Greta Valley Rally (4-5 April 2009)

[3umph]

$5 a 440 can of Woodstock
$2 a 330 can of beer
$3 a 440 can of beer

AT the 'Off the Rails' on the same weekend.

The Greta prices should have been close to that surely??

Standard pub retail bar prices applied....

one so called deal was these Wanted brand bourbon or rums RTD bottles at 2 for $10 or $6.50 each...

[deeanddude]

Well, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our second sundown rally! Great people, not too crowded. A nice wind down to the summer rally season.

And judging by the amount of bottles and cans around the ground, it looked as though plenty of people were happy consuming their own. Will be back next year for sure.

[gman49]

As far as I understood it, all funds raised, minus expenses were to go to the Cholmondeley Childrens Home, a great charity for disadvantaged kids! And there was the volenteer Fire Brigade with thier food stall raising funds for themselves, a must in a rural area like that.

I am annoyed the publican didnt see past his nose, and drop the bar prices as advertised. All he did was offer a jug of Matsons brew, what ever its called (their brand brew) and a free full 7, plus 2 bottles of some weird bourbon for $10, which is a standard bar special anyway. The food prices in the cafe were their standard everyday prices.
If it wasnt for the rally, the publican would have never had that many people visiting in one go. He would have done a roaring trade. Its sad really.
Lots of people were talking about it, and didnt bring their own takeaways because of the advertisement. It was expensive. We blew $200 for the night! We brought takeaways over the bar cause it worked out cheaper than the bar prices for a single serve.
That was the only bummer for me and many, otherwise it was a good rally with great people. And thats the main thing.
Though it was strange not to see a tatt or titty show.

All fair comment from your point of view. BUT.....
To be clear, Not all funds raised go to the Cholmobeley Childrens Home and this has never been claimed to be so. The rural fire brigade sausage sizzle was organised by the caravan park people. (which was OK)
Normal bar prices, jugs are $9.50, Speights and DB were reduced to $9.20, yes I agree it would have been nice if they were less. Greta Brews (aka Matsons) were reduced to 8.50 and a free 7 oz (value $3) yea if you were just drinking 7's you would notice. Apparently the weird Bourbons are usually $8?? each. The number of beer sales in the pub didn't justify all the extra staff that were put on so they have learnt a lesson from that. I have knowledge of the over all sales. The number of takeaways and people bringing in their own beer was very extreme. PMC did not police it due to sympathy and the GVC&B didn't police the taking of take aways into the bar. (not the usually acceptable thing). Over half of the empties were from bought in (not sold at GV)

There was also a huge amount of glassware from the pub down in the camp ground.

The rally itself is called the Sundown Retreat, the original aim was that it was a retreat and a little different to your standard hell raising rally, with some mild fun friendly games. It never has had tit's and Tats and probably never will. Its a chance to retreat from the rat race and put your feet up.

How would you feel if there were only cans available for $2 for beer and $4 for spirits like at other rallies?

[gman49]

And it was good food as well



I prefer NOT to BYO my on piss and thats my choice... even tho it is not allowed at most rallies a lot still BYO... and it also takes up room on the bike... hence I prefer to buy on site

I also would of preferred the profits for what I drunk to go to a charity or organization and not the publican as many others said as well... and with the pub the only local place to buy piss from it was all into his pockets...

The live band was also pub based or was the dude banging away on the drums the organized band??? (very enjoyable to watch him )
The games as you have said and the raffles were based and sold at the pub and the other food other then the BBQ was there as well...

So if you wanted most things on offer it was really a pub based rally hence a night at the Greta Valley Pub....

I spent some time in the pub as I was also catching up with some of the locals that I have known for many years.... I also spent time talking shit and listing to the guy at the bottom of the hill on the drums around the drum and bathtub fires as well...



It would be good if they come to the party and gave some of there proffits for the night to your club to go towards the charity


I did enjoy myself... never said I did not... but the main thing that was a piss off was some of the prices that were charged and the lack of reduced prices at the bar and the organization that was reaping the rewards for everyone being there was not the charity or a deserving local organization but the local pub...

The dude on the drums was a busker friend of the PMC and asked if he could come along and it was thought that since we were going to have a bath fire down there it might provide some extra entertainment, he asked nothing but we dropped some $'s in as a donation.
The band at the pub was organised and paid for by the pub. This band is twice the price of the usually musicians they use.
The raffles that were being sold were all Sundown raffles and were not just at the pub, they were sold to people around the grounds as well on both nights. Funds go towards PMC donation to Chomley.
The pub owner HAS come to the party with some very good offers which will also be seen in the future.
BTW the pub unselfishly stepped back from making breakfasts to allow the PMC to do so.

Come along on the Chomley ride on the 2nd of June, meet at Princess Margaret Hospital car park at 1 pm, buy a badge for $10.

[gman49]

$5 a 440 can of Woodstock
$2 a 330 can of beer
$3 a 440 can of beer

AT the 'Off the Rails' on the same weekend.

The Greta prices should have been close to that surely??

It would have been nice, but the PMC has never stood on the toes of the pub, what with it supposed to be a Retreat as such.
But with pressure to provide a "Rally" the PMC are in discussion with the Publican, see other post!

[3umph]

The dude on the drums was a busker friend of the PMC and asked if he could come along and it was thought that since we were going to have a bath fire down there it might provide some extra entertainment, he asked nothing but we dropped some $'s in as a donation.

As said he was good to listen to and watch

The raffles that were being sold were all Sundown raffles and were not just at the pub, they were sold to people around the grounds as well on both nights. Funds go towards PMC donation to Chomley.

Sweet as... I only saw the ones at the pub being sold not down at the grounds

The pub owner HAS come to the party with some very good offers which will also be seen in the future.
BTW the pub unselfishly stepped back from making breakfasts to allow the PMC to do so.

good to hear...

many a moon ago that pub use to rock like that every friday and sat night believe it of not.... with good bands on most weekends and come rugby season when teams stopped in on sat nights it was so packed it was easier to go to the other side of the bar by going through the corridor by the toilets.... shame so many of the worker that were employed locally are no longer about... between the fishermen and the farmers there were some real wild nights there...

Come along on the Chomley ride on the 2nd of June, meet at Princess Margaret Hospital car park at 1 pm, buy a badge for $10.

I will see what I am up to.... it's for a good cause

[The Lone Rider]

Come along on the Chomley ride on the 2nd of June, meet at Princess Margaret Hospital car park at 1 pm, buy a badge for $10.

Steve, can you make sure you send me a text reminder for that or email me a flyer? Me and Jeremy and the others will be there.

Me and memory not so good no more.

[3umph]

Steve, can you make sure you send me a text reminder for that or email me a flyer? Me and Jeremy and the others will be there.

Me and memory not so good no more.

even better if the post up on here closer to the date

[kram]

Went up for ride saturday with about 7 or 8 others had a good afternoon with good company of people somethings were said about price,s but to my way of thinking this is part of the parcel as have been to others where the price,s are even higher like $5 a can of beer. Not the reason i go i go for the ride and for the company of like minded people If i do get pissd in the process well all the beter for me I did not stay the night this time as had other commitments back in CHCH but look forword to next year thanks pmc for work put in

[gman49]

Steve, can you make sure you send me a text reminder for that or email me a flyer? Me and Jeremy and the others will be there.

Me and memory not so good no more.

Will do, can someone do something about the weather, we don't really want it to snow this year....
I recall that you are in a short list to be a dad, congratulations

[Trumpess]

Normal bar prices, jugs are $9.50, Speights and DB were reduced to $9.20, yes I agree it would have been nice if they were less. Greta Brews (aka Matsons) were reduced to 8.50 and a free 7 oz (value $3) yea if you were just drinking 7's you would notice. Apparently the weird Bourbons are usually $8?? each. The number of beer sales in the pub didn't justify all the extra staff that were put on so they have learnt a lesson from that. I have knowledge of the over all sales. The number of takeaways and people bringing in their own beer was very extreme. PMC did not police it due to sympathy and the GVC&B didn't police the taking of take aways into the bar. (not the usually acceptable thing). Over half of the empties were from bought in (not sold at GV)

The rally itself is called the Sundown Retreat, the original aim was that it was a retreat and a little different to your standard hell raising rally, with some mild fun friendly games. It never has had tit's and Tats and probably never will. Its a chance to retreat from the rat race and put your feet up.

How would you feel if there were only cans available for $2 for beer and $4 for spirits like at other rallies?

Thanks for your detailed reply, has definately opened my eyes!

As I said in an earlier post, the rally was great! Great place, nice people, and of course all for a bloody good cause.
My hat goes off to those who organize any rally, as I can only imagine what goes on behind the scenes.

My bitch was about the supposed reduced bar prices.
It was advertised on your flyer as being so, but the publican only placed the reduced prices on 2 products, one being his own brand. So it was tough luck if you didn’t like those particular brands available.
I expected the reduced bar prices to be right across the bar, definitely more than what they had on offer. If I was more the wiser, I would have definitely taken my own to drink, than pay the prices offered, but really I didn’t have any choice because I believed what I read and was obviously ill prepared to what was actually on offer. Because there were supposid reduced bar prices, I didn’t see the need to bring my own.
I questioned one of the bar staff about this, and all she said was the 2 items being offered. I then asked her if some of the profits on normal bar prices were going to be donated to the charity concerned, and she replyed, not that she was aware of.
We ended up purchasing “take-aways” across the bar, because it worked out much cheaper than a single serve. This is what seen us through the night. I would expect to spend $100 easy on a night out at any bar in town or where ever, but at a rally? Ouch!

In regards to normal rally prices on beer and RTDs, yes those are good prices and have been what I am accustomed to at a rally. Yes, you’d expect there to be a small variation in prices per rally, comes with the territory I suppose.

Also in regards to your rally actually being a retreat, perhaps, just a suggestion, start calling it a retreat instead of a rally?

[The Lone Rider]

Will do, can someone do something about the weather, we don't really want it to snow this year....

Other than having to change my pants after the ride, the snow was great last year!

Numbers that showed up last year.. not so good

[deeanddude]

From a personal perspective, if you go to a rally, and not take your own supplies (food or drink) then you accept the prices and variety on offer. I accept that, and allow for it in choosing which rallies i go to, so that i can afford it.

[gman49]

Thanks for your detailed reply, has definately opened my eyes!

As I said in an earlier post, the rally was great! Great place, nice people, and of course all for a bloody good cause.
My hat goes off to those who organize any rally, as I can only imagine what goes on behind the scenes.

Thanks

My bitch was about the supposed reduced bar prices.
It was advertised on your flyer as being so, but the publican only placed the reduced prices on 2 products, one being his own brand. So it was tough luck if you didn’t like those particular brands available.

We were assured in the planning of the rally that bar prices would be reduced like they had been the year before. We were as suprised and dissapointed as everyone else was.

I then asked her if some of the profits on normal bar prices were going to be donated to the charity concerned, and she replyed, not that she was aware of.

They did supply us with items to raffle and contributed $150 worth of prizes for the pre-paid entry winner.

We ended up purchasing “take-aways” across the bar, because it worked out much cheaper than a single serve. This is what seen us through the night. I would expect to spend $100 easy on a night out at any bar in town or where ever, but at a rally? Ouch!

As did the PMC, Last year I spent over $200 in the pub on meals and drinks (yea I know, I got pissed too) this year about $30. I do emphathise with everyone over the prices. All I can say is it WILL not happen again.

Also in regards to your rally actually being a retreat, perhaps, just a suggestion, start calling it a retreat instead of a rally?

We have always advertised it as the "Sundown Retreat" but it is also a place where people rally together, even this thread is named Greta Valley Rally, so it has a few nick names, we even discussed this on the weekend and no one came up with a solution to setting the name in concrete.

[gman49]

I would also like to note here that next year we will NOT be having a Best Bike award, it will be Best Bike or Trike. There was only one complaint, but we take it on board