We wish you Happy Holidays from BIG4 BENDIGO

Best Wishes for Christmas and a

Happy New Year

from

Anthea, Ray and all the staff at

BIG4 BENDIGO - your home away from home

Baking scones to serve with jam & cream for my lovely PROBUS club guests tomorrow morning mmmmmmmmmmm.......

simplifying efforts with ping

News from BIG4 BENDIGO Ascot Holiday Park via #constantcontact

News from BIG4 BENDIGO Ascot Holiday Park via #constantcontact

Busy month at BIG4 BENDIGO

What a busy month September has been, lots of guests staying, organising girl's night in and lots of behind the scenes work for Bendigo Tourism Board.  And I also turned 50!

Victorian Tourism Awards judge visited today. Fantastic opportunity to present our business, showcase our product and promote our point of difference. Talked non stop for 90 minutes and still feel like I missed important facts!  A long wait now for the awards presentation night.

In conjunction with the awards RACV are running a people's choice awards.  For a chance to win $1000 you can submit a review of your favourite place to stay.  If you have stayed with us and enjoyed the experience please click on this link and submit a review. http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/internet/primary/travel/RACV+Victorian+Tourism+Awards

Girls Night In & Boys Night Out (side)

We are planning a great night in / out on Wed. the 29th September.  Last year the girls at BIG4 had the night in and the boys were disappointed.  This year the boys wanted a  sausage to raise money.  Instead of having two events we decided to combine efforts and have one BIG get together.  Couples can now attend and enjoy quite seperate activities just metres away from each other, girls inside and boys outside. 

We'd love your support.  If you can't attend we would be delighted to accept donations or you can go to  GirlsNightIn.com.au and contribute on-line.  Look for our event at 'find an event' registered as Anthea Jones.

Hotel Windsor

Hotel  Windsor Melbourne
What a great place to stay when you want a bit of pampering!   Gorgeous, gorgeous room.  Nice and warm on arrival on a wild and wet evening.  Lovely hot bath followed by room service dinner and a comfy bed with p..u..r..r..r..f..e..c..t... squishy pillow.  What a joy to have the door opened and to be respectfully referred to as ma'am. Excellent old fashioned service.  I was on my own and felt safe and cared about.  I will be back for the famous afternoon tea - I love afternoon tea!  http://www.thehotelwindsor.com.au/index.php

European Masters at the National Gallery of Victoria

European Masters: Städel Museum 19th–20th Century

presents masterpieces from Frankfurt’s Städel Museum, one of the finest collections in Europe.

A great day out amidst the wintery conditions- A fabulously diverse array of works.  Even if you're not madly into art there is something inspiring about  seeing  historically significant works by masters 'in the flesh', so to speak. There are 6 themes represented through the exhibition and something for everyone to appreciate. Go along and see what you think!  As a bit of motivation the coffee and cake is pretty good too, and we won't even go into what's available at the gallery shop!!! (books...lots of gorgeous books)

From the NGV website:  "European Masters: Städel Museum, 19th–20th Century brings together a remarkable collection of masterpieces from the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, one of the finest collections in Europe. The NGV is truly privileged to host this exhibition, as the Städel have committed only the highlights of its renowned collection of 19th and 20th century European art. Alongside masterpieces by German artists are works by the greatest French, Belgian, Dutch and Swiss masters of the time. Included are iconic Neo-Classical, Realist, Impressionist and Symbolist works, through to breathtaking German Expressionist paintings and sculpture, rarely seen in Australia.
A high point is the presence of no fewer than ten works by Max Beckmann, the quintessential Expressionist artist. This is an unprecedented opportunity to see a spectacular array of the finest European art spanning the dynamic and transformative years of the 19th and 20th century."
To see all the info go to the webpage  http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibitions/melbourne-winter-masterpieces-2010

As an aside I caught the V-Line train down to Melbourne from Bendigo.  As an NGV member my ticket was only $16 instead of $23 so I didn't need another discount but I did  discover:   From Twitter: V-line ticket holders eligible for concession tickets! RT @BIG4BENDIGO: @ngv_melbourne
10:05 AM Aug 12th via TwInbox
Retweeted by you

Australian Sheep & Wool Show (Bendigo)

AUSTRALIAN SHEEP & WOOL SHOW 2010

Myself and 3 staff memebers had a fabulous time at the Women of Wool lunch at  the Australian Sheep & Wool Show in Bendigo.  http://www.sheepshow.com/ 

Jean Kitson regaled an audience of about 200 women (and a couple of men)  with anecdotes of her aspirations to be a 'real' country woman.  We had a delicious lunch of LAMB!

The show was packed with fashion, food and craft as well as the sheepdog trials and the animals on exhibit for judging.
This show is a great family day out with an animal nursery and enough going on to keep kids enthralled.

Pub with GREAT BEER

A pleasant afternoon drive from Bendigo, through Heathcote to Tooborac

A welcoming fire on a day that peaked at 8 degreesC.

We were a bit late for lunch, though we did have a glance at the menu - for future reference.  The decor is very rustic with lots of local memorabilia on display.  There are a number of smaller rooms that are ideal for groups wishing to dine in a private area - we are thinking of holding our mid year staff dinner here.  We were fortunate to encounter the brewer whilst in the bar and he gave us a quick look through the purpose built brewery.  Very interesting the beer making process. What's more, the beer tasted great!  Well worth the drive.
www.tooborachotel.com.au

BIGgest Morning Tea @ BIG4 BENDIGO

A spot of morning tea on Saturday 12th June raised $120 for cancer research.  Thankyou to everyone who attended / supported this event.  The spotted decor, crockery and cupcakes make a fun backdrop to this fundraising event.

Bendigo's Bunny on display at the NGV

Until July 4th the NGV is showing the exhibition, Rupert Bunny - Artist is Paris.  This exhibition is an Art Gallery of NSW travelling exhibition and features one of my favourite paintings from the Bendigo Art Gallery, an exquisite example of Rupert Bunny's work. (not the work shown here) 
The painting in this blog is called 'Portrait of the Artist's Wife' painted around 1902 and is a good example of Bunny's skill at portraiture.  The exhibition is a fantastic representation of the artist's body of work, capturing a number of different periods of his career.  I enjoyed this exhibition and would highly recommend an hour or two spent in the company of these paintings.

For details go to: www.ngv.vic.gov.au/rupertbunny/

Don't forget Bendigo Art Gallery has the McCubbin Last Impressions 1907 - 17  Exhibiton on at the moment (until July25th), and if you like this Rupert Bunny exhibition, the McCubbin would be worth a look!   www.bendigoartgallery.com.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=42&h=0

Probus Clubs @ BIG4 BENDIGO

Complimentary morning or afternoon tea for Probus Clubs at BIG4 BENDIGO involves scones, freshly baked in our own kitchen and served warm with jam, whipped cream as well as a selection of other tasty sweet treats.  A selection of Twinings teas and plunger coffee are offered.  All set up, beautifully presented and cleaned up after by the FUNtastic BIG4 BENDIGO staff members. 

Join us at BIG4 BENDIGO for a spot of morning tea

BIG4 BENDIGO are hosting a Cancer Council BIGgest Morning Tea in June

Join us for a SPOT of Tea

or Coffee and help us raise money for cancer research. There will be 100's & 1000's cupcakes, lucky spot prizes and a spot the difference competition. Wear something spotted and be spotted at the  best spot to be.  Stay posted for details - for more information email stay@big4bendigo.com.au

Ascot Lodge @ BIG4 BENDIGO for your next get together

Ascot Lodge Room at BIG4 BENDIGO easily seats 60 for a meal.  For a meeting or workshop 30 people can be seated easily in a classroom style and around 20 in a U shape format.  A large screen and projector are available for group activities.  For catering we can order in or you can self cater with the fully equipped kitchen with large oven, cooktop, microwave and fridge.  BIG4 staff can set up the room for you, including table cloths and refreshments and clean up as part of your package or you can choose to BYO and DYI to have a more cost effective event.  Talk to our event manager to organise and tailor your perfect, relaxed and informal event in Bendigo.

APEX 40 Rort wind up @ BIG4 BENDIGO

What a fantastic way to wind up a very enjoyable week! 

It was an absolute pleasure to set up the Ascot Lodge room for the Apex 40 dinner to celebrate the end of their Bendigo visit.  Around 60 people attended the event hosted by the Bendigo Apex 40 Club.  A relaxed atmosphere is what was required for the self catered BBQ and salad dinner.  The ladies made use of the Lodge's full range of kitchen facilities and accessories, making the salad preparation easy whilst the men cooked up a storm at the adjacent BBQ area. 

Groovin the Moo Bendigo

Grooving the Moo caused a few extra headaches for organisers this year. Last years inaugural event challenged the city's infrastructure in relation to accommodation and transport, this year though, due to the success of last year, a lot more tickets were sold and the problems were more about patrons missing acts due to access issues at the venue creating lengthy queues. Read about some of the issues : www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/festival-organisers-hit-with-backlash/1819463.aspx

On a business level it was an interesting weekend with Apex 40 and Groovin the Moo patrons in at the same time.  Very different demographics and a challenge to ensure everyone had a good time.  We would like to commend our group of Moos.  They were all excellent guests and we would like to think they will stay with us again another time.  Generally the event has been seen as a bebefit to the city and we, as a business, support it being held in the future, as long as organisers learn from the issues that arose and deal with them effectively.

Apex 40 Rort at BIG4 Bendigo

I try to learn something new everyday.  The easiest way to learn something is to talk to people and ask them about themselves. Everybody has a story......  This week, amongst other things, I learned about Apex 40.  The group we've had at the park this week were a fantastic bunch and I thank them for the time they spent sharing their stories with me.

Find out more : who and what the Apex 40 and the Bendigo Rort is about.

www.apex40.org/about.html
www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/visitors-enjoy-a-rort/1819467.aspx

BIG4 supports Clown Doctors

BIG4 Holiday Parks support the Humour Foundation and the

C L O W N   DO C T O R S

An article on page 21 of today's Melbourne Herald Sun titled "You've gotta laugh" reminded me of BIG4's commitment to supporting this awesome organisation with fundraising and promotional activities. Kate Sikora and Marianne Betts start the article by stating "A laugh is as good as a run, with doctors saying 15 minutes of hearty chuckling has enormous benefits."

This is excellent news for those of us who don't like running!!!  I challenge everyone to have a real good laugh everyday like the team at BIG4 BENDIGO who give it a red hot go every single day, with special effort on very busy days, when everything seems that bit harder.  Try it you might just like it and help BIG4 support the fantastic work of the clown doctors.

Want to know more?

 http://clowndoctors.big4.com.au/

Sydney to Melbourne Road Twip 2010

BIG4 BENDIGO hosted talented musician Jack Carty on his Sydney to Melbourne Road 'Twip'  2010 challenge.  This picture shows Jack & travelling companion Alissa Cronau getting a fair bit of 'air' on the jumping pillow.  Find out more about the Sydney to Melbourne touring routes, BIG4 Holiday Parks Australia and Bendigo by following Jack on twitter or checking out the links. 
www.sydneymelbournetouring.com.au/index.php?newsID=1435
http://twitter.com/SMTGo
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/BIG4-BENDIGO-Ascot-Holiday-Park/324138070634
http://www.jackcarty.com/
http://www.big4.com.au/
http://www.bendigotourism.com.au/
http://www.big4bendigo.com.au/

FAMILY REUNIONS are FUN @ BIG4 BENDIGO

BIG4 BENDIGO is hosting a family reunion this weekend.  It is the second time this group have stayed with us, 2 years ago with a marquee and this year in the comfort of Ascot Lodge, the fantastic multi-purpose venue at the park.  There is room to set up the family tree and photo boards plus a registration table as well as the tables & chairs for socialisng.  With heavy rain overnight and more welcome rain today the lodge as been a perfect venue for the groups activities.

Anyone wanting to have a group event should contact our helpful staff.  We can offer accommodation packages as well as full kitchen / catering facilities with the lodge (fees apply for hire).  Groups that have used the lodge have been PROBUS clubs, caravan clubs, anniversary / birthdays for extended families.  Groups coming up in the next couple of months to enjoy the facilities are a scrapbooking group weekend retreat, BIG4 regional meeting and a seniors leisure activities group.

We take our Duty of Care responsibility very seriously and in consideration to our committment to the health, comfort, safety & security of ALL guests we do not book, end of year sporting trips, hens / bucks night, 18th & 21st birthdays or clubbing / pub groups (or similar)  See booking conditions on webpage

McCubbin Opening Event

I attended the opening event for
McCubbin Last Impressions: 1907 - 17
at the Bendigo Art Gallery
What a fantastic exhibition to have in Bendigo - only 3 venues Australia wide will have the privilege.

See reviews & stories: www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/master-mccubbin-ready-to-impress/1811707.aspx

www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/mccubbins-retreat-is-crumbling-20100423-tjdr.html

http://bendigotourism.blogspot.com/

Mother's Day in Bendigo

Mothers Day and McCubbin

Sunday May 9th 2010

Meander up to Bendigo Saturday May 8th, stay the night, enjoy a relaxed and leisurely 12 noon check out, then spend the afternoon at the McCubbin Exhibition.  Take a complimentary bottle of central Victorian bubbly home to enjoy with dinner.

Choose any accommodation option and we will give you a 10% discount (BIG4 members 20%)

The kids can be entertained with dad on the jumping pillow and the toddler's playroom whilst mum has a well deserved sleep in.  Dad doesn't need to miss his footy fix either - free AUSTAR for guests in the larger units

Check out this link to see how the whole family can enjoy the exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery

www.childfriendlycity.com.au/Events/2010-04-24/Events_in_May_at_the_Bendigo_Art_Gallery.aspx

BIG4 BENDIGO - Star employee for April

This is PAM - BIG4 BENDIGO'S employee of the month for April.  PAM is in charge of online, live 24 hour reservations.  PAM has been doing this task for about 12 months and she just gets better & better.  So far PAM hasn't missed a beat.  She will, without fail, 24 hours a day 7 days a week:

• inform you of exactly what's available for your requested dates
• calculate how much the tariff will be
• take a credit card deposit
• send you and us confirmation emails

So far she hasn't had a day off, been late for a shift, asked for overtime, double booked, or whinged about any of these conditions.  PAM, we acknowledge the fabulous job you do while we sleep the night away.

Please make your acquaintence with PAM next time you want to make a reservation, at a time that suits you!

BIG4 BENDIGO - A Team of Champions & a Champion Team

BIG4 BENDIGO staff are a Team of Champions

 AND a ChampionTeam!  

Members of the selection committee are pleased to announce 2 top pick recruits Mark and Bruce debuted today for team BIG4 BENDIGO.  They bring  a wealth of experience in a number of different positions and we are putting them at full forward anticipating some quick goals on the board!!    Talented on baller, Carlene (pictured above) who is fantastic at either  leading the team or providing quality back up,  went in hard on the weekend providing a first class pancake breakfast before the first bounce!  Team Bendigo also look forward to welcoming gun coach Bev on board to get the team match fit and ready to play in the big league.

COME MEET THE TEAM - THEY'D LOVE TO SEE YOU!

On the subject of football, after 3 weeks BIG4 BENDIGO is top of the leader board in the Bendigo Advertiser business football tipping competition.  This week's selection may see us drop back to the field!!!

Autumn in Bendigo

View Street Bendigo in Autumn is

FABULOUS!!

Nothing beats the atmosphere - coffee, tasty food, awesome wine, arts and treasure! 

View Street is perfect for alfresco dining and watching the world go by, in the shade of the grand old Capital Theatre building.

After some welcome rain the city is looking fantastic. 

 Come take a look while the sun is still warm!

If you are a BIG4 Club card holder you get the added benefit of some discounts at a number of View Street businesses  http://www.viewstreetbendigo.com/events-promotions

We'd love to have you stay! Visit us @ http://www.big4bendigo.com.au/

EASTER BUNNY COMES EARLY @ BIG4 BENDIGO

NO EASTER EGG HUNTS @

BIG4 BENDIGO

No need to spend time hunting for Easter eggs at BIG4 Bendigo. Our youngest guests have enjoyed opening the treasure chest and finding chocolate treats!

Treasure to be found at BIG4 BENDIGO

What could be in the treasure chest? This week there is something for the kids over Easter, next week it could be school holiday treats and in May it could be something for mum. Our treasure chest is always bursting with a little something to celebrate your break away from home. Come see us over the next couple of months and see what the treasure chest holds for you!!

HAPPY EASTER FROM BIG4 BENDIGO

HAPPY
EASTER
FROM
BIG4
BENDIGO
We're hosting a full house of happy campers and cabin dwellers for the next few days. Lot's to do in Bendigo over Easter, but beat the crowds and come see us when it's not so busy. We have a couple of special offers on http://www.big4.com.au/ and http://www.visitvictoria.com/ and would love to see you over the next couple of months. Happy Easter break to everyone!

FOOTY'S FUN @ BIG4 BENDIGO

We love our footy at BIG4 BENDIGO!

Because we are so mad about the footy we installed AUSTAR free to guests in our larger units so there is no excuse not to visit. We've even put a big screen TV in the rec room so you can watch with your mates (only on free to air at the moment - waiting for the AUSTAR man!) while the rest of the non believers do something else???? There is lots to do in the park, and in and around Bendigo for the visitor who's world doesn't revolve around the first bounce & the final siren.

I won't tell you who we support with tri-colour passion, but if you are a true footy tragic the heading will give you a clue. We promise not to disciminate against other unfortunate footy followers who haven't seen the light and follow the true champions. We love to have good footy banter any time and thrive on the challenge of being in the wrong state to support our team (another clue???)

I am participating in the Bendigo Advertiser business tipping competition - so far 2 out of 2 this weekend! I will keep you posted on how I go - I actually tip with my head and not my heart so hopefully I will go OK against all the men & one other woman.

Calling Art Lovers

Come visit us at BIG4 BENDIGO Ascot Holiday Park between 24th April - 25th July 2010

Bendigo Art Gallery is featuring an exhibition -

McCubbin: Last Impressions 1907–17 A National Gallery of Australia Exhibition Frederick McCubbin is one of the foremost Australian Impressionists, most well known for his images of the bush. This exhibition traces the radical changes in his work after he viewed the works of the European masters JMW Turner and Claude Monet in London. The exhibition features works from all the major galleries in Australia in addition to rarely publicly displayed works from private collections.Admission fees apply for this exhibition.

Great Accommodation options available at BIG4 Bendigo for couples, or groups of friends wanting to visit the exhibition. BIG4 members can also avail themselves of special discounts in View Street (where the galllery is located) http://www.viewstreetbendigo.com/events-promotions

The first 5, 2 night cabin bookings recieved, mentioning the blog page will receive an entry ticket to the exhibition compliments of Anthea http://www.bendigoartgallery.com.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=63&h=0

ST PATRICK'S DAY TREAT

Any excuse at BIG4 BENDIGO to indulge in some yummy homemade cup cakes. As green is obviously the colour of the day, these cupcakes fitted the bill perfectly.

A great way to lead into the school holidays - ALREADY.

Check out the dates for kids activities on the web page. We will be doing some really cool autumn crafts and some special pancake breakfasts.

Fabulous Fun at BIG4 BENDIGO

After the wild weather experienced all over Victoria for the Labour Day weekend, Bendigo showed it's true colours this weekend. Beautiful sunny days had everyone on the jumping pillow, playing mini golf and thoroughly enjoying their camping experience. Heaps more of this fabulous weather to come - March and April in Bendigo is perfect. Warm days, cool nights and all the glorious old trees turning gold and dropping their leaves. COME SEE US SOON - THIS CITY HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!!

Bendigo's 140th Easter Festival

Autumn is a fantastic time of the year to visit the Goldfields. The weather is fantastic and great for getting out and about. Easter this year see's the celebration reach it's 14oth anniversary. To share this experience with us you need to stay 5 nights and as I write this, we only have a couple of accommodation options left. (All our caravan & camping sites have been snapped up early and we have no vacancies in that area)

If 5 nights is not a practical option for your family, consider getting away after Easter for a couple of nights. You can still see all the sights including the Chinese Dragon Sun Loong who does makes a special appearance at Easter in the gala parade.

Check our events and special options pages on the website and see if we can help you get away to the Goldfields this Autumn. Special rates apply for BIG4 members on some packages (see conditions) and check out the BIG4 local member benefits on

www.big4.com.au http://www.bendigoevents.com.au/Pages/Easter/Default.aspx

CARAVAN, CAMPING & TOURING SUPERSHOW

Come and talk to BIG4 's friendly staff and park operators at this weeks caravan, camping & touring show at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. We can provide you with a club card and the latest BIG4 Holiday Parks accommodation Guide. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about BIG4 parks and their fantastic facilities. We'd also love to talk to you about the adventures you've had in the past and help you plan for your next exciting trip!!

As you can see the pot of gold is clearly at BIG4 BENDIGO. Come and see us this autumn - our special packages are available on http://www.big4bendigo.com.au/ http://www.visitvictoria.com/ and http://www.big4.com.au/ and are worth their weight in gold.

Minister for Tourism & Major Events, Tim Holding's Visit

On January 15th 2010, we at BIG4 Bendigo hosted the Minister for Tourism & Major Events Mr Tim Holding for a 1 hour informal visit. As the park was a finalist in the Victorian Tourism Awards 2009, Mr Holding was interested in many issues specific to the Bendigo business as well as our view on how the caravan industry as a whole is performing in the bigger picture.

BIG4 Port Fairy - Time out

A 3 day break to Port Fairy got off to a good start with dinner and a night at the reknowned Royal Mail Hotel at Dunkeld. Fabulous food lived up to the reputation read about in culinery critiques.

Staying at BIG4 Port Fairy Holiday Park proved a treat. A gorgeous park, lovely and quiet with a nice rural aspect, operated by Jenni & John Hider-Smith, this fantastic venue is very conveniently located to the township.

Port Fairy has a number of excellent eateries, including Saltra Brasserie, Portofino Restaurant, Wisharts Fish & Chippery and Rebecca's Cafe. These venues all served excellent modern cuisine at very reasonable cost and between them supplied us fanatastic breakfasts, lunches & dinners!

Port Fairy offered Ray, an experienced golfer, a pleasant links course with a number of challenging holes whilst the Day Spa provided a relaxing experience for me. I highly recommend the body wrap!

What a difference a Rain makes

The grass was non existent on Australia Day. A big storm and another day of steady rain makes all the difference. This area used to be the camping ground and was covered in thick lush grass. After 10 years of drought (7 years of not being able to water grassed areas) it is just a dustbowl from October to April. We have installed a number of large water tanks in the last 18 months and will start putting a bit of water back into this area. It is quite amazing how the grass appears after a shower or two of rain - it really just looks like plain ol' dirt.

Australia Day Celebrations

Australia Day is always a fun celebration in a holiday park, because 'caravan park' holidays are almost a right of passage for many Australians. We celebrated with a sausage sizzle, served with the BBQ'd onions, coleslaw and sauce! mmmmmm... Not good with out a nice drop of local red wine, so we ensured there were a couple of varieties available. After dinner the children participated in a treasure hunt around the park and collected a nice array of gumnuts, leaves & feathers. They were rewarded with lamingtons and an Australian movie classic, Crocodile Dundee. The weather also did a very aussie thing and dropped a significant number of degrees after dinner so our shorts and thongs were quite inadequate by bed time. A very good night was had by all

Welcome to the Holiday Park Experience

BIG4 BENDIGO Ascot Holiday Park is an independent member of BIG4 Holiday Parks of Australia PL. BIG4 Parks are the holiday park of choice for discerning guests all over Australia. Whether staying overnight or for a week or more BIG4 BENDIGO Ascot Holiday Park offers superior facilities, a comprehensive range of accommodation options and the friendliest staff in the city.

Owners and staff are proud of their park and look forward to your visit.