As i wrote in another thread.
For most Victorians (or SA, TAS, WA for that matter), Melbourne to Conondale & return is 3700km’s minimum. In any man's language that 50 odd hours of bum on seat in a car, or close to 5 days of driving. Add the 3-4 days at Conondale that’s an 8/9 day commitment.
For some of the self employed guys that’s 5 days of lost income, fuel, 4 nights accommodation, meals and the list goes on and that just gets you to & from Conondale not taking into account the costs involved in being there.
Us VIC’s had it easy with some of the early venues of CD and given that i travelled to Conondale in 2009/10 and would have been happy if it was in NSW or somewhere with less commitment towards funds and time as i'm going to struggle to get to this years event.