[bigglesk]

Great to meet some of you, even though I was only there for a few hours, I had lots of fun.
Ill be in melbourne for the Starwars exhibit thing at the end of the month, so i'll hopefully catch up with some of you again there.
Kristen

[Nostrum]

It was awesome to meet some of the new recruits! Kristen, you've done a fine job at putting your TK together!

A write up of my adventures, as far as I can remember them:

Thursday:
Depart home at 5:45am, already fifteen minutes late with the slowest taxi in the world. Arrive in time to race to the plane, just as they start boarding calls.
Arrive Hobart 8:55am, to be met by Nick. Travel back to Hobart, drop gear at Nick's inlaws' house [who are lovely people!]. Swap the car for a truck laden with goodies such as a 10ft Tardis, Dalek, R2, and a large assortment of Star Wars goodies.
Spend hours in the con setting up tables and Tardis, and meeting all the good people who were making the con run smoothly.
Head back to the airport to pick up Mr Everett and greet the O'Malleys. Convoy back to the casino/convention.
BBQ dinner back at the inlaws with the full family, plus the O'Malleys, Beanie, Dylan, myself and The Dave Everett.

Friday:
Dylan, Nick, The Dave, and I head to the Tip Shop [which needs to be brought to Sydney. It's goods salvaged from going into the tip, and resold], and spend not nearly enough time there before having to head back to the convention yet again to help with more set up, and some 501st dealings.
I think lunch was thrown in there at some stage...
5pm back at the convention, full up with Super Toasted Sandwiches and fish 'n chips. Everyone kits up for the opening night. A pleasantly large turnout of sci fi geeks and fans.
10pm doors shut. Some head home, some stay out to drink and carole.

Saturday:
3am, let inebriated Dylan in, go back to sleep.
Arrive at the con 11am, dropped off by Nick's father-in-law. A little fun poked at Dyl's hangover before kitting up for a long and fruitful day's trooping.
Dylan enters the Quizinator, and makes it far enough to win a prize.
Group photo on the stairs outside the convention.
7:30-8pm, some tables abandoned [shamefully, leaving Nick to tend the table] in favour of a buffet dinner.
10pm convention doors shut, and The Dave Everett recieves an official plaque as a Friend Of The 501st.
Further drinking and carousing is had. Bed by 2:30am.

Sunday:
Up in time for the con opening, this time. Some minor armour repairs and losses [myself adding foam to my back plate, Dylan losing a handplate] before a few hours trooping.
Midday calls for a snow trip, and everyone bundles up and heads off. Reach the top of the mountain, and cower behind a campervan while changing, in an attempt to keep out of a cutting wind.
Many photos taken, many noses dribbled [I think Mr Bugs can vouch for that the best of anyone].
Some group photos taken with a backdrop of Hobart.
Venture back down the mountain with a pitstop at a pizzaria to help defrost ourselves. Head back to the con for another two hours trooping before the con closes at 6pm.
Full breakdown of gear commences, starting with the Tardis. Everything loaded back into the truck to be sent on it's merry way.
A few more drinks and farewells to people heading home that night or the next morning.

Monday:
Dave Everett returned to the airport.
Dyl, myself, the Irwins, the O'Malleys, DaveJ, and Beanie meet at 9am, set off at 10:30am [slight delays..?] to Port Arthur.
Arrive around midday, early lunch, and then a guided tour and boat tour.
Port Arthur gets put on our list of things to come back and see properly. Maybe book a room at the Tudor style inn down the road, and do a weekend.
Head back to Hobart airport for a 6pm flight for everyone bar Beanie and the O'Malleys.
8pm arrive back in Sydney, have final farewells, and return to our homes to check emails and fall into our beds.

[Paul]

Well I am back, after a gresat week in Tazy, firstly I would like to thank Nick, for all his work and his hospitality while we were there, from the Meet and greet BBQ at the start to the weekend and then the following week. To Barry and Mark for putting this on, well organised and I hope even bigger and better next year( thinks for the blasters it was a nice supprise to have them at the weekend. To all who attended from around Australia and those that attended the event over the wekend well done and it was good to see you all there.

I seriously think this should be a yearly event in this groups calander, i is a good weekend, and with a little planning it could be a great event for us, and you can add on aholliday after or before it, it was family frendly and well worth attending.

All going well next year Helen and I will be there and driving down form Sydney ( make mental note, add floaties to the Tarago ) anyway this will alloow more items and droids to go down and more room for others should they wish to join us.

Well done people it was a blast and dam cold up on that mountain, there is only one more word to say !

Bird is the WORD !.

[Nostrum]

It's already penned into my diary for next year. It was an absolute blast.

[sandman]

just checking is that video of us on the news in anyones hands yet???

[Azrael]

Mark and Barry have been after them about the footage

but here's a pic of us with the health minister

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv85/deathstarradio/Troop%20RHH/th_Star_Wars_the_Minister.jpg