I'd be interested, I'm still disappointed I couldn't make it last year. There's going to be something similiar held in Lithgow but that's probably not central enough for everyone.

I'd be interested, but definitely not in Rutherglen.

And preferrably at the end of February. (But then again, it depends on what kind of season we'll have.) Last year I started harvesting in earnest a few days after Rutherglen.

I'll send some tomatoes for a taste fest, but won't be able to attend this year regrettably. I'll be saving up for another big trip, part of which will be spent visiting Mr and Mrs Finbar in Italy

PP

I'm interested too, and like Spatz would prefer later in the season so that more varieties are ripe. Rutherglen is fine for me being form Melbourne, but other places would also be fine. It really needs to be somewhere that is a relatively easy weekend drive for all of us I suppose :-)

Hello to everyone on the forum.
It will be good to get together again for another taste fest. And late February would be good.
I'm sorry you will not be able to make it Patrina. Are Mr & Mrs Finbar permanently located in Italy? I thought they were going for a short holiday?
How about somewhere like Lockhart? Finding somewhere central is going to be a problem. We are all so spread out.
Cheers
Craig

Hi Craig, I believe the Finbars are planning to stay for two years. I may be wrong here but I think I read that somewhere.
Mantis

Mrs Finbar thinks two years. Mr Finbar has other ideas!

Well then, I guess it comes down to location. Craig has suggested Lockhart (hi Craig) but I don't know where that is.

Other suggestions please.

By the way, I've had an offer of free accommodation for 20 people 90 kms east of Melbourne from a fellow Cornucopian. Does that suit anyone (apart from Melbournians of course)?

Yeah Ray, I could do that. If one gets organised for next year, I will find a way to get there.

Obviously, the later the better for us Northeners. We have a very late season here, and would love to participate again. 90 kms east of Melbourne must be Gippsland, nes pas?
A lovely part of the world. We wouldn't be able to bring any tommies however.

Mrs finbar is warming by the day to more than two years. Just about persuaded her to buy here.

I'd suggest the get together and tasting take place in my - cough - vegie patch out on the olive farm.

Oh, and they start their olive harvest in about five weeks. Seven hundred and fifty trees. Mrs finbar has been given her own tree to harvest. Bets are being taken on how many olives she harvests before her arms fall off.

Piccies of Mrs Finbar getting down'n'dirty with olives please!

Like Sarah, I regret missing last year. I'll certainly try harder to get to the fest in 2006. Late Febuary would suit me better as well work wise.
Love to meet you all and put faces to the names.
Ray, 90k's east of Melbourne would put it somewhere in the Latrobe Valley?

Mark, what I know about Victorian geography would't even begin to cover a postage stamp, so I can't help you there, sorry. I'm reluctant to specify details just yet as I'd prefer to get some idea of general interest. As I said, it's only a suggestion. Any others would be welcome.

Sounds great Ray-but then it would for a Melburnian! Ninety km east of Melbourne is Gippsland/South Gippsland area. Although it depends on where in Melbourne you start!
Cheers
Craig

I'd definitely not drive 11 hours again, as we did for Rutherglen. If it's somewhere near Melbourne, I'd try to get a cheap flight. This would also mean that if it's 90km outside Melbourne, I'd have to get some instructions/transport to get there.

Jetstar flies to Avalon. Any nice place to meet around there?

Pepino's place.

There's nothing nice within about 10 kms of Avalon as it is in the middle of nowhere, but Geelong isn't too far away, which is a lovely regional city. If you land in Avalon you're about 50 mins south west of the city making it more than two hours drive to Ray's secret destination. Depending on the timing I'm sure I can help out with some transport.

Seems that east of Melbourne is easy for some, but more difficult for others. Nevertheless, Victoria, somewhere would seem to me to be the most sensible, so come on you Victorians, get your thinking caps on - a nice, small town, easily accessible, picturesque, good food and wine, plenty of accommodation!
Over to you.

Yarra Valley? I'm not familiar with many of it's towns, but perhaps Yarra Glen, Coldstream or further out. Nice part of the state, wineries and should be a few B&Bs. I'm sure there's a forumite or two who live out that way and could shed some light on potential sites.

Depending on where Ray originally had in mind, most places are easily accessible by freeway and good main roads.

Pepino, I didn't have anywhere originally in mind. It's just that one of our fellow Cornucopians very generously offered the free accommodation for 20 people. The place is about 90km east of Melbourne.
Unfortunately, the response to the offer was rather underwhelming, hence the request for other venues.

i did like Kionga's idea last year for a place over the FFELZ.(fruit fly exclusion line zone). Then we could all bring things.
It's pretty clear we aren't going to find a spot which is right for everyone, so central to all is somewhere in south western New South Wales.
Does this seem reasonable, or indeed, a good idea?.

I think that the free accommodation offer is great Ray, and if I were attending I'd vote for there if it's outside the FFEZ.

PP

Unfortunately, south western NSW is in the FFEZ (see map in link below). Most of southern Victoria is not. Is Horsham a pretty town?

Here is a link that might be useful: Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone

I am sure Finbar will chime in here shortly :-)

One benefit of Horsham would be that we could have the show in my backyard. I could hire a large tent etc and start cooking the day before.
Another benefit is that it is central for Melbourne and SA folk
Disadvantages would be that it is a long drive for the NSW folk (unless you can hire a small plane).

Hmmm? Someone mentioned my name? Horsham's a fine idea providing everyone remembers to set their watches back about twenty years.

*goes back to watching the Tuscan rain belt down, preventing work on the new garden bed for pumpkins and other things that take up tons of space*

What about somewhere in the Pyrenees Wine Region? Avoca seems to be the central, largish town there. I'm told it is lovely and there are some luscious wineries there... Good mix of accomodation from camping/caravan parks to B&Bs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pyrenees Wine Region

When?? When??!!, reckon the timing may coincide with king George feed times???...Would be nice if could get away:)..
Cheers
Peter

I think the end of Feb has most support Peter. Plenty of King George around then for sure.
The Avoca region is very pretty, would people like me to do some investigating in this area?

Avoca easily has my vote, spent a lot of time there as a nipper. Does it still have good fly/trout fishing.?.

Okay, Avoca sounds like it's a possibility.

The place I originally mentioned, the one with free accommodation for 20 people, is in Marysville. Now my knowledge of Victoria is poor but I believe it's a pretty town in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range east and slightly north of Melbourne. The big drawcard here of course is the free accommodation.
I'd like a thumbs up or down on this one (Marysville) as I can't ask the person making the offer to hold the places vacant indefinitely.
I'd also like to know when for the same reason.
As for when, my vote is some time around mid-March as I doubt there'd be any tomatoes ready to bring much before that.
As for place, I sure like the sound of free accommodation so Marysville has my vote.
Over to you.

Google for Marysville and it sounds like a great place! I'd be really tempted to go there. I'd even take up Pepino's offer of transport to get there. I know, shameless!

It's an incredibly generous offer (free accommodation) and it would lighten the financial 'burden' of people from further away.

Mid March sounds okay where tomatoes are concerned. That's the peak tomato season. :)

Sounds good to me too. Vote me in.!

Anywhere in Victoria is fine by me, it's a long drive either way.
The generous offer of free accomodation is a definite plus for those of us who are fiscally challenged!
As to timing, I'm easy there too, I'm not likely to have much to share, I shall be taking notes for next season.

Marysville is beautiful. I wonder who it's named after?. Count me in.

Not that it should be much of a problem but Melbourne is hosting the Commonwealth Games in March 2006. March 15 - 26th are the actual dates.

You might have to look early into the availability of cheap flights as lots will be coming by air for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as finals times. Road travel should be fine as Marysville is way out east on the Maroondah Highway.

Enjoy your weekend there if thats where you choose, don't forget to go up to the Falls. Any other time and I might even have come along to learn from all your expertise - its only a 1hr drive for me:)..........but I will be volunteering at the Games so will be busy elsewhere.

Cathy

Excellent point from Cathy. I'd suggest then the 11th & 12th March or the first weekend in April, 1st & 2nd.

Just something I forgot to say re March...........School Hols start here on March 10th and that weekend is a 'Long Weekend" Moomba Parade is on the Monday (13th)

As Ray says maybe if you aim for early April it would be better......................Lent starts March 1st and Easter Sunday is April 16th.

Its all go isn't it!!

Cathy

Are you saying we should give up marysville for Lent?.
Early April is good for me.

The only problem with a later date is that flavours drop off at the end of summer/early autumn. My guess is that the best tasting tomatoes for a Tomato Taste Fest would be in February.

PP

Just catching up on this thread because Rutherglen is not possible for me, but Victoria isn'nt that far. And the 12th March is my birthday and it might even be spring in Tassie by then, so if novice tomatofreaks are welcome, I'd probably make it! Maybe you should change the title of the thread otherwise other southerners might not catch it. I think Tasmanian Tommies are welcome in Vic?
Cheers
Linda

I'd love to come. Avoca would be great, lots of winery action in that area, and it's just over the hill from here. But free accommodation would be a big draw for many others.

Pyrenees region is probably 3.5 hours closer to SA.

Hi Penny good to see you. I hope we can agree on a destination and get this thing going.

It's going to be hard to satisfy everybody. If I may suggets something....Start a new thread i.e
2006 Tomato Fest
Ask ppl to cast their vote eg

1- Location a) Pyrenees Wine Region (Avoca)
b) Yarra Valley
c) Marysville (free acoom. fror 20)

2- Date a) Feb 25-56
b) Mar 4-5
c) Mar 11-20

Just a thought
Have a nice day

Lyne, Mar 11-20 is school hols and Long W/E (Labour Day?) in Vic this year.

Typo Feb 25-56!

Lomatia, I know I just put it there as an example. It was just an idea.

Lyne *who needs chocolat*

*hands home-made chocolate chip biscuit to lyn*

Beat me to it Lyne. I was waiting to hear from the person offering the free accom. before doing exactly that.
See new thread ...

Dont count me out as yet:)...Am trying for a Summer plantout of Tommies here though i dont like my chances..
see how i go and see if i cant clean up some of these fish prior to then ey:)..
{{gwi:2116582}}
Cheers and still about:)..
Peter