Australian CS Newsletter October 2008

The CouchSurfing Wiki, an informal workspace which anyone can edit.

OCTOBER

Welcome to the monthly Australian CS Newsletter!!

Your one-stop-shop to all things CS in the Australian community. News from around the states, Aussie CS and general CS updates, stats, opinions, hints and tips. READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Done something fun yourself lately with your fellow CS members and guests?? Wanna boast about it and get your photos seen?? Then help in the making of this newsletter each month and let your CS community shine!

We are always looking for people who would like to contribute to the newsletter.

This could be on behalf of your local area, for the State News section - especially in Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, and outside the capital cities. Or, it could involve writing a Couchsurfing stats summary or an overview of media on CS from the month, etc.

Join the Aussie Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested. Just join up and post something or email the moderators.

News from around the Australian States

The following news is brought to you by your Aussie Newsletter Production Mob

Queensland

We would be extremely happy to get some CS news from regional Queensland. Please join the Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested in helping out.

Brisbane in September -

Team Keener - Brisbane City Romp

A few of us met up at Cosmos Cafe in the Valley on the 3rd and finalised our Brisbane City Romp team! We decided on the team name 'Couchsurfing Keeners' and would have been wearing the 'Got Couch?' T-shirts available through the CS surf shop but they didn't get to us in time so Emma spraypainted up some of our own. Up the mighty Keeners!!
Beni and his household had a party on the 6th AND the 7th and utter shenaninising took place. Saturday saw the usual drunken mess and some good old instrument bashing while Sunday we had a go at some paintbombing which quickly degenerated into painting each other (and Byron the dog!). The party was also a farewell to much loved ex-Taswegian and adopted Brisbanite, Zara, who has now jetted off to South America and seems to be having a ball with the CS mob there.

Valley Fiesta on the 12th - 14th saw a heap of Couchsurfers hooking up starting with...............ha ha, I thought I'd list people here or something but it was crazy random all weekend and big props to everyone who hooked up and met more of the Brissy CSers and associates. Aren't text messages a wonderful thing!? Fiesta!!! ....I'm already waiting for next year's!
Brisbane City Romp on the 21st was an absolutely crazy day for those of us involved. The whole idea has been Emma's from the start and much thanks goes to her. Big props to the Keeners team members - Sarah, Mahssa, Andrew, Emma and Beni as well as Dazz doing a great job of turning up and running amok with us. Actually we weren't allowed to run so we skipped, hustled, strutted and strode! Beni even got to kayak a short way on the river! We learnt so much from this event and we did really really well at it coming 10th in our category and 11th overall!! This was out of about 1600 teams and with a slow start, no strategy and a couple of missed chances! Watch out next Romp, the streets are for the Keeners!!!
With that kinda news and Keeners team member Sarah leaving Brissy to travel around some more (she'll be back!), we got together in the Valley on Thurs 25th for some celebratory craziness! Mad night - proud achievement.
Emma's Rubik's Cube Party on the 27th. It was awesome!!! So many colours, so many people!! Had a few really turn it out by dressing in the Rubik's colours!!

coming up in October

Brisbane

Convoy to Byron and Nimbin on the 4th
Sunny Coast trip on the 10th
Plenty more....always more.... the Brissy group's right here - come join us!!

Sunny Coast

Caloundra Music Festival - 17-19th October at King's Beach

Western Australia

As well as the usual fortnightly CS Perth meet ups at Zone, Perth in September included the very first CS Perth International Food Night at the Sharons' house on Saturday 20th September. About 20 people turned up with a variety of dishes to share.

The other excitement of September was a CS road trip to the Wave Rock Weekender music festival in the countryside. Eight CouchSurfers traveled out to The Rock, for lots of partying, awesome music, great Aussie movies, stargazing and bushwalking.

Coming Up in WA

Meet some fun locals and travelers at The Zone. This month, the crew are meeting from 6pm - 11pm on the 1st, 15th and 29th of October. All welcome!
CouchSurfers go to the Perth Royal Show this week - details here
Check out the Perth Group Page for events coming up in October

October means.... its the Where On Earth Is Perth? Festival and W.A. Week!!

In the lead up to WA Week is the Couchsurfing Where On Earth Is Perth? Festival - our local Perth CS festival, on 10th to 20th October. The Festival will be a week of activities, day and night, culminating in a farm party. To get the details, and to sign up to come along (everyone is welcome!), please go to the events page and sign up, and also check out our website: www.whereonearthisperth.com.au

We would be extremely happy to get some CS news from regional Western Australia. Please join the Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested in helping out.

New South Wales

Sydney CS Update:

For all the details on what's happening, keep an eye on the Sydney Group. Also bookmark the Sydney CouchSurf Calendar - it's regularly updated with all the latest happenings.

September was yet another massive month for the Sydney CS community, with dancing, eating, some sensational art and music festivals, even more eating, birthdays, and some wicked fondue. And on top of that CS received a brilliant write-up in the Sydney Morning Herald! (See the Media section below for more details).

The Sydney CSers pose in Hart's Pub for a photo to send to a gay wedding in Israel. It made sense at the time.

Hart's Pub - After a salsa night on Thursday to warm up, September kicked into gear on a horribly rainy Friday night at Hart's Pub in the Rocks, where around 60 CouchSurfers enjoyed free sausages, and cheap and cheerful ale. Hart's Pub is a historic and character-filled building, and the management gave us the entire top floor to ourselves. We seem to have made a good impression because they've invited us back, and the next night will be on Friday Oct 3rd. Thanks to Mel and Joe for organising!

Art Festivals - The arrival of Spring weather means the start of festival season in Sydney, and a number of Couch-surfers teamed up to attend a few different art festivals. The dark and haunting Cockatoo Island art festival created a lot of discussion around its somewhat macabre exhibits, and the Darling Harbour Chalk Art Festival was both well attended and greatly enjoyed. As usual a bunch of us wound up eating pancakes afterwards.

Fondue Night - The "Foodie's Nights" organised by Jane Lyons have become legendary to say the least. Having arrived at "F", the theme was "Fondue" with a helping of seventies fashion. 40 people arrived at Mel and Joe's place and the night turned into a sensational experience that *no-one* will forget. Precisely how certain people became covered in chocolate from head to toe would best remain a secret, but naturally Sydney's own Chocolate God, Andy was involved. The fondue cooking was expertly handled by Alexandra Noyel (FRA) and Veronique Blumenthal (SUI). Can't wait to see what "G" brings in October! See more photos here.

Opera Bar - Who would have thought that after the outrageous Fondue night that the Sydney CSer's would be hardcore enough to back it up the very next day? Well we were, and thirty or so people stumbled along to the glamorous Opera Bar to bid Mike Zarb a happy birthday.

Brazilian Festival - Organised by our very own Brasileira, Adriana, we enjoyed a glorious Sydney day of Brazilian music, dancing, food and culture with about 25 of us turning up. The food was great, the weather was spectacular. For some strange reason all of the boys bolted to the stage when the Samba girls came out, only to be joined by all the girls when the capoeira boys come out as well.

And there was more.... Andy's bushwalk to Kuring-gai, Kimbily's birthday bash at Potts Point, but you get the idea. It was a fun month in September.

Coming in October - With summer not far away, the CS crowd is already buzzing. October promises another round at Hart's for a sausage sizzle (Fri Oct 3), a fancy dinner on the 10th, another of Troy's legendary walking tours (18th), and of course the (as yet to be identified) "G" instalment of the Foodie's night... (Greek? German? Goan? Grilled? Who knows...) Join the Sydney Group and check the Sydney CouchSurf Calendar to stay in touch!

Regional NSW Update:

We would be extremely happy to get some CS news from regional New South Wales. Please join the Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested in helping out.

Newcastle - The CS Newcastle group is slowly increasing in size and on our we had a get together on the 2nd September at a Thai Restaurant in Hamilton. It was great to see a few new members and catch up with Symone after her Central America trip and bid good luck to Ben on his "at least a year" South East Asia trip. The bonfire and BBQ night didn't get too many in attendance, but a nice relaxing evening by the fire listening to JJJ's Impossible Music Festival was enjoyed by those who could make it. (Update courtesy of Jono)

There were limited seating options at the Newcastle dinner.

Victoria

We would be extremely happy to get some CS news from Victoria. Please join the Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested in helping out.

BIG NEWS !!! Melbourne CS Zone - Each Tuesday from 7pm, one or more of Melbourne's City or Nomadic Ambassadors will be on location at Don Tojo (164 Cardigan St, Carlton) to welcome new & old travellers and help out where possible. for more info read this

With much going on in Melbourne the only way you can keep up with it is to join the Melbourne Group or book mark the Melbourne CS Calendar - Happy CS'ing !!

Australian Capital Territory

We would be extremely happy to get some CS news from the Australian Capital Territory. Please join the Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested in helping out.

Tasmania

We would be extremely happy to get some CS news from Tasmania. Please join the Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested in helping out.

South Australia

We would be extremely happy to get some CS news from South Australia. Please join the Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested in helping out.

Northern Territory

We would be extremely happy to get some CS news from the Northern Territory. Please join the Newsletter Production Mob if you are interested in helping out.

Australian Couchsurfing Org News.

- There is now a one-page comprehensive Australian Wiki Pages Index. If there are any pages you know of that are missing please email your local Ambassador.

- We have finished the New Australian CS Members Welcome Kit also - check it out.

- The linking of Australian CS google accounts is underway with the Australian account now displaying a link to Perth and Brisbane's photo galleries as well as some of the Calendar's being linked. We hope to have all major CS populations represented here in the future for easy access to information for hosts and guests alike. Speak to your local Ambassadors about getting your area's own google account (and all that goes with it) up and running.

- For any new members there is an Australian CS Safety Wiki with lots of good tips, links and advice.

The Boxing Kangaroo Awards

Each month, the Aussie Ambassadors like to bring attention to the efforts of other CS members who have made a decent contribution to the CS community in their area. It's our way of saying thanks and of bringing attention to some of the great work being done around the country.

The September Boxing Kangaroo award goes to the English couple known as The Mel and Joe Show of Sydney. This couple have been involved in organising some amazing events in the Emerald City, such as the Sausage Sizzle and the Fondue Night, and they have contributed enormously to the thriving CS scene in that town. They'll be moving on from Sydney in the near future and will be greatly missed.

Mel and Joe's comments on receiving the award:
Couchsurfing has made a massive difference to our travelling experience. We have met loads of great people and been to lots of places we would never have known about if a CSer hadn't taken us there. Becoming part of the Sydney CS scene has made our time in Sydney so much more enjoyable - so many great times! We're very excited to have been awarded the Boxing Kangaroo Award, and hope that everyone enjoyed the events we helped organise as much as we did! We're looking forward to meeting the rest of the Oz CSers when we move on in a month. Hurrah!

Don't forget if you want to become an Ambassador you can do so easily through applying here - we could use the support and extra hands. Get on board, it's all about participation!

Our newest Ambassadors

No newbies this month but stay tuned - I think we're gonaa have a couple of active new Ambassadors next month.

To know who your other Australian Ambassadors are have a look at this link.

New Australian Groups

NOTE - The Aussie CS Suggestion box has been archived as a group. We thought the group might be a good idea but the best path for suggestions/complaints/ideas is to email your Ambassadors or send in a Contact Us question.

Australian Statistics

If you are interested in how many surfers there are now in Australia and where they all are and what they are all doing go and have a look at the Statistics pages - it is all quite facinating and you get to check out the rest of the world at the same time ..... ever wondered how many Couches there are in Bermuda???

International CouchSurfing News

Website Technical Developments

If you are interested in following the Tech developments you will find what you are looking for here.

CouchSurfing Collective News

Looking beyond Alaska - The Alaska Collective is in its final days. People are packing up, cleaning has started and others are still hammering away at their computers to finish off projects. So as this Collective draws to a close, it's only appropriate that we share what is next for CouchSurfing. From the Collective blog we bring you this posting

Couchsurfing in the Media

In Australia: There was a spectacular review of Couch-surfing in the Sydney Morning Herald on Sept 13. Read the full article here.

The plan & a call for experienced editors As you may have heard, CS Org are creating a CS News Channels page which will allow for communication to members and volunteers on a scale they have not had yet. Some of these channels are member-made, some are created by volunteers, and others are newsletters adapted for the web.

In case you missed the blog entry, click here to get the full rundown on what the proposed news channels will be on the site. There is also additional Info here.

What is the current Status of your Couch?

As you know you can edit the status of your couch from Available to Coffee to Travelling and to Not Available.

Did you know that if you have your Couch unavailable the "Request to Couchsurf with" button is removed?

So as not to be pestered with CouchSurfing request whilst you are Travelling or presently unable to Host, make sure the Status of your Couch is what you want it to be. It will solve a lot of unwanted emails. Just on that, did you know that for every "CouchSurf Request" you don't answer it decreases you Replied to % percentage, which then places you towards the back of the queue when someone does a CouchSearch of your town/city?

So easy peasy, if your couch isn't available change the icon !!

Didn't log in in the last six months?

Over the last month Australia has lost 28 or so CS members who have not logged in to CS in the last 180 days.

The process is that these members receive an email from CS and should they fail to log in as advised their profiles are frozen and can't be seen by other members. The profile will however be unfrozen when they next log in so fear not for your profile info if you choose to take a break from CS. The best option if you do want a break is to alter your profile Privacy settings here making a change to the "Hide in Search" field

Remember to log into CouchSurfing periodically (there are always new things being developed so at the least read the main menus after you log in)

Tips and hints for better CouchSurfing

DID YOU KNOW

For more tips and hints to improve your profile or your experience of Couchsurfing go to: Australian Tips Hints and links to better CouchSurfing