National Conference

Program
Accommodation Options
Travelling to Tasmania
Travel options to Hadspen
Conference Packages and Registration
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Location Maps
Useful links
Studs to Visit

2012 NATIONAL WHITE SUFFOLK CONFERENCE

Hadspen Cricket Grounds, Hadspen, Tasmania.

Sunday 12th February – Wednesday 15th February 2012

Program:

>> Download Printable version of Program

SUNDAY 12th February - Arrival

Launceston Airport Pickup
For anyone requiring transfer to conference accommodation at Hadspen. Email keen.mcl@bigpond.com with your arrival time.

6:30pm Informal BBQ dinner – brief rundown on what there is to do & see in the area and around Tassie presented by Sue from Entally Estate.

Monday 13th February

8:15am
Mini buses departing from accommodation to conference venue. Or morning stroll if desired
8:30am
Welcome & housekeeping
9:00am
Sheep CRC – Prof James Rowe - Pilot Project updates/ Information Nucleus
Prof Dave Pethick – “Next generation meat quality”
10:15am Morning Tea
10:45am
OJD/Map status latest info straight from National Johne’s Disease colloquium just a few days prior– Dr Bruce Jackson, Senior Veterinary Officer, Tas.
Phil Jarvie – Pfizer (OJD & Eryvac).
11:30am
Bruce Michael – ‘Murrayfield” produces first and second cross white Suffolk premium lambs. Their lamb is sold under the label Bruny Island, Murrayfield. Murrayfield lamb comes from a property that has a strong commitment to the environment and preserves its important indigenous heritage.
12:15pm Lunch (after lunch option of below or guided shopping trip to Launceston)
1:00pm
Split into two groups – one group:
Lamb Production Workshop – based on the Lamb Production Class at Adelaide Royal, learn what industry is looking for and why:
- Physical measurements
- Scanning demo by Stephan Spiker (Lambplan)
- Skin assessment by skin buyer from JBS Swift, Longford.
- Physical judging of these sheep by Keith McLauchlan who has judged at most royal shows throughout Aust and NZ this will include Ring Craft, & how he goes about judging large classes.
2:30pm Afternoon Tea and swap sessions
3:00pm
Workshop with pen of lambs: What JBS Swift & Woolworths are looking for in their lambs.
David Findlay –Woolworths buyer. ‘What is the ideal lamb for Woolworths’.
Mark Webb –One of the largest individual buyers & sellers of sheep in the state. What he looks for when buying flock rams/stores and heavy lambs for clients.
Tom Archer – head livestock buyer for JBS Swift, Longford.
4:30pm Forum
6:30pm Casual dinner at Conference venue
Visit by Tassie Devil.

Tueday 14th February
From 8:30am Buses from accommodation to conference venue
9:00am
Hands on workshop: How to session...Find your way around AWSA web site/completing annual returns – Sue Piggott-Bizboost.
Lambplan website …all your questions answered – new updates to Lambplan website/how to generate sale catalogues-Hamish & Sam.
10:00am Morning tea
10:15am
Pedigree Wizard workshop – Ensure you are getting the correct Lambplan data on your sheep - general inputting of data-where to do it & how/groups & how they work/linkages etc – Tom
11:00am
Promoting your product:
- Web & advert design/articles –identify & target your market: Sue Piggott – Bizboost.
- Diane Rae from Grandvewe Cheeses-all about organic sheep cheese and marketing this unique product.
- Red Feather Inn’s owner, Lydia Nettlefold: A terrific example of effective & appealing marketing - how she went about it.
11:45am
MLA update including – “The spring campaign showcases the variety of fashionable lamb cuts available to suit all tastes and budgets”.
“Masterpieces program-aims to increase foodservice demand for the lesser used cuts of lamb”.
12:30pm Lunch
1:00pm Annual General Meeting
2:30pm
Red Feather Inn for “go the whole hogget” - demo of whole lamb breakdown for the average farmer-looking beyond roasts & chops.
4:00pm-6:00pm
‘Garden Fete’ – relax in the picturesque gardens of Red Feather Inn. Showcase of Tassie products- great examples of marketing & promotion of their products: Including Waverley woollen products -Aust oldest woollen mill.
7pm – 11:00pm
Dinner at Red Feather Inn – MC: Kevin Moore .
Guest speaker: Jackie Brown. Tas Rural Woman of the year 2011.

Wed 15th February
8:30am to whenever Buses departing for farewell breakfast at Historic Entally Estate & Winery
Leisurely tour of house and gardens.
Bus transport to airport to fly out or pick up hire car for holiday.
Opportunity to visit some studs in the area and then maybe head south for more touring and stud visits.
9:30am Superwhites meeting at conference venue.

>> Download Printable version of Program

A few optional extras have been included for prior to the official conference start on Sunday evening should you be interested:
• Golf at Quamby Golf Club from 2:30pm on Sunday 12th for anyone arriving early. Mini bus pick up from Hadspen Holiday Park or Red Feather Inn. Please indicate on the registration form if you would like to participate in the golf afternoon or email Rob Keen keen.mcl@bigpond.com
• Festivale – Launceston’s taste of Tasmania which runs 10th, 11th, 12th February.
Visit www.festivale.com.au for more information.

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Accommodation options:

Group accommodation is at the Hadspen Holiday Park which is part of the Big4 group. (A 10% discount is available for Big 4 members).
Contact Hadspen Holiday Park direct on:
Phone: (03) 6393 7142
Email: hadspen@discoveryparks.com.au
Website: www.discoveryparks.com.au
If the Hadspen Holiday Park becomes fully booked then alternative budget accommodation is Rutherglen Holiday Village at Hadspen.
Phone: (03) 63936442, or (03) 63937649
www.rutherglentas.com
If you book here it is recommended that you hire a car (5 minute drive to conference venue).

*** There are no vacancies for Saturday night at the Hadspen Holiday Park - we recommend that you stay in Launceston - it is only 20 minutes from Launceston to Hadspen.

If you are coming early dont forget Festivale in Launceston www.festivale.com.au for Friday night and/or Saturday.
We can't actually brag that we have Daryl Braithwaite and Richard Clapton playing at the conference but they are playing at Festivale.
A lovely boutique accommodation spot in the area is Red Feather Inn which is within walking distance to the Holiday Park and conference venue.
Contact Red Feather Inn direct on:
Phone: (03) 6393 6506
Email: innquiries@redfeatherinn.com.au
Website: www.redfeatherinn.com.au

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Travel Options:

Spirit of Tasmania (day and night sailings). Docks at Devonport (approx 1hour from Hadspen). Good option if bringing own car or campervan.
Book as soon as possible if planning on bringing a car or campervan (spaces are limited and always fill early for this time of year)
For online bookings and more information visit:
www.spiritoftasmania.com.au or phone 1800 634 906
Virgin Blue or Jetstar. Launceston airport is the closest airport to Hadspen (approx 20mins). Other airports are Hobart and Devonport if touring before or after the conference. From the airports, car and campervan hire available or another option is bus to Launceston and then bus to Hadspen. We will have transport available for the duration of the conference for those requiring it.

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Travel from Launceston to Hadspen:

Travel from Launceston airport if arriving prior to Sunday and do not wish to hire a car:
Buses and taxi from airport to Launceston (should not need to book prior).

Bus from Launceston to Hadspen on Sunday:

Metro 132201 or www.metrotas.com.au for timetable. Pickup from St John Street (centre of Launceston) and drives to Haspen right past the Hadspen Holiday park and then on to Rutherglen.

Shuttle Bus to Hadspen:

Pickup times for the mini bus from the airport on Sunday will be:

9:20am
1:40pm
5:45pm

Please email keen.mcl@bigpond.com to book one of these buses.
Buses will go straight to Hadspen Holiday Park and Rutherglen. They will then be used for the duration of the conference to ferry people to and from the conference venue.

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Conference Packages and Registration

FULL PACKAGE
Adult All activities and meals from Sunday 12th through to Wednesday 16th.
Excludes drinks with evening meals and Monday/Tuesday breakfast.
*Early Bird: $150.00 per person (GST incl) Full Rate: $215.00 per person (GST incl)

JUNIOR PACKAGE
For members / children attending under the age of 18 years.
All activities and meals from Sunday 12th through to Wednesday 16th.
Excludes drinks with evening meals and Monday/Tuesday breakfast.
*Early Bird: $100.00 per person (GST incl) Full Rate: $180.00 per person (GST incl)

>> Download REGISTRATION FORM

Conference Facilities at Hadspen Holiday Park. River Fishing nearby!