I have just arrived home from my first ever letterhead meet... and have just said to myself. I WILL NEVER AGAIN MISS OUT ON A MEET AGAIN. The meet was hosted by Bod Harper of Vogue Signs in the township of Burrawang which is about 1 and a half hours south west of Sydney. No matter where I travel in this great country it always surprises me with hidden beauty of this land, and the people of the beautiful town of Burrawang welcomed us with opened arms. The meet was made all the more exciting by having Steve and Barb Shortreed here! The work (if you could call it work) consisted of sign writing the Pub, the school, the general store, the butchers, cemetery. (I'll be uploading photos soon.) They say a picture paints a thousand words so I'll let the photos do the talking. Friday started with temps around 35c, with the sun beaming down fresh country air the place was a buzz with excitement, spending my time slapping enamel on the butcher shop and bashing out a mock block on some text, and talking crap I was having a great time. Friday afternoon knocked off & had few quite beers with everyone at the pub and grabbed an early night... Saturday was more of the same, lots of laughs and loads of paint, what more could a man want?? Saturday night the town of Burrawang hosted a dinner dance. A great meal, some heal & toe polka kicked off the evening festivities... It would be a night to remember, if I could only remember! Sunday morning was like a scene from Dawn of the Dead, "Very tired" sign writers sprawled out, moaning and staggering their way up the main street to breakfast, after a quick breakfast we had the morning to finish up and I was on my way back home.... I would just like to express my thanks to all the older signer's who took the time to talk to me over the weekend, let me pick their brains and work along side them. I have gained more knowledge this weekend than I have in a long time.
Look forward to Toowoomba next year,
Cheers.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Hi Clint, glad you got home safely- I'm typing this from Paul & Jayne Jordan's place. It's hard to tell what day of the week it is- it was such a good meet! Congratulations and a great ginormous thanks to Bob Harper and JOhn Jordan for putting it on, plus all helpers.
That's right, we'll be hosting next year's meet- in later October (the date still to be confirmed, in collusion with the NZ mob). It'll be at a great little/big museum just 45 km west of Toowoomba. They have old shearers' quarters accommodation on site for 70ish people, and tents for those who are happy with that, and catering on site, and space, and atmosphere, and a camp fire, and they've been trying to get me to organise a meet there for a couple of years now!
When Steve & Barb return, we'll organise a poll for extra ideas and brainstorming, but the consensus is a panel-jam with hands-on workshops in lots of skills- and maybe only one wall- a shed gable 30 ft x 6 ft that was beautifully painted in 1980 and needs redoing...26 years later!
So please email ideas or to be demo volunteers/instructors in the meantime!
It was a great meet with heaps of new faces!
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
Sounds like you guys had a real blast. I hope to make it next year seeing that it will be so close.
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
Home safe and sound 5am this morning after an all night drive.
Was going to post some pics but the Letterville Album site appears to be down.
Top Meet!
The hospitality was excellent. We even got "Morning and Afternoon Tea Picnic Baskets" brought around to us working on walls. Complete with Tea or Coffee ... fresh baked scones with home made jam and fresh cream and choc chip cookies!
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