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Australian National Balloon Championships

Graham — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:02:55 +0000

CANOWINDRA CHALLENGE
Australian Hot Air Balloon Championships 9-17 April 2011
MEDIA RELEASE
Canowindra proves again that it is the Balloon Capital of Australia after securing the bid
to host the 2011 Australian National Ballooning Championships.
The National Championships is the premier event in the ballooning event calendar in
Australia and it will be the first time it is to be held in Canowindra since 1988.
Graham and Jan Kerr, from Balloon Joy Flights and Toms Waterhole winery submitted the
bid in June this year are no strangers to organising balloon events, having hosted the
inaugural Canowindra Challenge in April this year.
The Championships will be held from April 9-17 inclusive, and is expected to attract over
two dozen balloons over the two weekends starting the Easter school holidays and
finishing four days before Easter 2011.
There will be plenty happening in Canowindra during this time, for competitors and
spectators alike, with the major regional festival Orange FOOD week from 8-17 April in
full swing. One of the highlights is the Orange FOOD Week 100 Mile Dinner held on
Monday 11 April, an outdoor banquet for hundreds of diners, with live music right in the
main street of Canowindra. Dinner bookings are in high demand, so if you would like
further information or to pre-register contact Graham and Jan Kerr on
balloonjan@bigpond.com.
The number of crew and officials needed to participate in this event will see over 180
people staying in Canowindra for the entire event, with extra balloons and crews for the
Canowindra Challenge, and unknown numbers of visitors who will come to sightsee.
Jan is excited by organising an event such as this, “The biggest challenge for Canowindra
with the hosting of this national event will be accommodating all the Championship
people, as well as those here for the Canowindra Challenge and the spectators.”
With the support of all Canowindra community groups, including the Business Chamber,
the Kerrs will ensure that the event will be another ballooning spectacular. There will be
many benefits for the community as an estimated two dozen balloon teams will be in
town for the week, increasing the publicity and profile of Canowindra significantly.
World renowned Competition Director Mathijs de Bruijn has agreed to direct the 2011
Australian Balloon Championship. Mathijs was the director of very successful 2009
Nationals in Benalla, Victoria and will be coming to Canowindra after his tour of duty in
Debrecen, Hungary early in October this year as the World Championship Competition
Director.
Graham explains, “Mathijs is the king pin of the ballooning world. He will build the team
of officials and set the tasks for each day. These tasks will test pilots’ skills and abilities to
find the champions, of whom the top two Australian entrants will continue on to the
World Championships in August 2012, to be held in Battle Creek Michigan USA.”
Mathijs is in great demand throughout the Hot Air Ballooning World and has recently
served as Director of major events in the four corners of the world, including Lithuania
(1st European Women’s), South Africa (Championship held in Bethlehem SA in May)
and Brazil. He is an active competition pilot himself, competing in the 2010 Dutch
Nationals and flew an Australian balloon at the Balloons Over Waikato event in New
Zealand in March.
Obviously there is a lot of work ahead and a lot of scope for people to be involved in
the organisation and helping out at all levels. A successful meeting of over two dozen
people met informally last week to gauge local support and explore the many tasks
needed to ensure a successful event. It was resolved to publicise these tasks and call for
expressions of interest from any and all locals who may be able to help in some way.
For more information or to get involved in the organisation of the 2011 Australian
National Ballooning Championships, please contact Jan Kerr on 02 6344 1819.
- ENDS -

Canowindra Balloon Festival

gjkerr — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 05:03:04 +0000

I just thought you might like to start planning your leave arrangements and come along to the next Australian Hot Air Balloon Championships in 2011.
They are being held in Canowindra in NSW and will run from the 11th to the 20th April 2011

More details will be sent as they come to hand but in the meantime if you would like further information or to pre-register contact Graham and Jan Kerr <balloonjan@bigpond.com>

Cheers.

Dale Allen
National Administrator
Australian Ballooning Federation Inc
P.O. Box 402
Emerald Vic 3782
Tel (03) 5968 6533
Fax (03) 5968 6599
<www.abf.net.au>

Canowindra Challenge 2011

gjkerr — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:23:27 +0000

Canowindra has just been announced as the host town for the 2011 Australian National Balloon Championships. The event will run from 11th April to 20th April 2011. This is during school holidays and leads into Easter. Official sanction has been granted to The Organisers Graham and Jan Kerr and their company Balloon Joy Flights by The Australian Balloon Federation the national organisation controlling Australian ballooning.

Sunday lunch

gjkerr — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:00:15 +0000

Toms $15 Winter Warmers

Every weekend in Winter (Friday to Sunday) try our homemade soup with GK’s, breads, cheeses, salami and olives.

Keep warm in the winery

$15 per person… phone:63441819 for groups or mid week days

Toms Wood Fired Pizza

Sunday July 11 and Sunday August 8th

By Request…..Toms Waterhole’s great wood fired pizzas at lunchtime. Join us for Sunday lunch and enjoy our famous pizzas and salad followed by espresso coffee and cake. $25 per person…..Bookings essential phone 6344 1819

Updated Canowindra Challenge Programme

gjkerr — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:45:46 +0000

To view the latest updated details of what’s happening in Canowindra April 5th to 11th have a look here or to see the Official programme here.

All pilots wishing to attend are reminded that your registration forms are due in now.

Please note a change for the master briefing to 3.00pm Monday 5th April not Sunday as previously circulated.

Another change is that students with instructors and low hour pilots may attend as non-competing “Fiesta” attendees with free registration.

What’s in a name?

Graham Timms — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:20:39 +0000

Well this recent Newsletter article evoked so much comment that we thought it appropriate to duplicate it here.
Apostrophe man has been to visit us. This is the mad pedant who insists on correct punctuation and who is now insisting that we should put an apostrophe in “toms.” We won’t and we can’t for two very good reaWhat’s in a name?
Apostrophe man has been to visit us. This is the mad pedant who insists on correct punctuation and who is now insisting that we should put an apostrophe in “toms.” We won’t and we can’t for two very good rWhat’s in a name?
Apostrophe man has been to visit us. This is the mad pedant who insists on correct punctuation and who is now insisting that we should put an apostrophe in “toms.” We won’t and we can’t for two very good reasons.
The first reason is that according to the Commonwealth Government Style Manual apostrophes are not to be used in capital letters and as you will have observed all our labels, letterheads and other material are in capitals. And who are we to argue with the Commonwealth Government.
But the second reason is the real one and the one that is our own dirty little secret. The sign on the bridge with the apostrophe in it is wrong! The correct geographical name for the waterhole is Toms without the apostrophe because the waterhole is named not after someone called Tom, but after a local family called Toms.
The Toms family were selectors in the district in the nineteenth century and the waterhole was named after them. When we set up the winery, almost fifteen years ago now, we named it after the waterhole, the nearest geographical feature. It’s a happy coincidence that GK’s grandfather was also called Tom.
So now you know. And why a waterhole and not a creek? Because although the creek runs for kilometres it runs mostly underground, breaking to the surface as waterholes here and there, most obviously where Longs Corner Road crosses it but also at several other places up and down stream. It’s actually very pretty, but it’s really Toms, not Tom’s.
easons.
The first reason is that according to the Commonwealth Government Style Manual apostrophes are not to be used in capital letters and as you will have observed all our labels, letterheads and other material are in capitals. And who are we to argue with the Commonwealth Government.
But the second reason is the real one and the one that is our own dirty little secret. The sign on the bridge with the apostrophe in it is wrong! The correct geographical name for the waterhole is Toms without the apostrophe because the waterhole is named not after someone called Tom, but after a local family called Toms.
The Toms family were selectors in the district in the nineteenth century and the waterhole was named after them. When we set up the winery, almost fifteen years ago now, we named it after the waterhole, the nearest geographical feature. It’s a happy coincidence that GK’s grandfather was also called Tom.
So now you know. And why a waterhole and not a creek? Because although the creek runs for kilometres it runs mostly underground, breaking to the surface as waterholes here and there, most obviously where Longs Corner Road crosses it but also at several other places up and down stream. It’s actually very pretty, but it’s really Toms, not Tom’s.
sons.
The first reason is that according to the Commonwealth Government Style Manual apostrophes are not to be used in capital letters and as you will have observed all our labels, letterheads and other material are in capitals. And who are we to argue with the Commonwealth Government.
But the second reason is the real one and the one that is our own dirty little secret. The sign on the bridge with the apostrophe in it is wrong! The correct geographical name for the waterhole is Toms without the apostrophe because the waterhole is named not after someone called Tom, but after a local family called Toms.
The Toms family were selectors in the district in the nineteenth century and the waterhole was named after them. When we set up the winery, almost fifteen years ago now, we named it after the waterhole, the nearest geographical feature. It’s a happy coincidence that GK’s grandfather was also called Tom.
So now you know. And why a waterhole and not a creek? Because although the creek runs for kilometres it runs mostly underground, breaking to the surface as waterholes here and there, most obviously where Longs Corner Road crosses it but also at several other places up and down stream. It’s actually very pretty, but it’s really Toms, not Tom’s.
Apostrophe man has been to visit us. This is the mad pedant who insists on correct punctuation and who is now insisting that we should put an apostrophe in “toms.” We won’t and we can’t for two very good reasons.
The first reason is that according to the Commonwealth Government Style Manual apostrophes are not to be used in capital letters and as you will have observed all our labels, letterheads and other material are in capitals. And who are we to argue with the Commonwealth Government.
But the second reason is the real one and the one that is our own dirty little secret. The sign on the bridge with the apostrophe in it is wrong! The correct geographical name for the waterhole is Toms without the apostrophe because the waterhole is named not after someone called Tom, but after a local family called Toms.
The Toms family were selectors in the district in the nineteenth century and the waterhole was named after them. When we set up the winery, almost fifteen years ago now, we named it after the waterhole, the nearest geographical feature. It’s a happy coincidence that GK’s grandfather was also called Tom.
So now you know. And why a waterhole and not a creek? Because although the creek runs for kilometres it runs mostly underground, breaking to the surface as waterholes here and there, most obviously where Longs Corner Road crosses it but also at several other places up and down stream. It’s actually very pretty, but it’s really Toms, not Tom’s.

International interest grows

gjkerr — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:38:27 +0000

New enquiries have come in today from USA from balloonists who are coming south of the Equator next March and April. They will start by attending New Zealand’s long running balloon event:

Balloons over Waikato

New Zealand’s premier hot air ballooning event!

24-28 March 2010

This post will serve as an initial invitation to all New Zealand balloonists to attend our

Canowindra Challenge 5th to 11th April 2010

Of course Leeton will also be hosting a balloon event over Easter which is 2nd to 5th April 2010.

19 days of almost non stop ballooning!!!!

Balloon festival is up, up and away

Graham — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:23:14 +0000

INTERNATIONAL EVENT: Graham Kerr says a new international balloon festival could attract thousands of visitors to the region.

BY LISA COX —Central Western Daily Orange NSW

16/10/2009 7:51:00 AM

CANOWINDRA will play host to a major international balloon festival that organisers predict could bring thousands of visitors to the region.The Canowindra Challenge will be a competitive ballooning festival, held in conjunction with a 10 day Festival of Flight in April 2010.

The challenge, which will involve a week of hot air balloon competition and at least $15,000 in prize money, has already attracted interest from balloon pilots from the United States and Japan.

Based on previous balloon festivals in Canowindra, organisers predict the event could attract as many as 4000 visitors to the region and generate tens of thousands of dollars for the local economy.

“Canowindra’s been synonymous with ballooning and is recognised as the balloon capital of Australia,” challenge organiser and chief pilot at Balloon Joy Flights Graham Kerr said.

Read the full Central Western Daily article here

Smoked Meats

gjkerr — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:11:30 +0000

Graham’s recipe for Rare Honey Glazed smoked beef. This is one of the specialty meats that we serve on our ploughman’s lunches at Toms Waterhole Wines.

Use a whole fresh silver-side of beef and cold smoke for eight hours at under 50 degrees Celsius using American oak chips that have been soaked in Toms Waterhole Shiraz for a minimum of twelve months. Baste the outside every hour with wild bush honey. Then raise the temperature of the oven to 100 degrees Celsius and cook until the internal meat temperature reaches 60 degrees for ten minutes. This will give you perfectly rare beef. I use a meat thermometer to gauge the “doneness”.

A bit about smoking meats at home. Search on google for “wood for smoking meats” and you will find numerous sites with lots of info but in Australia, hickory, the traditional smoking wood, is expensive as it is all imported. Of course oak chips are imported also but after the winery is finished with them you won’t pay nearly as much for them as when they are new and unused. The link below has a very detailed description of woods used for smoking around the world. Oak is strong but not overpowering and is a very good wood for beef or lamb. Oak is probably the most versatile of the hard woods.

You may even wish to try this recipe for a your own baked ham for Christmas.

If you would like to try out using our Shiraz soaked U.S. Oak chips order them from our on-line shopping cart.

Forbes Claret Club visit

Graham — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:45:38 +0000

Thirty members of the Forbes Claret Club visited Toms Waterhole Winery for winetasting and endless ploughmans lunch. Resident winemaker Graham Kerr entertained guests with anecdotal wine tales and discussions on the production of fermented foods which include wine, bread, salami, cheese and olives.