ozstamps

There have been 9 successful OzFests so far - in Sydney, (twice) Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart Tasmania, Cairns Queensland, Adelaide South Australia, and Darwin Northern Territory, and Canberra in the ACT in May this year 2012.

There are near no other annual FT Doos outside the USA that have chalked up 10 years running AFAIK.

Polling of FT'ers who attended Canberra, and via many private emails seems to have decided that the very narrow runner up choice for 2012 shall be the venue in 2013.

PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

The location of which, for the benefit of our overseas members is shown below - right between nowhere and nowhere. .




Democracy rules supreme with all OzFest’s, and after some emails with Itsalongwaydown and serfty and Mwenenzi, I have started this thread today to officially kick off OzFest #10.

Hobart had 40 members signed up - pretty amazing seeing only one attending was a local, Cairns saw 59 turning up – just beating out by 1 the then previous record attendance of any OzFest - number #2 in Sydney - 58 attendees.

Adelaide was a little too big, with 75 attendees, but not all of whom were active FT'ers causing some issues, and the slightly less accessible Darwin kept numbers down to previous sort of levels - 44. Canberra had 51 "Platinums" sign up.

The "OzFest" threads attract between 35,000 and 57,000 page views - pretty amazing records for any FT Doos anywhere. Each thread runs to very many 100s, into the 1000+ post numbers.

MargoZ and I will certainly be among the first confirmed starters to attend, barring any calamities, and as with all the other Oz Fests, I'll be pleased to assist where I can, and if required.

I have attended all OzFests, and will not miss Number TEN.

Regrettably I do not have as much free time as I once did, and can't add much to the mix as I know nothing much about the city, but hopefully we can get a suitable Perth local or three to step forward! Bill and Ross advise they know a few possible and reliable starters who may be able to assist.

Itsalongwaydown and I have been in contact on this, and Bill and Sue are also certain attendees for Perth. Bill as always has offered to lend a willing hand in the planning and cat herding, that is associated with these large events, and helped mentor the groud organisers in Canerra .

Other volunteers will I am sure add links to activities and suggestions for Perth in the next few posts, so we get it all moving along.

Mwenenzi has offered really invaluable back-up those helping organise all the previous Ozfests, and to ALL members and has agreed he’ll be able to assist again – I am sure he will "place-marker" several early posts to add to later, as he always does.

He will hopefully be tracking attendees and hotels and activity sign ups etc via his legendary and super detailed Excel spread sheets, and trust he can join us in person for this one. These are incredibly time consuming to keep updated, and all attendees owe him a huge vote of thanks.

Serfty looks to be the “king of airline movements” for attendees to and from, and his most useful link to that aspect for Cairns and Adelaide and Darwin and Canberra helped lots of members buddy up for Cabs etc, and book seats together, and cut costs etc.

And hopefully we can once again call on the falconea’s to be name tag/table tag supremos, and we are well on our way! :d

*A Flyer who did a really wonderful job as lead organiser on the ground in Canberra, I recall said he will try to make Perth - his studies etc permitting.

There are a fairly limited range of ‘major’ brand Hotels in Canberra ... I'll let others expand on that aspect. That is a bit of an issue. There was a Sheraton that is gone, but do recall noting there is a Parmelia Hilton.

Having ONE central hotel location that most folks use, is a VERY large plus I always feel. The long bus delay on Saturday in Canberra is one example where FT'ers being at one place is a great plus.

And it gives the organisers some leverage to extract a great group booking deal, instead of 50 FT’ers being like Brown’s cows, and all doing their own thing.

The May "Memorial Day" weekend seems very popular with USA based Flyer-talkers, and that is the weekend that was most favoured by far. We have bowed to that request and again chosen that weekend - as we have for all other OzFests. Around half the attendees are US based at each OzFest.

That public holiday in the USA is Monday May 27, 2013. Remember if you LEAVE Sydney on the afternoon of Monday May 27, you ARRIVE back in the USA also on the morning of Monday May 27.

Tons of time no matter where you live in the USA, to get back home, unpack, have an early night and get organised for a day at the office next day etc.

Mid afternoon is the usual flight time back for United, who have direct daily flights from SYD to the west coast (to both LAX and SFO) ex Sydney.

Near all USA attendees fly UA to OzFests to either MEL or SYD. HOWEVER Perth is quite close to Asia, and flight options via key Asian hubs are WELL worth looking at.

We had quite a few Singapore members at OzFest #9 for instance.

The weather for the past 9 "Oz Fests" has been in general, superb and sunny. Despite June 1 - a few days later, being our official Winter start date. Even in Tasmania our most southern city, we were truly blessed with unusually nice weather.

We all thought Canberra would be a weather challenge for sure, but the Saturday and Sunday gave quite perfect weather.

Those words "Snowy Mountains" right next to Canberra on the map above, are there for a reason, so we got lucky!

Perth, being West has more of a Southern California type clime, so for overseas attendees, you can near count on a weather friendly weekend!

I get the feeling this as usual, may also turn out to be a very long thread.

Glen