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Welcome to the most interesting...ever changing ebbing & flowing spot in Australia, ConFesttm conference festival
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Dear Henry
Just been to my first ConFest. It was all happening. There was so much fervour and commitment to change and relaxation.. Workshops on everything under the sun. There were speakers and discussions everywhere. Each day there were sharings where hundreds would gather to hear the ConFest news. At any moment day and night we had dozens of things to choose from. Massage tables, all sorts of healing and relaxing massage. People were talking about going bush and setting up communes. There are just so many people filled with so many ideas about better futures. Why don't you join me at the next ConFest. You would love it - and tell all of your friends - anyone who has something to share with others to come along and do it. Create an event. Put on a play. Bring your musical instruments and drums. It is extraordinary.
See Ya Friday. Fred
Dear Michelle
Fantastic that you've decided to come to ConFest. One thing you might like to think about. Why don't we create our own village. In the past folks have had fun and created small camping areas called "Nothing in Particular, Decadence, Yoga, Crazy Hat Village. Healing, Pirates, Pagan, and Spirituality" etc. I haven't seen a "Womyns" village for a few years. That could be fun. Perhaps we can hook up one of the sinks and make a beautiful bush shower as well. Paradise Beach Village has acoustic music and cool jazz trumpet. There are lots of camping areas, some are really quiet in the bush some by the beaches or family areas and some full on action and music close to the market. I'll be taking my earplugs if we are near there. Some villages will be in a car free area. That's where Arts and Massage are. Some are in Gipsy where people camp with their cars and campervans. When we arrive they'll have a map to show where the initial villages are.
Love to talk and make plans. email me.
Love, Liz.
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What others have said!
Thanx heaps for a beautiful, healing and learning
experience. I'm sure I'm not the only one wishing to express my feelings of thanx for one life changing
festival. Jeanie
At last we've come together to enjoy time with one another and most of all the Earth. It's so rare to feel comfortable amongst people who seemed to be strangers, but in reality were all friends who had yet to be met . GG
Suggestion
Many volunteers spend their ConFest time working. We pay you for this festival. You should provide the fascilities. You make a $ million dollars profit from this - I think you could afford to pay the people.
(eg Chefs) I had a great ConFest. Love it always, thanks for all who made it great. . ..unsigned.
Dear unsigned thankyou for the suggestion. Wow a $million profit. Sounds great but I don't know where you got that fabulous rumour from. Down To Earth Co-op and ConFest have all the usual business over-heads and the only reason your ticket is $45 or $65 instead of over $100 is BECAUSE we run on volunteer energy. We have this year spent $200,000 buying land. We think it's a good investment. If we did earn millions we would certainly have done some serious ecological/environmental investments and support schemes. Ed
Dear unsigned, I paid $36 for one night in a caravan park. No massage, No music No workshops, No hugs. Zip.
(the sunrise on the beach was great though!) Sub Ed
I'm happy to see that Down to Earth is still hanging in through all these years. It's still the most relaxing, happy place in the world that I know, the people, the land, the spirit. You folks that attend all the meetings throughout the year have done a great job to purchase land and cope with the insurance fiasco in this last few years. Luke P.
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* Large trees drop branches, look up and check before you put up your tent or park your
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Sharing at ConFest
ConFest began 25 years ago with these basic ideals for us to experience atthe festival
Material simplicity, Self determination
Public awareness Ecological awareness
Personal growth, Environmental harmony,
Co-operation & sharing.
With this in mind we come together to share a
week of workshops, playshops, fun and relaxation.
Some things to do at ConFest
Swimming or floating down the river, hot tubbing, workshopping, steam tenting, life drawing, twirlingdrumming, snacking in the market, drinking Chai, relaxing, meditating, mudbathing, body painting, spontaneous choiring, volunteering, performing, talking, discovering new possibilities, playing music, massaging, relaxing, rejuvenating, being as social as all heck or just chilling out!
A Welcome space for orientation and a cuppa stop will be set up again at this ConFest to give you a space to rest and check things out first.! TIM*****
The workshop boards are there for you to use if you wish to run a workshop or to find out what, when, and where they are being held. Check them out.
Volunteers/helpers
This is the energy that runs ConFest. We all buy a ticket and we all put in a few or more hours to run our own space If you have a skill you'd like to share then call in at the information tent. We need 1st aiders, plumbers and cooks and shifters and movers, ticket stampers and fire patrollers, etc. It is usually a great way to meet people if you are new to ConFest and good fun. Information also helps explain how things work and where available materials may be found. Extra toilet paper is usually at info, the massage tent and some in the market at Mattis Felafels.
If you have have a problem or are unhappy about something; (that the folks around you can't help solve,) then pop into info and have a chat.
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Respect other peoples right to a peaceful festival.
Abuse of drugs, alcohol and noise is not accepted at ConFest.
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DTE New November 2002 Page
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Learning at ConFest
Getting there the adventure begins. ConFest can Be a
7 day personal growth workshop.
If your shy = step up and say hi.
Give a workshop or attend lots
try a day of silence - no talking
try not using a watch
try a day of no smoking/drinking
try a day of solitude
try a day of giving/helping everywhere you can
learn new skills - radio, massage, cooking, 1st aid,etc
Do something you've never done before, start aSkills register board at info
Stand on a box and let everyone know what "bugs"you. (do it with passion)
Random acts of kindness
What really matters in life?
Concert. We don't pay for musos, ConFest is not an event or gig-- it's about us being spontaneous and coming together to make our own amazing, one-off, unplugged entertainment. Fabulous stuff and amazing talent comes out of the "woods" We are the musos and actors and poets and dancers etc
ConFest ball would you like to help organise one then be in touch with DTE. Bring the glad rags, the op shop specials for New Years.!
Interested in being part of an entertainment gang - Just bring your ideas and energy and find someone at information to chat to about it. This is the spontaneous, fun, creative side of ConFest that you make happen.
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Food at ConFest
Dear ConFesters and first timers....
Time to plan ahead, make the list and pack as lightly as possible for ConFest. Most of us bring too much and there's lots available on site or in Deniliquin (a big country town ). Leave the food packaging at home, bring lots of healthy snack foods, nuts dry biscuits etc. and plan your own simple food needs.
If the area is under a total fire ban don't fret... you'll have your nibbles and fruit, there will be community kitchens for safe gas cooking approved (were working on this at the moment) by the local fire authorities. Bring a thermos to keep hot water in if you need a cuppa or the ubiquitous "noodles" and then there is the yummy vegetarian food market to fill you with delights. Pizza, felafels, curry, cakes, pies, much of it organic. To drink there will be juice and coffee/teas and chai.and more.
The Market also has a craft and clothing etc. area and some people bring a box of goods to sell at the blanket stalls. If you wish to sell at ConFest, call us..
Ice, Bread, Milk will also be for sale on site.
Rubbish and Recycling are important considerations for all of us. Bring little so we are not filling up a local rubbish dump with city crap. Moama Lions may be helping us again with the recycling of cans.
Please limit the glass containers brought on site as broken glass is unkind to bare feet!!!
Cigarette butts are not part of mother natures scene. Put them into a recycled film cannister and be really carefull with matches.....
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ConFest is a microcosm of the macrocosm.
Leave the expensive things at home- someone may feel the need to "borrow" them. Practice living simply. leave the watch and mobile for once.
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Dear Folks, As you know I am really keen to start the land management and environmental awareness process for this land. I am asking if we can find these books for a start to be rescource material for flora and fauna information
1.. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia by Harold g Cogger 6th Edition
2. Australian Maseum c.... book of Australian Mammals 1991 publication
3. A Field Guide to Australian Birds Michael Morecombe Best regards.Don Royal
---------------------------
Ann ( see article in letters) is our "Master of Ecological Sciences" and working more with plants, trees and weeds. She may be running some workshops or chats about the property and local flora
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To contact us Down to Earth Co-operative
P.O.Box 295
Brunswick East Vic. 3057
or email folks@dte.org.au
or phone us 03 9506 8753
or web www.dte.org.au
www. confest.com.au
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To rake or not to rake.
Some campers seem to adopt the scorched earth policy raking their campsite back to bare earth and then sometimes looking for foreign material such as straw to cover the fragile ground. Grasses will flatten naturally where you walk and sit, and once you're relaxing you'll see that the natural cover is lovely to look at. Clearing sticks away by hand from where you pitch your tent and clearing around your regulation fire drum is sufficient. Small creatures will naturally move away as you move in and return quickly once you've left if you've done a minimum of damage.
Cheers. Anna.
Thanks Anna, great down to earth suggestion. We may not be able to have camp-fires if there are FIRE BANS so check when you get to ConFest and each day at information . Ed.
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No Pets
Dear ConFesters, A few ConFests ago I was nominated to do the difficult job of asking some people to remove their dog from the property. I visited their camp and patted their beautiful dog. When I asked them to remove their dog they gave me plenty of positive words. I asked when they intended to remove the dog they told me it would be in three days. We discussed the no pets policy and they said that they thought DTE was just "being pedantic". I then further explained the health and safety reasons for this policy and they then asked me to write a letter to explain and make this information available to everybody.
DTE has always had a No Pets policy.
Dog shit, like all other shit can be dangerous. Dog shit can carry parasites like Hydadits and a large variety of worms.
These parasites can remain undetected in the human body for long periods of time and cause considerable medical problems.
Stepping into dog shit is not pleasant. Dogs also have a habit of piddling on tents and boxes as well as trees, raid food stores and tents for nibbles and for some people are frightening. The discovery of dog and cat food cans in the rubbish clean up happened one festival due to the stench from the maggotised meat left overs. Yuk. Pets are great, yet unfortunately you need to appreciate the big picture and arrange a holiday for your pet if you are coming to ConFest. Cheers R. J.
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Dear DTE/ConFest organisers,
I work as a landscape gardner and am noticing a great shortage of straw and mulch materials. I've enjoyed the use of straw at ConFest as a dust reducing medium but believe that with the drought effects you will need to make other arrangements this year. If you do source any it will probably be very expensive. Ecologically we as ConFesters can do without the straw as people working in animal husbandry will need it more than us. Tim J.
Tim this is a really timely reminder for us as we will need some for our toilets, sullage and compost pits. Perhaps people can create (recycled) watering cans for dust control Ed
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Ode to the CANVAS WATERBAG.
I have a 9 litre canvas bag (Paragon Wholesale- made in Australia) which I take to conFest. Dry it is just a small piece of fabric which weighs nothing- no large, bulky plastic container to bring, or to leave behind on a mounting pile of rubbish when ConFest is over. (someone else has to get rid of this)
I fill it at one of the many taps at ConFest which supply excellent quility artesian bore water. Water passes through the weave evaporating to cool the water inside.The water is cool even when it's hot and the evaporation action also neutralises any mineral taste to give you cool, beautiful water. A person I mentioned this to said they also had a canvas waterbag and the water had a bad taste. Someone else said their bag had leaked excessively. After the first filling when the bag is thoroughly wet I have not found excessive leakage a problem nor had ay problem with taste.You need to avoid all contact with chemicals and dry the bag prior to storing. I have found a canvas waterbag the perfect, rubbish free way to have fres, cold water at my campsite. Happy ConFesting, Anna.
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DTE News 109 November 2002 page 6
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Melbourne and Country Victoria
.
City The Original Culture Shock 256 Flinders Street, Melbourne Mon-Fri 10 am-7pm Sun 2 ish-7pm ish
City So Hum Aroma Therapy 139 Victoria Street Tue 9am-3.30pm Th-Su 9am-3:30pm
Collingwood Friends of the Earth Bookshop 312 Smith Street. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-4pm Sun 11am-5pm
Carlton North Rathdowne Books. 719 Rathdowne Street Mon-Thu 11-8pm, Fri-Sat 11-9pm Sun 11am-6pm
St Kilda Chakra Arts 1 79 Acland Street 7 Days 10am-6pm
Hampton Sirah. 520 Hampton Street Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 9.30am-5pm Sun 11am-4pm
Footscray Grasslands Organic Grocer & Café 205 Nicholson Street Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-1pm
Frankston Frankston Health Foods. 5 Wells Street Mon-Fri 7.30am-5.30pm Sat 7.30am-2pm
ConFab at Collingwood Leisure Centre Opp Clifton Hills Rly Stn. See Peter Mills Sun Dec 1st & 15th 7.30-10pm
Glen Waverley The Organic Shop 102 Kings Way Mon 9am-5.30pm Tue-Wed 9am-6pm Thu 9am-9.30pm
Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am -2:30pm
Blackburn Nth Max Pascoe 178 Surrey Road (Opp Fir St.) Mon-Fri am-5pm A.H. by appointment. (03) 9878 0170)
Dandenong Be Healthy Foods Shop 13 Dandenong Arcade 236 Lonsdale Street Mon-Wed 9-5.30pm Thur 9am-7pm Fri 9-9pm Sat 8-1.30pm
Belgrave Colonial Bookshop 1677 Burwood Highway Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm Sun 12-5pm
Healesville David Brown Real Estate 222 Maroondah Hwy M-F 8.30am-6pm Sat 9.00am-5pm Sun 10.00-5pm
Sunbury Cosmic Clothing. 99 Evans Street Mon-Thu 9am-5.30pm Fri 9am-7pm Sat 9am-5pm
St Andrews Matti's Felafels St Andrews Market Sat 7am-4pm 0417 959 545
Ballarat The 180 Shop 102 Bridge Mall Mon-Thu 9am-5:30pm Fri 9am-6pm Sat 9am-1pm
Wonthaggi Mega Bites Café 132 Graham St Mon Wed 9.30am-5pm Thu-Sat 9.30am-9pm Sun 9.30am-3pm
CastleMaine Market - Leighton Wood at the Chi Tent Wesley Hill Sat 9 am - 1pm 0417 366 096
Geelong Keith Clancey 930 Barwon Heads Road Connewarre 03 5264 1244
Bendigo Lazy Moon Gift Shop 322 Lyttleton Terrace Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:50pm Sat 10am-2pm
Echuca Fruits of The Earth 3 McKinnon Arcade
Echuca/Moama & District Tourism Assoc 2 Heygarth Street Echuca M-Sun 8am-5pm M-Fri 9am-5.30pm Sat 9am-1pm
Sydney and Country NSW
Sydney Wilderness Society Shop Shop CO3 Castlereigh Level Centre Point Mon-W 9am-6pm Th 9-8pm
Fri-9am-6pm Sat 9-5pm Sun 10-5pm
Glebe Phoenix Rising Books 31A Glebe Point Road Mon-Sat 10am-7pm Sun Noon-7pm
Albury Albury Wodonga EnviroCentre Hub Arcade 4/530 Kiewa Street M-Fri 11am-5pm Sat 11am-1pm
Deniliquin Deniliquin Information Centre Peppin Heritage Centre Crn George & Napier Strs M-F 9am-4pm
Sat-Sun 10am-3pm
Byron Bay Byron Bay Community Centre 18 Fletcher Street (Next to Library) Mon-Fri 10.am-4pm
Tocumwal Tocumwal Info Centre Foreshore Park -Near the Big Fish Tue-Fri 10am-4pm Sat-Sun 10am-2pm
South Australia
Conservation Council of S.A. 120 Wakefield Street. Adelaide Mon-Fri 9am(ish)-5pm
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No Pets Organise a pet sitter now.
Rubbish Plan to generate as little rubbish as possible. Burn your paper as fire starters or put it with other organic material in the compost pits., and take the rest home with you..
Put the empty dunny roll centre down the toilet. We clean up ourselves here.
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Insect Repellent
Remember you are camping in a Ross River Virus area so bring plenty of strong insect repellent as a precaution.. Mossies here bite at dawn and dusk.Bring long sleeves and leggings for the evenings.
See the Information Tent for more.
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Different Abilities?
If you have any special needs ,
please contact us at DTE before the start of the festival to see how
we can help or about access
and tickets for disability carers.
DTE Message service 03 9506
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DTE News 109 November 2002 Page 7
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Moving? - Remember to send your new address details or email changes.
Name_____________________________Old address details __________________________________________
New address details _____________________________________________________________
Shareholder No.__________ (if applicable) email ----------------------------------------- Nov 2002
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Printed on paper made from sugar cane
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Print Post approved PP 33258/0016
If undelivered, please return to:
DTE PO Box 295,
Brunswick East, Victoria 3057
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