WORLD NEWS
PHOTOS/TALES
DIRECTORY
ZAFFARANCHO
FRERES HOME
7th WORLD ZAFARRANCHO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Report by National Vigie ‘Apolonius’
On Sunday 17 March 2010 Brothers from all over the world began to arrive in the spectacular city of Sydney to begin the 7th world Zafarrancho. Our Australian Brothers had been expecting over 200 to attend, but the recent severe earthquake in Chile meant that the delegation from that country was reduced to nineteen. Thankfully none of the Chilean Brothers had lost their lives or sustained serious injury, but around twenty five had had families, homes and businesses seriously affected by the earthquake and they were unable to come to Sydney as planned.
Our National Captain, Old Grog and Janine, together with Fred and Sue Bentley from East Anglia and Richard and Ann Borely from Kent Invicta, attended the Pre-Zaf in New Zealand, but only Old Grog and Janine went on to Sydney where they met up with Apolonius and Ruth for the Zafarrancho proper.
For those arriving early on Sunday, an informal harbour side alfresco barbecue had been arranged at Pyrmont Point, within easy walking distance of the Zaf hotels. Some fifty or so Brothers made the most of the warm Australian sun and the opportunity to meet up early with old friends from around the world. The food was plentiful and the wine flowed freely.
The following morning the Zafarrancho began in earnest with the meeting of National Captains and Vigies at Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney Harbour. A summary of the proceedings will be given at the end of this report.
Those not involved in this meeting were invited to join a walking tour across Sydney Harbour Bridge during which Chris Arnold from the Sydney Table pointed out places of interest from this fantastic vantage point. Others joined an official tour of the interior of the Sydney Opera House, one of the world’s most iconic buildings.
In the evening there was a formal dinner at Doltone House Restaurant. The Australian National Captain, Tim Morris introduced Grand Frère Peter Smith and the other members of Sydney Table, and welcomed the visitors. There was a Table Roll Call. One hundred and sixteen Brothers, representing eleven countries were present. Old Grog and Apolonius, both from Solent Table, were the only representatives from Frère de la Côte (GB). Notable amongst others attending was Brisegalet (Bernard Lefèvre) who had sailed his own boat into Sydney Harbour from the USA to be there.
On Day 2 there was a morning coach tour of the highlights of Sydney including the famous Bondi Beach. At midday we boarded an elegant harbour cruise boat for an excellent lunch and cruised some of the many inlets and bays in the magnificent Sydney Harbour. Later the same afternoon there was an optional tour of the Opal Museum conducted by Captives of the Sydney Table. The “boy’s” option was a pub crawl. The evening was free for informal dining with friends in one of the many different ethnic restaurants all within easy walking distance of the Zaf Hotels in Darling Harbour.
By this stage of the Zaf everybody was in full party mode. New friendships were being forged and old friends were catching up with all their news in the inimitable way that happens when Brothers from all over the world meet together. Differences in language and culture and status are inconsequential and have never been a barrier as far as the Brotherhood is concerned.
In spite of the previous evening’s revelling, nearly everybody was up and ready to make an early start for an excursion to see where Sydneysiders go to recharge their batteries. There are enormous areas of natural bushland, protected from development and providing wonderful walks, all remarkably close to the centre of the city. So, too, are the many beautiful beaches and unparalleled cruising ground for yachts and motorboats. It seems that everybody is involved in watersports of one sort or another. Nearly all schoolchildren are taught to sail from the age of eight, as part of normal school activities. With this ethos, combined with the good climate it is easy to see why Australian youngsters develop a natural confidence in and on the water.
As it happened, the weather was not particularly brilliant for us on this day, but drizzly and overcast conditions did not mar the pleasure of our boat trip around the beautiful Hawkesbury River area and magnificent lunch at the Sydney Motor Yacht Club.
In the evening, some people climbed the arch of Sydney Harbour Bridge and others attended a performance at the Sydney Opera House. Others dined informally in the Spanish Quarter, Chinatown or the magnificent seafood restaurants on the waterfront.
Dining out in Sydney was expensive and the cost was aggravated by the poor exchange rate of sterling against the Australian dollar. But the variety and quality of the fare, even in the most modest of restaurants, was invariably very good indeed.
Another early start on Day 4. This time to the Blue Mountains, inland to the west of Sydney. En route we visited Featherdale Wildlife Reserve and we were able to see most of the animal and bird species indigenous to Australia including koala, kangaroo, crocodile, wombat and Tasmanian devil. The scenery in the Blue Mountains was spectacular. We were sent plummeting down and old mining rail track with a 50% gradient shortly after an excellent hotel lunch!
On the last day of the Zafarrancho, the morning had been deliberately left as free time for Brothers and Captives to pursue their own particular interests. With Sydney offering so much in the way of things to do and see, the choice was difficult. However, in the afternoon, most people chose to take it easy in preparation for the, so called, “Combat Night Extravaganza”.
For the Australian Brothers, “combat dress” consisted of dress shirt, black tie and a short white naval style mess undress jacket with epaulettes showing ‘rank’ and a looping gold chain between the middle buttons of the jacket! For the rest of the world, combat dress meant pirate costume! Some costumes were so elaborate that I suspect their owners had to pay excess baggage charges on their flights.
The party assembled in the foyer of the Novotel in jocular mood and then strolled in loose procession down the road and across the Darling Harbour footbridge towards the Harbourside Restaurant, cheered on by the sport loving Sydney public who were greatly amused by the pirate “invasion”.
Our National Captain, Old Grog and Janine, together with Fred and Sue Bentley from East Anglia and Richard and Ann Borely from Kent Invicta, attended the Pre-
For those arriving early on Sunday, an informal harbour side alfresco barbecue had been arranged at Pyrmont Point, within easy walking distance of the Zaf hotels. Some fifty or so Brothers made the most of the warm Australian sun and the opportunity to meet up early with old friends from around the world. The food was plentiful and the wine flowed freely.
The following morning the Zafarrancho began in earnest with the meeting of National Captains and Vigies at Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney Harbour. A summary of the proceedings will be given at the end of this report.
Those not involved in this meeting were invited to join a walking tour across Sydney Harbour Bridge during which Chris Arnold from the Sydney Table pointed out places of interest from this fantastic vantage point. Others joined an official tour of the interior of the Sydney Opera House, one of the world’s most iconic buildings.
In the evening there was a formal dinner at Doltone House Restaurant. The Australian National Captain, Tim Morris introduced Grand Frère Peter Smith and the other members of Sydney Table, and welcomed the visitors. There was a Table Roll Call. One hundred and sixteen Brothers, representing eleven countries were present. Old Grog and Apolonius, both from Solent Table, were the only representatives from Frère de la Côte (GB). Notable amongst others attending was Brisegalet (Bernard Lefèvre) who had sailed his own boat into Sydney Harbour from the USA to be there.
On Day 2 there was a morning coach tour of the highlights of Sydney including the famous Bondi Beach. At midday we boarded an elegant harbour cruise boat for an excellent lunch and cruised some of the many inlets and bays in the magnificent Sydney Harbour. Later the same afternoon there was an optional tour of the Opal Museum conducted by Captives of the Sydney Table. The “boy’s” option was a pub crawl. The evening was free for informal dining with friends in one of the many different ethnic restaurants all within easy walking distance of the Zaf Hotels in Darling Harbour.
By this stage of the Zaf everybody was in full party mode. New friendships were being forged and old friends were catching up with all their news in the inimitable way that happens when Brothers from all over the world meet together. Differences in language and culture and status are inconsequential and have never been a barrier as far as the Brotherhood is concerned.
In spite of the previous evening’s revelling, nearly everybody was up and ready to make an early start for an excursion to see where Sydneysiders go to recharge their batteries. There are enormous areas of natural bushland, protected from development and providing wonderful walks, all remarkably close to the centre of the city. So, too, are the many beautiful beaches and unparalleled cruising ground for yachts and motorboats. It seems that everybody is involved in watersports of one sort or another. Nearly all schoolchildren are taught to sail from the age of eight, as part of normal school activities. With this ethos, combined with the good climate it is easy to see why Australian youngsters develop a natural confidence in and on the water.
As it happened, the weather was not particularly brilliant for us on this day, but drizzly and overcast conditions did not mar the pleasure of our boat trip around the beautiful Hawkesbury River area and magnificent lunch at the Sydney Motor Yacht Club.
In the evening, some people climbed the arch of Sydney Harbour Bridge and others attended a performance at the Sydney Opera House. Others dined informally in the Spanish Quarter, Chinatown or the magnificent seafood restaurants on the waterfront.
Dining out in Sydney was expensive and the cost was aggravated by the poor exchange rate of sterling against the Australian dollar. But the variety and quality of the fare, even in the most modest of restaurants, was invariably very good indeed.
Another early start on Day 4. This time to the Blue Mountains, inland to the west of Sydney. En route we visited Featherdale Wildlife Reserve and we were able to see most of the animal and bird species indigenous to Australia including koala, kangaroo, crocodile, wombat and Tasmanian devil. The scenery in the Blue Mountains was spectacular. We were sent plummeting down and old mining rail track with a 50% gradient shortly after an excellent hotel lunch!
On the last day of the Zafarrancho, the morning had been deliberately left as free time for Brothers and Captives to pursue their own particular interests. With Sydney offering so much in the way of things to do and see, the choice was difficult. However, in the afternoon, most people chose to take it easy in preparation for the, so called, “Combat Night Extravaganza”.
For the Australian Brothers, “combat dress” consisted of dress shirt, black tie and a short white naval style mess undress jacket with epaulettes showing ‘rank’ and a looping gold chain between the middle buttons of the jacket! For the rest of the world, combat dress meant pirate costume! Some costumes were so elaborate that I suspect their owners had to pay excess baggage charges on their flights.
The party assembled in the foyer of the Novotel in jocular mood and then strolled in loose procession down the road and across the Darling Harbour footbridge towards the Harbourside Restaurant, cheered on by the sport loving Sydney public who were greatly amused by the pirate “invasion”.
On the balcony of The Harbourside Restaurant the wine and beer flowed freely
and in abundance. The pirates were well and truly lubricated by the time the
door of the restaurant were opened. The dining room looked magnificent with banners, flags, and balloons. The tables were strewn with doubloons, jewels and little koalas. There was a swinging band whose considerable volume was all but drowned out by the pirate generated decibels. The atmosphere was truly and brilliantly overwhelming with good humour and bonhomie.
National presentations were made between courses and it was a bit shambolic. The Australians, however, were to be congratulated on keeping a strict control on ‘national speechifying’, which, as we all know, can kill a party stone dead! There were four presentations from the Brits, - a very nice mounted brass plaque, made by John Eberhardt, went down particularly well. A cheer went up from the room when his name was mentioned. A framed print of the landing of the first British Fleet in Botany Bay and a photograph of Solent Table, taken at the Anglo-Australian Friendship Link in Old Portsmouth, were presented by Old Grog. Apolonius presented a framed print of the Olympic Sailing area of Portland Bay, sent by Dorset Table, together with an invitation to Brothers worldwide who wanted to visit the Olympic sailing events to make their intentions known early so that Dorset could arrange to look after them properly. Our gifts were all very well received and our thanks are due to those who took the trouble to prepare them.
Also between courses, various national groups wanted to get up on the stage and sing. It was all a bit of a cacophony, but the Dutch and Germans joined us in a rendering of “My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean” (-with appropriate new words!) The meal was excellent, - even though it was spread out over several hours! The wine supply never dried up!! One of the Sydney Table members was in the wine trade and had been given the task to ensure that there was always plenty of wine and beer. Amos succeeded admirably.
The band turned up their amplifiers to match the human decibel level and everybody danced late into the night.
Had the Zafarrancho been a success? Resoundingly YES!
Had it been expensive? Yes!
Had it been value for money? – Absolutely! The Australians had gone for ‘quality’ every step of the way. The events, the venues, the food, the excursions and the total commitment of the Australian hosts were second to none. This was a very successful Zafarrancho which will have a very special place in the memory of all who attended.
There was much talk beforehand, both here and overseas, about the cost. All I would say is that there are some things you cannot put a price on. A World Zafarrancho of this calibre is one of them.
“Life is too precious for words. Don’t talk about it. Live it!”
door of the restaurant were opened. The dining room looked magnificent with banners, flags, and balloons. The tables were strewn with doubloons, jewels and little koalas. There was a swinging band whose considerable volume was all but drowned out by the pirate generated decibels. The atmosphere was truly and brilliantly overwhelming with good humour and bonhomie.
National presentations were made between courses and it was a bit shambolic. The Australians, however, were to be congratulated on keeping a strict control on ‘national speechifying’, which, as we all know, can kill a party stone dead! There were four presentations from the Brits, -
Also between courses, various national groups wanted to get up on the stage and sing. It was all a bit of a cacophony, but the Dutch and Germans joined us in a rendering of “My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean” (-
The band turned up their amplifiers to match the human decibel level and everybody danced late into the night.
Had the Zafarrancho been a success? Resoundingly YES!
Had it been expensive? Yes!
Had it been value for money? – Absolutely! The Australians had gone for ‘quality’ every step of the way. The events, the venues, the food, the excursions and the total commitment of the Australian hosts were second to none. This was a very successful Zafarrancho which will have a very special place in the memory of all who attended.
There was much talk beforehand, both here and overseas, about the cost. All I would say is that there are some things you cannot put a price on. A World Zafarrancho of this calibre is one of them.
“Life is too precious for words. Don’t talk about it. Live it!”
ZAFFARANCHO 2014 WILL BE HOSTED BY OUR FRENCH BROTHERS