Skal Congress E-News Six

We're just over two months away from meeting up at the 2002 World Skål Congress, and our Skålleagues in Cairns tell me everything's on track for a great event. We are all looking forward to the tropical weather - balmy evenings and sunny days - great seafood, good company, top class entertainment and some of that good old-fashioned Aussie hospitality that they keep boasting about! The registrations for the Congress are flooding in, so if you want to be a part of the action in November, I suggest you book sooner rather than later. See you there!

Jim Power
SKÅL
Secretary General

Why I Love
Living in Cairns

From all points of the compass, Cairns and the surrounding region has many interesting destinations on offer to all who come to Cairns. A modern tropical city that provides an ideal base from which to explore and enjoy, not only the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, but also the great vast Hinterland, which is what I like to do in my spare time. Whatever direction of the compass you choose, there is something to see or do…from the rainforest to the reef, visiting old towns, mines or farms on the Hinterland…say "G'day" and sharing convivial conversations with the locals over a beer is just great...and what better weather! The beautiful, dry weather that we enjoy during winter adds to the relaxed lifestyle of this warm sunny city that is reflected in the friendly nature of Cairns residents. I consider myself to be very lucky to call the greater Cairns my second hometown. Set your sights on seeing Cairns.

Joe Tsuchida
CEO, Daikyo North Queensland

Forecast for November 2002
Beautiful one day, Perfect the next!

For those of you around the world who didn't watch the Commonwealth Games, you may not have heard that Australia led the medal tally from beginning to end. And for those of you who did watch it, we thought you'd like to be reminded one more time - Australia was the undisputed champion of the Games!
We only bring this up to serve as the backdrop for what to expect in Cairns in November 2002: Winning weather, internationally acclaimed resorts and destinations, first class service, gold medal restaurants, champion entertainment, and a fiercely competitive exchange rate - a winning combination!

The registrations are coming in thick and fast, and most people are staying on in Cairns to really enjoy their time here after the Congress. If you need any ideas on what to do and where to go during your visit to Australia, refer back to some of our recent newsletters, or visit some of the web site addresses at the end of this edition. The beauty about Far North Queensland is that there truly is something for everyone whether you enjoy lazing around on a tropical beach, hiking through the spectacular rainforests, heart pumping adventure activities, or shopping til you drop. You're going to love it!

August weather report:
For 24th August 2002: Fine. Light to moderate south easterly to easterly breezes.
Expect a high of 27°c, with a slightly chilly 23°c overnight.

Pre and Post Tours
Tropical North Queensland's own mountain gateway.
This month's featured highlights include:

The beautiful Atherton Tableland, from Mareeba to Ravenshoe
and everything in between.
Situated west of Cairns between two great dividing ranges is one of the
region's best kept secrets - the beautiful Atherton Tableland.

The Tableland is a blend of the best attraction of the tropics including World Heritage listed rainforests, national parks, mountains, rivers, lakes and waterfalls, as well as some of Australia's richest agricultural lands and charming small, historic townships. For visitors the Tableland presents opportunities for bushwalking, bird watching, marsupial spotting, hot air ballooning and all types of water sports from fishing to white water rafting. Winding roads lead to spectacular lookouts and waterfalls - including Australia's widest waterfall, the Millstream Falls - deep blue waters of extinct volcano crater lakes, the ancient Broomfield Swamp, the Granite Gorge, limestone caves and several national parks. Classic old hotels, motels, guest houses, and farm stays provide the ideal base for exploring this ecological wonderland.

There are also some excellent restaurants, weekend markets with locally grown produce and arts and crafts, and heritage museums. The township of Atherton is at the heart of the Tableland, with an abundance of diverse attractions in each direction. To the north you'll find a magnificent stretch of rainforest known as the Tolga Scrub which is home to a variety of animal life and rainforest birds, and to the north west are the famous Mungana limestone caves. To the east is the spectacular Lake Tinaroo, surrounded by 8000 hectares of rainforest, secluded coves, beaches and bays. And to the south you'll find the Innot Hot Springs, and one of the largest lava tube systems and geological wonders in the world - the Undarra Volcanic National Park. Simply amazing!

To find out more about the Atherton Tablelands, visit: www.athertontableland.com and www.australiantropicalfoods.com a website describing the regions diverse blend of Tropical Foods and Food Trails.

Come and See Us!
It's all here - enjoy the trip of a lifetime!

COST all inclusive! How do we do it for the price?
(for cheque or transfer)
DELUXE DOUBLE
AUD$3720 = US$2029 = Euro$2075

DELUXE SINGLE
AUD$2440 = US$1331 = Euro$1361

Currency Exchange valid 22 August 2002:
AUD$1.00 = US$0.54 = Euro$0.55

Click and Refer: www.uta.fi/~ktmatu/rate-converter.html

What's on in Cairns in November 2002
Things to see and do during your visit to Cairns in November 2002.

MELBOURNE CUP 2002

If you're here for the Congress in November, you're in for a big treat. It only happens once a year and it only happens in Australia - and it brings the whole country to a standstill. It's called the Melbourne Cup, it's the most famous horse race in Australia and you don't have to be in Melbourne to experience the fun, excitement and glamour of this annual event.

The first Melbourne Cup was run in 1861, and it has run every year since, through wars and depression, as well as all the good times. It is one of the world's most challenging horse races, and one of its richest
(the total prize money in 2001 was just over AUS$4 million).

The race is run over 3200 metres and is a handicapped race - the better the horse, the more weight it has to carry.
The distance and the handicap ensure that the Melbourne Cup is a horse race in which the mug punter has as good
a chance of picking the winner as those who actually study the form and know something about horse racing!

But the event is more than just a horse race. The Melbourne Cup is one race in the Spring Racing Carnival, when champagne and canapés, huge hats and race track fashions sometimes overshadow the business of the day.

American writer Mark Twain once said on a visit to Melbourne "Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to the whole nation. The Cup astonishes me"

In other words - Australia really knows how to party and the Melbourne Cup is as good an excuse as any for a party!

Australia stops for the Melbourne Cup. Some people organise grand lunches for hundreds of guests,
others simply take time out from their day to watch the race on TV and share a bet with an office colleague -
but everyone stops to watch the race, and it's no different in Cairns

As a delegate of the Skal World Congress, your itinerary includes a very special Melbourne Cup lunch at the
Cairns Convention Centre. You'll be able to watch the race as it happens on large viewing screens,
bet on your favorite horse and celebrate your winnings in style!

The whole event will be themed, the champagne will flow and you will feel as though you are right
there at Flemington Race Course in Melbourne.

It will be a lunch to remember!