Good question! Everyone is ridiculous nice, if there is a new face there will be at least one person coming over to say G`day. The other option just putting your self out there "hey I'm TIR60 from the forums".
I saw so many new faces’ at our last dinner, by the time we got our food everyone was talking. Maybe grab a lift from someone to a dinner as well, that way your rocking up with someone you've just built a report with