rob Studdert (Hurtsville, NSW) Bob Rapp (Melbourne, VIC) Paul Ewins (Melbourne, VIC) Leon Altoff (Melbourne, VIC) Tanya Mayer (3 hours West of Mackay in the middle of whoopwhoop, QLD) John Coyle (Brisbane, QLD) Ryan Lee (Brisbane, QLD) -------------------------- **Possible globetrotters: -------------------------- Stan Halpin (Western Missouri, USA) "My own schedule is still a bit up in the air. I am expecting a meeting in Adelaide, 31 Mar - 2 Apr, adjourning over the weekend, resuming in Canberra (?) 5-6 April. Assuming that this is in fact what comes down when our meeting host gets all of the proper decisions, the my wife and I will plan to arrive in Adelaide on about 26 March and spend the weekend in that general vicinity. The following weekend we'll move as called for by the meeting schedule, with time to ourselves along the way." John Francis (San Jose, California, USA) "One of these years I'm going to get over to Surfer's Paradise for the CART (now OWRS) race. When I do, I'll probably take an extra week or two of vacation." -------------------------------- **Suggestions to date (edited): -------------------------------- --------Tanya Mayer (QLD) What about somewhere like the Whitsundays? Great Barrier Reef and sunny Queensland weather might be able to entice some overseas people for a lovely holiday - I will be happy to organise it if it was in that area, as it isn't too far from me... VERY picturesque stuff - we could even do a charter flight to whitehaven beach, snorkelling, skydiving (COOL pics there!) etc. GREAT sunsets and landscape photography opportunities... See here for more details about that place - it is just DIVINE... http://www.seewhitsundays.com/w/islands/picture.asp?image=images/whitehaven2.jpg http://www.seewhitsundays.com/w/islands/picture.asp?image=images/beneteauatwhitehaven.jpg http://www.sailing-whitsundays.com/locations/listings/l0001.html http://www.geocities.com/awweir/Whitehaven_people.html http://www.whitsundaysonline.com/ Rob, I'm sure that G. would appreciate a tropical island getaway... (of course, the fact that the Whitsundays are only 4 hours from me, has nothing to do with my "bias"!) lol... Of course, at the opposite ends of the spectrum, there are places like the Hunter and Barossa Valleys, Blue Mountains etc. Another alternative could be the Maleny/Montville area on the Sunshine Coast - very picturesque. -----------Kevin Waterson (NSW) Or... if you would like a NSW based outing I could perhaps help. Among other things, I am the owner of some beachfront holiday units. see this link http://www.oceania.net I would be happy to provide accommodation for some PDMLers free of charge. Our accommodations are humble, but clean and comfortable. I can arrange day outings to national parks, fishing, boat tours, fishing, camping grounds, fishing, long sandy beaches, fishing airplane flights for photography, and if we can squeeze it in, perhaps a spot of fishing. The whales have already passed us on their way south for the summer but dolphins are plentyful. We are close (30 mins) to mountains and national parks where our local camera club likes to visit for fungus and macro works. The waterfalls are a little lacklustre due to the drought at the moment, but a 2 hour drive north puts us in nearby bellingen where they abound. I do alot of modelling portfolios so if we need models we should be able to get a few together. --------------Bob Rapp (VIC) Did she (Tanya) mention Wolf Fang park. I think it is a bunch of volcano plugs that have had the earth worn away. To me, it is the most exciting sight between Mackay and Emerald. If our mob can decide on a venue and, if there are enough, we could perhaps get the Pentax distributor CR Kennedy involved. Could be fun. ---------------Leon Altoff (VIC) We could try to compete with GFM by going somewhere like Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Wilson's Prom in Victoria or The Snowy Mountains in NSW. Or we could go for a complete opposite like the Whitsundays or the Outback. I personally would like to see some the gorges in the Northern Territory, but I'll get to that one day. My wife and I both like our comforts at night (we will go walking over slippery rocks for hours at a time in weather anywhere between it being 40 degrees and beating down sun to 2 degrees in a torrential downpour) so somewhere with a room with a bed and a shower is in our list. NSW school holidays begin 9th April 2004 and with Anzac Day holiday, end on 26 April 2004. We could get a week from 17th - 24th April 2004 This would allow those with children to make the journey also and gives 4 months to prepare. -------Stan Halpin (USA) The Barossa Valley? Kangaroo Island? --------John Coyle (QLD) There is a place I know of not far from Brisbane, in the Mt. Glorious/Mt. Nebo area which sleeps 8 easily. Nothing organised, though, and it is expensive to hire for a week-end - I think I just talked my way out of that one! **Considerations Leon Altoff (VIC) I'm busy at Easter and the week after, busy mid-March, and having just started a new job still working on convincing them to give me the time that I need off. I know this was my idea, but this is also the busy time from now until mid April. My first free dates are Anzac day weekend, though down here we don't get a public holiday on the Monday. After that any time except the weekend of the second Monday of the month is fine. Paul Ewins (VIC) I'll be in Canberra for the Anzac day weekend, probably arriving Thursday or Friday so that will cut down on the amount of time that I could stay. Still a possibility though. Bob Rapp (VIC) Holiday periods are great to set up for an outing but the only one that seems to fit the bill would be the June long weekend. Most of the other are too short or require family. Tanya Mayer (QLD) I have a wedding on the 10th April, but after that, my month looks surprisingly free THUS far... John Coyle (QLD) Aaaargh, bad timing Stan, I'll be in Hong Kong/China/Hong Kong between 20th. March and 10th. April!!! Ryan Lee (QLD) I've got an early 4 day camping/kayaking trip up at Cooloola around Australia Day (Jan 26th), but I'm guessing it's too early to affect anything. Also, for my sister's graduation I might be up in York, UK sometime in April or June. I'll keep you posted Stan Halpin (USA) I did a quick scan through the posts this evening, I missed the one that said where, but it looks like you've about settled on a meet later in April. Looks like I have to miss it. But maybe a smaller shorter gathering is feasible?
