Ballarat / Staffordshire Reef Lampers Gathering #3

April 17 - 18.

I will be there from late Friday the 16th so if it suits you to be there early then that will be fine.


Directions to Ballarat/Staffordshire Reef gathering.

Starting at the corner of Glenelg Hwy and Midland Hwy, Ballarat. (Woolworths), head west towards Hamilton for about 16km to Smythesdale.
On the other side of Smythesdale, turn left into Browns Rd (becomes Staffordshire Reef Rd).


Down Browns Rd for about 13km, turn left into Grandmas Rd.


Then immediate right into Speedwell Dam Rd.


Go to end of road.
Ignore the sign on the gate, just keep going.


Then the next gate on the left just past the house.
(Don't bother the guy in the house, he is a shooter and a good shot too.)


I should mention there is no phone reception down the bottom of the hill. Up at the gate is almost always OK. Vodaphone and similar would have long gone.


As before, It will be mainly a camping situation though there is a largish hay shed with a big open fire and hot water. There is also a flushing toilet and a shower so its more like glamping than camping.
There are a few cabins that will be allocated on a need it most basis.

To save people carrying fuel, I will bring kero.

Bring what ever you think is interesting wether it be Tilley or not, Australian or not.

 

@Anthony

I’ll be there with bells on!

I’ve booked the ferry, so as long as you bloody Australians keep COVID-19 under control, I’ll be able to enter the mainland.

I’ll bring some fettling gear, including some brazing tools, to work on a few recalcitrant lamps. I thought I might also get the Wizard and Gloria hollow wire lamps set up on that Red Ball tank I have.

Of course I’ll bring one or two of Jim Dick’s lamps along, but I have a few cubic metres of stuff to bring back, so I can’t bring too much.

Cheers

Tony

 

OK, Count me in.

Anthony, book me into my old suite if it's available, I like the mirrored ceiling and walls

 

Hum... sounds good .. wish it was a bit nearer though :/

 

20.000km away.
Pity

 

IF they let you in you also get a two week stay in a hotel room before you can leave the city of your arrival. I think we can substantially write 2021 off really... looking on the bright side, more time, more lamps...

 

@Fireexit1
Australia also offers cabin stays at Darwin for international visitors.
Incidentally, if you test positive later in your stay it gets extended.

Iain

 

I am posting a request for all attendees to bring their Quirk’s Goulburn Special tanks.

This is not to light them up, so you can leave the breakable bits behind at home...

It is to work out where the hell these tanks came from!


Cheers

Tony

 

Sounds like a lot of fun. So wish I could attend, but unfortunately not on the cards.

I look forward to some photos. Will also look at the night sky to see if I can spot a glow on the southern horizon.

 

Waiting in the queue for ferry across Bass Strait.

SL1 loaded for the Guinness Book of Records “most SL1s alight in one place during the 21st Century” record attempt on Saturday night.



Not much telecommunications coverage at the site, but I’ll try to send through some photos over the weekend.

Cheers

Tony

 

We all love pictures so y’all have a great time.

 

It’s looking a bit lumpy out the window on the 9 hour Bass Strait crossing...





Cheers

Tony

 

Best wishes for a great meet-up from the UK !
We all look forward to seeing some photos

 

All packed and ready to get going in the morning.

 

Excellent!!!

Cheers

Tony

 

Nice glass fuel containers in Martin's car! @ROBBO55

 

You are putting me to shame @ROBBO55; I will go back to the shed and pack a few more things. I have too much free space between items! Well done.

 

On the news the other night the 11m waves for the boat crossing you are on left a few people

 

It wasn’t that bad, thank heavens. Just windy and choppy with a medium swell and waves to 3 or 4 metres.

I had a cabin, so, having got up at 3:30am to drive across Tasmania, I was glad of the sleep. Only an hour and a half to go and now inside sheltered waters.

See you tomorrow.

Cheers

Tony

 

Jeez - 9 hours to cross the Bass Strait! That tells me how little idea I have of the scale of things down there.


It's also good to see where Wagga Wagga is!

Anyway, have a great meet-up and let's see lots of pix during (if possible) and if not, when you get back home. And remember, it's always good to see names put to faces!

 

Actually 10 hours.

They shall be named!

Tony

 

Yes @Wim , fuel for the spirit

@Sedgman
Iain, just a matter of filling every nook and cranny

@Tony Press
I'm glad you made it across

 

I don’t have any nooks or granny’s left.

 

@Anthony I'm looking forward to seeing what's under the tarps this year.

I'll find somewhere to stop tonight and be there tomorrow.

 

@ROBBO55 , what ever suits you best but I will be there in about an hour.

 

Wish I could be there. Have a great weekend.
Paul.

 

The early arrivers

Reception is slow and patchy so not too many photos. I will repost in fuller detail when possible.







Many boxes yet to reveal their secrets.


...but the homework has started already. (Anthony and Iain).


Time for dinner and for me to finish fettling this old FL6 from Victoria Railways.


Cheers

Tony

 

Tony, is that a Tilley shade I see in 3rd pic or a repro?

 

@Jean J , it’s a reproduction.
Still look good on a lamp.
I did a post or included them in a post a long time ago.

 

Friday’s action

Today we prepared the mass gathering of Tilley SL1s which will be lit tonight and tomorrow night. Bob Bauer’s (Lamp Doctor’s) brother bought his SL1 up to join the gathering, and Martin arrived with Jim Dick’s SL1 and and old beaten up SL1 that I bought and he kindly delivered for me. 6 SL1s at one lighting will be quite a show.









More photos later.

Cheers

Tony