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brisnat81

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2004
Messages
2,244
Location
Brisbane Australia
Hi Guys,

Since my trip to the US back in June, I've been kicking around the idea of hosting an Australian convention in Brisbane. After talking to a few people, I'm looking to propose a date of September/October 2008.

Whilst there wont be the number of machines that some other members have, in 18 months time between myself and Leon, we will have a reasonable collection of toys to play with, quite a few of which are unique to Australia. Plus there is the added bonus of an overseas holiday for the non-Australian members.

For now I'm just looking to guage feedback and see what people think of the idea. I know it's a long way away, however by planning now it gives everyone the opportunity to save and plan for the trip.

I've attached a link which goes into the tourist/whats on aspect of Brisbane.

I'll throw in a little bit of information about where Brisbane is and the climate etc at that time of year:

- Brisbane has a population of 1.8 Million People which makes it Australia's third largest City (Remember the total population is only 21 Million)
- In September/October it is spring with Avg temps of 18-28degC
- Brisbane is almost in the middle of the east coast of Australia, it is 1600km to Melbourne, 800km to Sydney and 1500km to the Great Barrier Reef. Airfares within Australia are cheap now so getting around is quite easy.
- At the moment the USD buys 1.30AUD, so even though most things (Particularily food) are more expensive than in the US, the exchange rate should make the cost about the same.
- Brisbane is located in the state of Queensland specifically in what is called South East Queensland, which is the Bottom eastern corner of the state. Within 2 hours of Brisbane, there are some of Australia's renowned beaches, Rainforests and Natural attractions, Eucalypt forrests, and many other things. Steve Irwins Australia Zoo is about 50 minutes north of the city.

Enough of my Rambling for now, let me know what you think and that way we'll see if we can make it happen :)

Kind Regards

Nathan

http://www.ourbrisbane.com/
 
That would be utterly fantastic (we've been wanting to take a trip to Australia for a long time), but I probably couldn't afford to go, especially with the 2008 North Canton VCCC Convention (which is Hoover's 100th anniversary that I don't want to miss) being around that time!
 
THUD!

......didn't pass those smelling salts quick enough Toggle. :)<p>This is something I would consider doing. And this gives me plenty of time to consider it.....
 
If Austalia didn't need a return ticket to get in, I don

This is a fantasy come true. I have had Australia on my mind for the longest.

Remember Wilma and Betty on a shopping spree?
CHARGE (it!)

This one, IMHO, is a once-in-a lifetime trip. I'm thinking WORTH getting into debt.

Imagine if we could all get on the same flight out of Los Angeles, California? Or by some accident of fate charter a flight?
 
You can Fly direct from LA to BNE

Or SF - SYD - BNE

My biggest recommendation would be to fly Qantas. Unless the upcomming takeover totally screws the airline, they are a pleasure to fly with, and a great full service airline.

I must admit, it feels strange to be discussing something that is 21 odd months away :) But I figure plenty of notice is better than not enough.
 
Sportsman Hotel is pretty seedy (Think unmodernised 70's

I've never ended up in the rooms however :)

Its a slightly seedy pub, (Tired and slightly worn with age)

It is friendly non-judgemental and accepts pretty much everyone, unlike some of the other clubs/pubs.

Downstairs is the Mineshaft, but thats a whole other story.

We live about 4km in a straight line from the city or 8km over the river via road.
 
Central Brunswick Apartment Hotel is nice

Its at the opposite end of the cbd, about a 10 minute walk in the city.

I've had friends who stay there when in BNE and have advised its quite nice.
 
Nathan this is a wonderful idea and I really appreciate your giving us so much notice. This is for sure something that I would like to do, it would be a once in a life time trip. Count me in!!! Terry
 
Wow! This sounds really exciting. It's certainly something I want to think about, and particularly for that reason and given the fact this is a big trip for many of us, I'm very glad you have given a great deal of notice! I do hope I'll be able to join you!
 
Car Rental is fine

As long as you have a current US drivers license.

The big thing to remember is that we drive on the Left (Proper) side of the road.

That was two things I struggled with in the US:
1) Remembering to look left right left instead of right left right when crossing the street.
2) Every left turn I came to when driving, I had a mantra in my head that left equals right (Left hand turn aim for the right side of the road)

A family sized car with all insurances is about $100 per day, a compact car (Tiny by US standards) can be gotten for around $50-60 a day.
 
Does that mean your cars have the steering wheels on the opposite side, like in the UK? Mike can tell you how many times, during my visit, I wound up waiting to get in on the wrong side of the car after we'd go somewhere. That driving position compels one to shift gears with one's left hand. That would be a different experience for me! LOL
 
Driver sits on the right

Once you've driven a few times, I got the hang of driving inthe US.

The difficult thing, is in AU I'm used to the right hand side of my body being near the edge of the lane.

I constantly had to correct my course in the US and my brain kept trying to guide the car so that the right side of my body was at the edge of my lane :) Not a good look.
 
Sportsman's Hotel can be a good night out

Firstly, its great to see the reaction by you guys. Nathan told me about his plans the other night and i'm certainly enthusiastic. Considering Nathan and I only live within a few klm's of each other, i suggested that everyone can have a go playing with both of our collections. By then, i will have bought my own place and everything will be set up, plus it gives Nathan and i another 18 months to find more treasures.

Gansky and Oxy: Unlike Nathan, i HAVE been in those rooms in my dark past (not a story for this site) and they ARE a bit downmarket (shared bathrooms and all) but there are plenty of decent and affordable places to stay. The Sportsman's can be a good night out as that is where i go mostly and they have recently renovated the place...it is now not SO 70's

Keep it mind also that i would be happy to offer my spare sofa bed to anyone who might be interested.

If its going to be anytime around September 15...then it would coincide with my 39th birthday!

Leon
 
I will plan to be there!!

I have always wanted to go overseas, esp to a wash in.I am planning to Europe this year( UK, and Ireland), It looks like next year will be Austaillia. This may sound like a silly question, but I will ask' will my cell phone work in the UK/Ire/Au? Me thinks that the roaming charges would be astonomica if it doesl!!
PS, I have always wanted to play with an old Simpson and check out all of the goodies that you would never see here in the USA.YIPPPPPPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!! I am going down under to a wash in!!!
 
I still call Australia Home

I'd love to go too, and having friends in Sydney to visit would make an awesome trip. My parents went last year for their 50th anniversary, they loved every minute!

Just for fun search YOU TUBE for "I still call Australia Home" and see TV commercials for Qantas. I'm at work so I can't post a link. The words to the song are beautifully sung by a children's choir, with a brief picture of a beautiful Qantas Boeing 747 at the end.

"And someday we'll all be together once more
When all of the ships come back to the shore
And we'll realize something we've always known
We still call Australia home"

I'd want to fly on "Wunala Dreaming"
 
Automatic Washer International

What a great idea, the first International Automatic Washer Convention. The advance notice gives people a chance to dream and maybe even go!!

I can't say yet, however I too have always wanted to go to OZ. I would love to see the Sydney Opera House, for one thing. One of my High School pals lives there, so I could visit her also. And of course it would be a chance to meet all of the great people who post here.

I would love to see the Semi-Automatic washers that are prelevant there too.

Martin
 
Wunala Dreaming

Boeing 747-400ER, Saw this plane up close last year at LAX.
This pic is from Airliners.net
What a beautiful bird!
 
That song

Particularily coupled with that ad always gives me goosebumps. That ad must now be at least 10 years old +/- 4. Its won an unmeasurable number of awards and is a good example of how most Australians feel about the "Spirit of Australia" which is Qantas.

There is a huge furore at the moment as there has been a private equity takeover bid made for Qantas, by a consortium that plans to increase profits and then sell it off. Qantas is the only airline (We only have 2 national carriers) in Australia that gets govt support/protection and as such the company currently manages to work at a reasonable profit. The concern is that in the interests of making more money, Qantas will stop being a full service airline, potentially stop servicing the small country routes, and move more jobs offshore. There is a plan by Qantas pilots and the unions atm, to raise enough capital, to buy enough shares to block the sale to the consortium, we'll have to see how it goes and if it's successfull.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1811985.htm
 

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