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.

Invitations sent out

gjkerr — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:01:38 +0000

Invitations to all balloonists to participate in next years Canowindra Challenge Balloon competition have now been sent out

Hot Air Ballooning with MotionX-GPS

gjkerr — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:01:17 +0000

Hot Air Ballooning with MotionX-GPS

Tony is a hot air balloon pilot, taking flight from scenic sites in Colorado near the Rocky Mountains. He uses MotionX-GPS to create tracks for sharing with clients, and to maintain a logbook of his flights. Using the MotionX’s easy sharing features he can email track stats to clients with a link to view the track in Google Maps, as well as post directly to Facebook to share with friends. He uses the GPX file from the email to create graphic elevation profiles using uTrack and stunning 3D flight profiles in Google Earth.

Tony told us, “I am using Fullpower’s MotionX-GPS app for tracking our pleasure balloon flights in beautiful Colorado. I use the track recorder page to help track fuel usage during the flight. Most of our clients like to know how high we got and how far we traveled on the flight. MotionX-GPS makes it so easy to let them see all of the specifics of the flight they just took. I normally post the flight to my Facebook page before we even have the balloon packed up. If you are looking for an app for any outdoor activity, MotionX-GPS is for you.”

And how about this guy??

Sky Writing with MotionX-GPS

Del Olson has been flying a 1949 Cessna C-140A airplane and using MotionX-GPS in a very unique way. He has been skywriting with the GPS track! Here are a few pictures, his track details and an account of his most recent flight.

Read more at courtesy of EDUPOV and Mobilisethis

Could this be the future of judging balloon competitions?

All participants in the 2010 Canowindra Challenge are guaranteed of free software for i-phones and Google phones that will incorporate “Live to Web” applications.

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.

Freshly grown gourmet

gjkerr — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:48:51 +0000

Story courtesy of Canowindra News

4/11/2009 9:42:00 AM

Hospitality students hosting a Lunch on the Lawn last week didn’t let water restrictions or the heat get the better of their event last week, creating their own unique interpretation of the theme.

Supported by Canowindra companies such as Gaskill Greens, Jo Robson, Swinging Bridge, Toms Waterhole, TAFE students from the Cowra campus played an integral role in the Sydney International Food Festival held throughout October.

They hosted a 100 Mile Lunch on the Lawn, utilising produce and wines from producers in a 100 mile radius.

“But because there was no beautiful lawn outside, we brought the lawn in,” laughed Dianne Johnson Head Teacher Lachlan Cluster, at the inside, air conditioned event.

To read the full story click here

Fingers crossed for final

gjkerr — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:08:30 +0000

Canowindra News Article

28/10/2009 10:57:00 AM

Three businesses in the Central West have been nominated as

finalists in the 2009 NSW Tourism Awards.

Canowindra’s The Old Vic Inn, Balloon Joys Flights and the Black Sheep in of Molong, are in the

running for the 2009 NSW Tourism title.

For the Old Vic Inn, this is the second time they have been finalist, actually winning the state wide

competition last year.

This is the time Graham and Jan Kerr of Balloon Joy Flights have been in the state awards.

“We were very excited to find out we were finalists. It is fabulous for business and nice to be recognised,” Mrs Kerr said.

Read the full story here.

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.

Cleanskin Wine

Graham — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:07:54 +0000

Why do people buy cleanskin wines? Well I got to wondering about this…… if there is no label then there is no brand and thus no history so it’s really like a lucky dip as I see it

You see supermarket “no frills” and “black and gold” started out with the cleanskin concept for groceries, except they had to put certain mandatory packaging information on the packet and all of a sudden people started to recognise the packaging and woops you have a brand.

So back to the question….do you buy them because they are cheap, you like a lucky dip or you want to put your own label on it. Maybe you are having a function or a party and don’t care what you serve your friends!

OK what about from the winery’s point of view? Why do winery’s sell cleanskins.?

Now this might start to throw some light on what you the buyer can expect when buying cleanskins.

Excess stock…we made too much of that wine….It’s not selling as well as we had hoped……well the wine really isn’t up to our standards to put our name on it…..the grapes weren’t much good but this is the best we could do…… no-one drinks that style of wine anymore……….there’s a wine glut lets just dump it for the best price we can get……etc..etc..etc

Sometimes wineries that are exporting to several different countries will bottle a wine or a portion of it as cleanskins because they don’t know which label it will be sold under or how the importing country will want it labelled.

Wine labels can cost as much as $1.00 each so untill you have a sure sale why invest another $1.00 a bottle to store it in the warehouse?

So what do you think? Give us your opinion.

Would you buy cleanskins? If so have a look at Toms Waterhole Cleanskins and order on line.