COMPETITION

WINNER/S

Competition 1 – Advanced Digitising with Generations, sponsored by Loralie Designs and Generations

Ralph Fuhrmeister

Competition 2 – Basic to Intermediate Digitising with Generations, sponsored by Generations

Win Wills

Competition 3 – Best use of a Zundt Design, sponsored by Zundt Design of Switzerland

Jenny Melazzini

Competition 4 – Open Forum, sponsored by Brother

Rhona Feeney
Rachel Worthington
Barbara Steel
Anne Tewkesbury

Encouragement Award

Craig McSweeney
Ingrid Russell

Lucky Door prize winners

Myree Brown
Raewyn Selby
Sandra Stevens
Glenys Desmond
Nancy Bergquist
Alice Huntley
Michelle Reynolds

As mentioned earlier, we received some wonderful feedback and would like to share some of these comments with you.

“Hello Gary Cindy and all your FABULOUS Staff,

Thank you for a great convention I do hope that you realise what a fantastic convention that you have achieved, feel proud You have earned it!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS and Thanks.

Wow we are excited about our new machines June Pam & I are looking forward to a fabulous embroidery time. I never dreamed that 3 of the 5 Townsville ladies group would come home ordering a new machine wow what a great convention.

Debbie tells us she took her new machine last week wow! I will write to you soon. I look forward to hearing from Leanne or you about mine when you are ready. I know you must be very happy and tired. Well done team.” Thanks, Kay

“To all the Echidna Convention Team… A great big thank you for all your hard effort. Speaking for myself, I had a fabulous time, again!!! Thanks for all the work, time, energy and yourself that each one of you contributed to make this event wonderful for the second time.

I was stoked by the wonderful reception I got when I visited the store on Tuesday morning after convention. You remembered me…. I had a great time wandering around the shop and helping Amy, listening to Leanne, and just soaking up all that was going on around me. Thanks. Now, I seem to have gone and forgotten my password, so I am unable to log into the Community and have a look. Would you please be able to reset my password so that I too can check out this great Community?” Thanks again. Cheers to all. Lynn

“Hello All, just sending a big "Thank you" for the enjoyable, interesting and informative Convention, and a special salaam to all members of the Echidna team who were so generous with their help to everyone. 

 I hope they have all recovered by now!”

“This is a big thank you for the wonderful convention you organised recently at Jupiters Casino on the Gold Coast. The event was faultless and I was fortunate enough to meet the most helpful and friendliest group of people at this convention. It is amazing the dedication the staff of Echidna Sewing Products portrayed to the guests of this convention. Every member of your team should be proud of his or her efforts at this convention.

I know you said that is was considered that you might have to cancel this convention. Thanks to your dedicated staff this did not happen and many people were able to gain a wealth of knowledge from the very professional presenters whom attended and were willing to share their knowledge. WELL DONE EACH AND EVERY ONE AT ECHIDNA AND TO ALL PRESENTERS…BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVISIMO!!!” Regards, Marion

“Dear Gary, I would like to express my sincere thanks to you and your staff for another great convention. I had a great time and thought all the presenters, helpers and entertainers did a great job in keeping us occupied and entertained for the whole weekend. I do have a question for you though! When is the next one?” Kind regards, Patricia

“Hi All, just wish to congratulate everyone on a wonderful weekend. Both entertainment wise and learning. As always there is just so much to learn. I did learn so much from all the Presenters. Lindee Goodall's recipe for embroidery and Brian Bailie"s interesting concept. The interactive embroidery was so much fun and presents future challenges. Both Generations rooms were excellent. Leanne Church showed me things I had just forgotten and Andrea Bommarito showed me things I just didn't know. Both very enthusiastic about Generations.

The machine rooms were also very interesting Just loved the concept of the InnovEye Technology. Would love this on my 620. Also found Urban Zundt very patient with us all, when as usual everyone would arrive at his table at the same time. The competitions were very surprising and such beautiful work by all who entered. What a generous Prize from Generations for Competition No.4.

Sorry to ramble on but it really was a well run Convention and showed how hard everyone had worked to make it such a success. Congratulations to all on a job well done. Hope you all have a restful weekend.” Lydia

Dear Gary and Team, I am sorry to have taken so long to return my forms after the convention. I wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoyed it. I am only sorry that you guys aren’t based down here in Melbourne

 It was amazing for me to meet with so many people who had made commitments to purchase embroidery software and machines and having a ball using them. I didn’t know what to expect but it was very interesting. I have wanted to learn to digitise etc for a very long time but get frustrated because there is nowhere to learn the techniques. But hopefully I can see a pathway now.

I also wish to acknowledge a gift you sent me some years back now, of threads. Your staff at the convention were fabulous.” Regards Gabriella

The following comments were received in answer to one of our Feedback Form questions…
”Was there a highlight to the Echidna Convention 2009?”

“Yes – the digitising knowledge from Andrea and Lindee is knowledge. I would have to say I enjoyed these 2 sessions the most and feel very privileged that I was able to listen to them and ask questions in person. I was very impressed with the way Andrea, when answering our questions, then verified that she had in fact given the answer that we were looking for, in case she misunderstood the question. Lisa Shaw was also great if you are into the ‘Buzz” programs. She is bubbly and creative and is an inspiration.” Anne

“I was pleased to see this convention had the capacity to involve all levels of expertise. There was something for everyone…even if you only wanted to browse. The structured competitions created a real atmosphere to become involved and from the chats I had with previous and new delegates, there was no reason to be left out. Well-done Echidna!

P.S. I enjoyed everything the 2009 Convention had to offer. Your staff is quite unique and very dedicated.” Wendy

Seemed bigger and better than 2007. I wondered what you were going to do that would interest me the second time around. However, you did not disappoint. Great job – nice to see Urban opening up a little. Such a lot of bargains. I wish I had known in advance what the offers were, so that I could have planned – say 2 weeks early!

“The entire weekend was a highlight from start to finish. I personally get anxious about the weekend and whether it’s worth leaving my children or not, but from when I arrive I don’t have a doubt at all, it truly is a most fantastic weekend.” Sylvia

“Can’t name just one thing. The whole convention was great”.

“Networking with other embroiderers. Entertainment was excellent. Organisation was great – on schedule – well done!

“We don’t know what goes on behind the scenes but to me it was very well organised and presented. Thanks to all concerned.” Ron

“Just meeting so many like minded people. Great to also see the men who are keen..”

“The whole convention, never been to anything like that and under one roof. Good for out of towners'. The multi-needle machine was awesome but so was the single needle – printing and sewing…how inspiring. Thank you so much for the whole thing. Hard to get back to reality, it was very relaxing. God willing, Faith and I will be there next time. Please thank your staff and family.” Mona

“Everything was great. The entertainment highlight would have to be Andrew Pryor and the best thing about the overall convention was the warmth and helpfulness of both attendees and staff. I was on my own, am new to embroidery and came away with new friendships and lots of knowledge and best of all – an embroidery machine. Can’t wait to get started!” Marg

“My favourite was definitely Andrew Pryor. I went in thinking, “Opera”, how boring, but left thinking the complete opposite. Lisa Shaw was just so bubbly all the time and I thought it was great that they all interacted with us during meals etc”. Anne

“The whole event went together so well and ran so smoothly, it would be hard to pick only 1 highlight – everything had a wow factor!” Linda

“As much as anything else the people make a good convention. The Echidna people were wonderful (as usual) and it was great to catch up with people I met at the last convention. What a wonderful idea to provide visiting cards, to get a ‘new’ friends address and as our eyesight is not what it used to be, name tags that could be read at 30 paces were a good idea (no name forgetful moments).”Norma

”I thought the Generations – “Advanced Class” was exceptional. Andrea was very clear in her explanations and gave plenty of time for questions.

The Interactives room was also a real highlight for me. Brian Ballie was such an inspirational presenter and I liked his digitising concept. He is very friendly and really knows his product. They were all excellent but to me these were the two real highlights. The shop was so well set out and it was so good having the presenters in the shop area, when they could be that is, as it gave us a chance to browse and ask questions. Well done all!”Glenys

“Not knowing what to expect, I was extremely impressed with the whole of the convention. It makes me envious of the ladies who live close to Echidna, with the support and classes they have access to.” Marion

If your comments aren’t listed above, please rest assured that we do appreciate them, however there are just so many to publish that we are overwhelmed with your wonderfiul responses. Once again, the Team from Echidna would like to extend a huge thank you to all delegates for your participation in the Echidna Convention 2009. We look forward to seeing you and your friends at the Echidna Convention 2011.