Scquilters' Retreat

Scquilters (Southern Cross Quilters) is an online quilting group that was formed in 1994. Its members are all Australians or New Zealanders or expats with strong connections to these countries. I have been a member since 1995.

The 2008 Scquilters' Retreat started today. There is one held every year, each time in a different state, sometimes even in a different country (there has been one in New Zealand). The first one was held in 1998, and some of the people present at this one have gone to all of them. This is my second - I went to the other one held in Perth in 2002.

It is being held at the Broadwater Pagoda Resort Hotel. I don't think the staff know what has hit them. There are 126 attendees - all women, and the noise level is pretty high. Most are staying in the hotel or at the associated apartments a couple of hundred metres down the road.

I am sharing with another woman. We had booked one of the cheapest rooms. Annabell registered last night, and because I wasn't coming till this afternoon, offered a bed to someone else whose plans had changed. Turned out that the room wasn't a double with twin beds as requested, but one with a double bed, so a rollout bed had to be brought in. Annabell complained about the messed up booking with the result that she was upgraded.

We now have an apartment with twin beds, a kitchenette, a laundry and a spa bath - all at the original price. It certainly pays to complain if you are dissatisfied!

A later addition:
Here is a picture taken on the Saturday night. The lady second from right and not wearing a tiara is Wendy Pang who founded the group.