Farmwalk 2007

17^th and 18^th February 2007

This date has been chosen due to the main hotel being booked out the last weekend in February and Harold Adem may not be available to talk. The 17th does have accommodation but there is a truck and bike show that weekend in Colac so we would be wise to book very quickly. Midtown Motel have agreed to a charge of $89/ twin or single if we can guarantee at least 15 rooms. We  have made a tentative booking for 15 at the Midtown Motel.

The motels are: 

• Colac Mid City Motor Inn (3 star) - 1800 557 557 *normally $99 double/twin, $89 if more than 15 rooms taken,
• Otway gate Motel (3 star) - 5231 3244 $89 double, 
• Colac Central Hotel-Motel (2 star) - 5231 5777 $83 double

Colac MidCity Motor Inn is the closest to our seminars venue. They are prepared to offer association members a reduced rate (reducing it to a flat rate of $80 whether its single or double) if over 15 people from the association stay there. Each member needs to book their own accommodation so mention Helene Bell and the Walnut Association to qualify for the reduction (subject to the 15 rooms being booked).

Re Colac venues for the seminars: 

• Saturday and Sunday morning at COPACC. It has a good meeting room facility and we can flow out into the gallery area so there is plenty of space - it is also just across the road from the station if any one comes late they can walk to the venue.
• Wiseman's restaurant has a capacity for 50 guests (without crowding) He will produce a meal with a walnut theme. As he has only limited supplies of Victorian walnut products he would appreciate help with supplies of walnut oil, kernel and pickled walnuts (if available from our growers).

After the Farmwalk:

Colac is close to the Great Ocean Road and after the conference, we might like to explore this area. The Fly is about 45 min away and is a beautiful rainforest canopy walk. Delegates to the Farmwalk will receive an iformation pack about the area when registering with details of what to see around the area and of Red Rock and its geology.

Registration:

Please forward your cheque for registration to:

Dennis Ting,
AWIA Treasurer,
425 Serpells Tce
Donvale Vic 3111

Cheques should be with Dennis no later than 14^th February. 

Registration is $121 for members and associates of members and $143 for non-members ($130 + $13 GST). Non-members are welcome to attend.

The programme commences at 8:30am, Saturday 17^th February.

Agenda

Friday 16th Jan - Train leaves Melbourne 18.28 arrives Colac 20.24 (Contact Chris Bell 0427180003 if you wish to be collected to and from the station)

- for those who arrive the night before we suggest New Deli Cafe and wine bar in Gellibrand St may be a good gathering point.

Saturday 17th Febuary 2007

8.30 Registration at COPPAC cnr Rae and Gellibrand ST Colac (Opp. train station).

9.00 Welcome - David Woodcock.

9.10 Identifying Growers Issues - Helene Bell

9.20 - Stressed Walnut Orchards and their Management.

               Chris Bell - What happens to Stressed Trees

               Harold Adem  Managing Stressed Orchards

10.40      Morning Tea

11.00       Panel Discussion

11.50      Agreeing on growers main issues for Sunday's Panel

12.00      Meet at Car park

12.10 - Convoy leaves for Alvie

12.30  View of the district from Red Rock lookout

1.00pm Travel down the hill to Red Rock winery

1.00    Lunch at Red Rock Winery.  (Lunch speaker Hillary Jankelson "Cooking with Walnuts" - Colin Jackson negotiation - to be confirmed to John or David this afternoon)

2.30  Convoy leaves for Chris and Helene's Farm, 825 Nalangil Rd, Corunnun

Observe patch budding if weather permits and management of trees in the following year.

Signs and causes  of stress in Walnuts among the 7 different varieties.

Autopsy of dead trees - what to look for Environment records  and irrigation management.

Look at a home made computerised irrigation system

5.00  Farm tour ends.

People are welcome to walk down to the farm's lake foreshore and look at out revegetation and volcanic extrusions

7.00 Dinner at Wiseman's Restaurant Murray St Colac - Walnut cuisine. Speaker: Alberto Valier, An Italian Walnut Grower (to be confirmed)

Sunday 18th February

9.00  Lochie McKenzie: Management of trees on restricted water

9.30  Panel Discussion - Walnut growers identified Issues

10.30 Morning Tea

11.00 Virtual Farm walks - 10min for growers to talk and show pictures of their farms. 1) Chris Rowe. 2) Colin Jack - to be confirmed 3) ... 4)...

12.00 Update on market issues /  International Symposium / Suggestions for next years Field day

12.45  Leave for Lunch at the Botanical Gardens Cafe on Lake Colac

Members leave in their own time

3.00pm  Train Leaves for Melbourne - register with Helene Bell if transport to station is required

Why Australian Walnuts are better:

  Free from Pesticides

  Free from chemical treatments

  100%  sold in the year of harvest

  They taste better

Australian Walnut Industry Association: Working to benefit both industry and consumers

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