General Synod eNews No.22
2 February 2023

Dear delegates and alternates

We're getting close to General Convention now, and you might be starting to make your plans for finding your way to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). This eNews provides helpful information for local transport in Melbourne and around the MCEC.

Finding your way to MCEC

The MCEC is located at the western end of the Southbank precinct, immediately south of Melbourne’s CBD. 

Sky buses run regularly between the Tullamarine Airport and Melbourne City, departing every 10 minutes during peak times. The estimated journey time is 35 minutes (traffic dependent).

There is a free tourist City Circle Tram that runs around the city. Also, there is a Free Tram Zone spanning most of the CBD north of the Yarra River, where no travel card is needed. We strongly recommend that you do not drive into the Melbourne CBD, as parking is very expensive.

For more information about transport options, including trains, trams and car parking, see Delegates > In Melbourne.

Lost?

If you have difficulty finding your way to the MCEC or, once there, to the LCA Convention area, please call 03 9235 8000. A representative of the MCEC will help you to find your way.

Venue information

There are two main entry points to MCEC. Registration will be outside the worship/meals/exhibition space, from 4.30pm Thursday and from 7.15am Friday. 

Our two main rooms are about 800 metres apart. On Friday, there will be volunteers along the route to help guide people. MCEC staff can also assist you to find the locations for daily worship, meals/exhibition and the business sessions.

For dinner on Saturday, you will need to be wearing your lanyard, which shows you have paid for the dinner, to gain entry. 

For more information, including maps of the locations of the Synod rooms, see Delegates > In Melbourne.

Food and dining

There are many dining options alongside MCEC by the river and eastwards towards St Kilda Road, and there is a food court (west of MCEC), at the DFO complex – basement level. See more information at Delegates > In Melbourne.

Explore

Melbourne CBD is nearby, and the Bourke Street Mall has a range of shops. There is late-night shopping on Friday evenings. There are also many cultural opportunities near the MCEC. Go to Delegates > In Melbourne for more ideas.

Reminder: registration cutoff time

In order for the Synod chair to accurately declare the quorum and number of registered delegates, the cutoff for registration (without an apology for lateness) is 9.50am Friday 10 February. If you already know you will not be able to register by that time, or if you are delayed in travelling to Synod, you must register an apology for lateness before the cutoff time with the Secretary of the Church at this number 0427 842 200. Note that, even if you have registered an apology for lateness, all registrations close at 1.30pm sharp on Friday.

If you arrive between 9.50am and 1.30pm on Friday (with an apology for lateness) you will be allowed into the delegate area at the commencement of the next session. If you are not physically present and registered by 1.30pm on Friday (with or without an apology for lateness) you will not be allowed into any of the Synod sessions. You may, however, watch the proceedings from the visitor area.

Keeping in touch

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the in-person sessions of the 20th Convention of General Synod. Please continue to check your inbox and keep an eye on the Convention website. In addition, delegates, we will send you urgent and/or important updates or reminders to your mobile phone.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

Sincerely in Christ
Dr Nigel Long
Secretary of the Church