Rotary Convention Registration 15th December Deadline

Don't forget to register before the 15th of December to take advantage of the early bird price.

Click the link and follow the prompts to register for Sydny http://www.riconvention.org/en/2014/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Men At Work - Down Under

"Down Under" (also known as "Land Down Under") is a Platinum-certified single, recorded by Australian new wave rock group Men at Work, It has become a popular and patriotic song in Australia.

 

Australian Wine

Hunter Valley NSW's best wine region    

 
Imagine more than 400 Olympic swimming pools filled with wine. That’s Australia’s current annual production of shiraz, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and about 130 other wine varieties.
We make more than a billion litres of the stuff a year (down from a peak of 1.4 billion litres in 2005). The produce comes from 1.6 million tonnes of grapes grown on 1600sq.km of vineyards.
We are also innovators of the industry: Australian winemakers not only invented the wine cask, but also pioneered screw-cap tops because of a lack of quality cork.
Australia exports more than two-thirds of its wine. Still each of us manages to quaff 23L per year, making us the highest English-speaking consumers of wine per capita. To put it in perspective, the French drink more than twice that amount per head.

The history of Australian wine

Australia’s winemaking history began with Captain Arthur Phillip’s grapevines, which suffered from black spot after their journey over on the First Fleet.
Three years later, 1.2ha of vines planted at Government House on the Parramatta River, New South Wales, were faring better. But it wasn’t until well-researched Scottish viticulturist James Busby arrived in 1824, and started planting in the Hunter Valley, that the industry took off.
New South Wales was Australia’s major wine producer until the late 19th century, when Victoria took over. Nowadays, South Australia produces nearly half the annual yield, New South Wales about a third, and Victoria around 15 per cent.
Australia is consistently among the world’s top 10 producers, making about 4 per cent of the world’s wines.

 

The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's best known wine regions. Located in the state of New South Wales, the region has played a pivotal role in the history of Australian wine as one of the first wine regions planted in the early 19th century. Hunter Valley Semillon is widely considered the iconic wine of the region but the Hunter produces wine from a wide variety of grapes including Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Verdelho.

 

 

To experience the Hunter Valley at it's best, why don't you consider a tour buy our friends at Global Connection. The HOC Official Travel Partner of the Rotary International Convention Sydney 2014

 

http://globalconnection.com.au/product/blue-mountains-hunter-valley-post-convention-tour/

 

Next Stop: Sydney, Australia

Vivid Visions Tall Ships Cruise

In June 2014, Sydney will be transformed into a spectacular canvas of light, music, ideas and community when Vivid Sydney and the Rotary International Convention take over the city.

The Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney is proud to play host to the spectacular “Vivid Visions” cruise on Sydney Harbour on board the Southern Swan, an authentic 1920’s Tall Ship.

On Friday the 30th of May 2014 at 7:30pm we will be setting sail from Campbell's Cove for a wonderful evening adventure of light, music and Rotary!

Sailing though our magnificent illuminated harbour, you will learn how the e-Club focus on our international projects supporting development, education, and health in developing countries.

You will also see and hear the amazing story of the ship, be enthralled by a Kenyan Maasai warrior, take in the salty sea air and see Sydney at its brightest!.

For only $95 per person, the food, drink and entertainment aboard this two hour cruise, will be provided by the friendly Ship’s crew - all of whom are at your service!

Make this event a memorable part of your “Down Under Convention” experience.

To book please click the booking link http://www.sydneytallships.com.au/rotary-e-club.html 
Tickets are strictly limited and selling fast!!.
 



Global Connection Tours

My Friends

If you are wanting to see more of Sydney and Australia be sure to take advantage of these great Rotary Down Under tour packages, organized by the great people at Global Connection http://globalconnection.com.au

Global Connection are The HOC Official Travel Partner of the Rotary International Convention Sydney 2014. These tours exclusively for Rotarians, designed by Rotarians, so you know that they will be well planned, enjoyable and fun.




My wife and I have been on one of these tours before and let me say it was just amazing!

 

 

I highly recommend the Pre Convention Blue Mountains & Hunter Valley Tour

Just look at this fantastic itinerary!! Plus you get a free bottle of Hunter Valley Wine.

Day One:  Arrive Sydney

• Guests arrive Sydney Airport. You will be met by your local guide who will accompany your tour
• Transfer via air conditioned coach from airport to Sydney accommodation (check-in from 14.00 hrs)
• Remainder of the day is at leisure in Sydney
• Accommodation:  ParkRoyal Darling Harbour x 1 night

Day Two: Sydney to Blue Mountains

• Breakfast at the hotel
• This morning commence your extended tour to Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley, two of NSW most spectacular regions. Enjoy a stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park. Get up close and personal with more than 2200 animals where you can hand-feed wallabies, kangaroos and emus and even cuddle up to a Koala
• Stop for lunch at the quaint township of Leura (at own expense). Leura Mall is a treasure with many fine coffee shops, restaurants and galleries.
• Arrive to your accommodation early afternoon.
• Enjoy the remainder of the day relaxing by the fireplace in the lounge or for the more active join a short bush walk from the resort.
• Accommodation: Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains x 2 nights

Day Three:  Blue Mountains

Scenic Railway

• Breakfast at the resort
• This morning visit Waradah Aboriginal Centre.  Here you are able to witness Aboriginal Dance and Didgeridoo performances, with explanations of the stories that accompany each dance.
• Travel to Scenic World Blue Mountains, home to 4 attractions, of which the most famous is the Katoomba Scenic Railway. The site also includes the Katoomba Scenic Skyway, the Cableway and Katoomba Scenic Walkway a 2.4 km elevated boardwalk through ancient rainforest
• Stop will be made for lunch (at own expense)
• Return to the Resort late afternoon

Day Four: Blue Mountains to Hunter Valley

• Breakfast at the resort
• This morning travel along the scenic Bells Line of Road. This road follows an historic route that has been a traditional Aboriginal pathway, a colonial track (from 1819), and a passageway for miners heading to the Bathurst goldfield (in the 1860s. Continue through to Hunter Valley Wine Country (approx. 5 hours travel time)
• Stop will be made for lunch (at own expense).
• Arrive to your accommodation late afternoon.
• Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley x 2 nights

Day Five:  Hunter Valley

• Breakfast at the resort
• Spend the day visiting this beautiful part of the world with some of the oldest and best vines in Australia with unique specialties such as Semillon and Shiraz grapes. Enjoy Vineyard inspection followed by a wine tutorial &; tasting at Hunter Valley Resort
• Lunch will be served at Bluetongue Brewery Café
• In the afternoon visit Hunter Valley Gardens. Spanning over 25 acres, be amazed by the sensational sights, colours, and fragrances of the ten stunning feature gardens.
• Return to the Resort late afternoon

Day Six:  Hunter Valley to Sydney

• Breakfast at the resort
• Depart the Hunter Valley for return journey to Sydney.En route stop at The Wollombi Tavern for a sample of Dr. Jurd’s Jungle Juice.
• Stop will be made for lunch (at own expense).
• Tour terminates at your Sydney accommodation

Tim Tam Slam

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After you have tried Vegemite and curled you're face up at the taste, then why don't you try the next best thing! a Tim Tam

A Tim Tam is a famous Australian chocolate biscuit that has gained celebrity status around the globe.
It is often in the carry-on luggage of departing expats and tourists.

It’s more famous than Crocodile Dundee in some parts of the world and it’s just a biscuit!


Arnotts make the biscuit, and Tim Tams are still classed as an Aussie institution.

One thing foreigners often don’t know about a Tim Tam is that there is a special way to eat it. It’s called a Tim Tam Slam and it is awesome. Here’s how you do it:

1. Make yourself a glass of hot Milo, milk, coffee or tea.
2. Bite a little bit off one corner of the Tim Tam.
3. Now bite a little bit off the diagonally opposite corner of the Tim Tam.
4. Lean down towards the glass and put your mouth over one corner of the Tim Tam, like a straw.
5. Dip the other corner into the glass so it is slightly submerged.
6. Suck the liquid through the Tim Tam.


7. As soon as you taste the liquid, put the whole Tim Tam in your mouth.
What happens then is a true miracle in the chocolate sense of the word. If you have a hot drink (which is the preferred method), then the Tim Tam melts completely in your mouth. It is amazing.










If you need to see a visual, check out this video of Natalie Imbruglia teaching Graham Norton on a UK talk show - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHzMfZ1FaqA


As I mentioned, this is a bit of a local secret that has been passed on since the dawn of the Tim Tam. Now, when you come to visit, you can try it.
Once you have mastered the Tim Tam Slam, spread the word!