The Down-Under Reunion
Port Macquarie, NSW Australia
25-27 April 2008

Although not until 2008, we are encouraged by the response to this gathering.

We are pleased to report that the Blencowe database of 11,000 entries going back 700 years is making its way to the reunion. This will cause a hive of activity and we will endeavour to make access available for the week prior and after the actual reunion.

As a meeting opportunity for overseas and interstate visitors, Association members in Sydney have suggested a cruise on the magnificent Sydney Harbour during the week prior to the reunion in Port Macquarie. A volunteer guide of the Sydney Botanical Gardens has offered to show our unique flora to visitors to Sydney. Please keep these activities in mind if you are travelling via Sydney.

Although the reunion is set for 3 days it is expected that many people will come for longer. Friday 25th April is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand making a long weekend. It is the last weekend of the school holidays in many Australian states and New Zealand.

We are planning to be flexible here. We encourage families with school children to come several days early and finish with the reunion weekend. Accommodation prices will drop significantly after the weekend when school resumes, so we anticipate those who are not locked into the school system to begin their holiday with the reunion and stay on for a while after. This option will probably be the more attractive to overseas visitors. Accommodation packages at reduced rates will be more readily attainable after the school holidays.

With Port Macquarie being a popular centre for conferences, we will need to book venues twelve months ahead. If you are planning to attend, please let us know. It would also be advisable to consider booking by March/April next year. After looking at accommodation options on www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au , contact Pam Milne of the Port Macquarie Visitors Centre, Email: Pam.Milne @ pmhc.nsw.gov.au to obtain packages in several price ranges with mention of the Blencowe reunion.

For more tourist information visit www.portmacquarieinfo.com.au. We have sent tourist information on Port Macquarie to Jack in Oxford. It is available as a brochure, in DVD and CD-ROM. European cousins can contact him Jackblencowe @ aol.com if they want to know more; mention what format you want. Others contact us on blencowefamiliesaustralia @ yahoo.com.au

See yah in Port! Anne & Fran

Information on both the 2007 & 2008 reunions is now on the website - visit www.blencowefamilies.com and follow the links to Reunions.