| Sydney
ConFesters: creating a space
to experience community while being yourself.
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Index
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Sydney
ConFesters Gatherings are about experiencing community in an environmentally
sustainable way: helping and sharing in activities including setting
up, creating facilities, communal meals, running and attending workshops
and packing up. It’s open to everyone including families with
children – no specific skills or requirements are needed.
Sydney
ConFesters is run by volunteers: It is only possible for the gatherings
to run smoothly if everyone chips in and helps by contributing in
many different ways. You choose which activities and tasks you would
like to be involved with, to help create the gathering.
Click
here
for dates and details |
To ensure harmony within a large community camping in close contact,
we have agreed on some conditions, they include:
* The gathering is
drug-free - do not bring any illegal drugs.
* It is also alcohol-free - do not bring any alcohol.
* Communal areas are smoke-free - please do not smoke in or around communal
tents or areas.
* The gathering is for people only - do not bring any pets.
* Only live acoustic music is permitted (except if required for workshops
or the concert) - please do not play recorded music.
* Sydney ConFesters is non-commercial - please do not bring goods for
sale or provide services for a fee.
* The gathering is clothing-optional, your choice to wear clothing or
not is respected
* Photographs, which include people, may not be taken without their prior
consent.
* Children (under 16s) may only be photographed with the prior permission
of their parent (or guardian). So as to support the learning of appropriate
boundaries, the children MUST be present when the photographer obtains
the parent's permission.
* Food provided by Sydney Confesters is plant based - please do not prepare
any meat-based meals in the communal kitchen or chai kitchen.
· Set up commences
around 9am on the first day, with everyone helping to erect the kitchen,
chai tent and chai kitchen, kid’s and workshop spaces, hot tub and
steam room, toilets etc.
· Welcoming
Ceremonies are held every day.
· Getting to
know each other (with lots of chai) all happen while the facilities are
being erected as a group activity. When completed, workshops, activities
and hangout days can begin, with even more getting to know each other.
· There is
an informal concert either on Friday or Saturday evening.
· The last
day of the gathering is pack up day where we play together, removing our
presence from the site and finishing with a beautiful Closing Ceremony.
· There are
always lots of newcomers and we aim to make everyone welcome – if
you are a newcomer, go and say hello to someone and ask for an orientation.
If you’ve been before – share the joy. Hugs are the order
of the day – but please remember to ask first!
· If you see
something that needs doing, please do it or ask how to get it done. See
the Tasks Board for tasks to be done. You can help in the kitchen, front
gate, setting up marquees, maintenance of amenities, cleaning, site care,
etc. Please offer your assistance regularly, as we are all part of the
team.
· Action will
be taken in the event of inappropriate behaviour of attendees at ConFesters
Gatherings. Inappropriate behaviour may relate to the use of drugs and
alcohol, sexual or physical harassment or inappropriateness, mistreatment
of the site or breaches of policy or conditions.
· Notice Board
is the place for any general or specific notices you wish to convey to
others.
· We depend
on your feedback so we can keep improving Sydney ConFesters gatherings.
Please put any feedback on the Notice Board, in the ConFesters feedback
book, or email to sydneyconfesters@hotmail.com.
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*
Anyone can run a workshop and anyone can attend a workshop (check
the Workshop Noticeboard). Workshop attendees need to be aware that
Sydney ConFesters does not oversee workshops and you attend at your
own risk.
* All workshops are free.
* Workshop spaces will be set up as part of the general group activity.
* Please bring all equipment and items necessary to run your workshop.
No power is available on site.
* Workshop spaces are booked by entering details on the Workshop
blackboard. |
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There
is at least one performance night over the weekend. Please bring
ideas, musical instruments, jokes, costumes, etc. that you may
like to use as part of the performance. Get together with some
new friends and be creative.
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| Entry
cost is payable at the front gate. (Your work contribution occurs
during the festival). Cash only and exact money please. ·
The entry cost includes daily lunch and dinner created from plant
based foods as well as chai and other hot drinks. Drinking water
will also be available. Please bring any additional foods and
drinks you may require. Please advise beforehand if you have any
special dietary needs, we will endeavour to accommodate them.
Check with the Kitchen Coordinator before contributing food to
the kitchen.
·
Part of the entry ticket is a work contribution. Our combined
efforts create this community – and you get to choose what
suits you: site set-up, daily community functions and activities
(e.g. Kitchen help, gathering firewood etc), ongoing site maintenance
of all kinds and site pack-up. Ask what needs doing or check the
Tasks Board. (Workshops are optional and not part of your work
obligations.)
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No matter when you arrive, all attendees will be charged the full
entry fee.
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There are plans to erect a kitchen, chai tent, basic outdoor showers
and toilets, workshop spaces, steam room and a hot tub. Basic
first aid materials will be available. |
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As
the festival is camping-based, we have included a list of useful
items you may consider bringing as none of these items will be
provided (labeling your gear will help
identify them if lost):
Camping
gear: Tent, appropriately insulated sleeping bag or doona for
the season, rug, groundsheet, torch.
Eating
gear: Personal plate, bowl, eating utensils, coffee/chai mug (suggest
in a carry bag so they don’t get lost)
(remember,
care for the environment - please do not bring disposables)
Clothes:
Warm or light clothes (depending on the season it, could be cold
at night), hat, good walking shoes, rain jacket, swimming gear
(all optional of course).
Extras:
Chair, acoustic musical instruments, additional snack foods (only
midday and evening meals are provided), water bottles, sunscreen,
first aid and insect repellent. Earplugs will help to reduce noise.
Gardening gloves and secateurs if you’d like to help with
the blackberry eradication. Smokers please bring portable ashtrays/film
canisters.
Workshops:
If you would like to run a workshop(s) please bring appropriate
equipment.
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The
gathering is likely to proceed regardless of weather conditions.
However, please check for updates on the website & Sydney
ConFesters yahoo group.
To
encourage the best gathering experience for everyone we remind
attendees to act respectfully with and around each other and communicate
honestly, keeping in mind that everyone has different personal
boundaries. Please remember your neighbours may be sleeping, before
commencing your activities.
Please
take all rubbish and waste with you at the end of the weekend,
including cigarette butts.
Only
two campfires are allowed on site (communal area and front gate).
Due to fire hazard, site hire regulations state no other naked
flames are allowed (except in the kitchen).
The
use of the hot tub and creek is not advised if you have open wounds.
Tree
branches may fall. Take care when choosing your site.
To
protect the trees, please do not park under trees.
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| There
is no Mobile coverage at the Sydney ConFesters site. You will need
to drive approximately 3km to get CDMA coverage or 5km to get coverage
on other networks. Emergency contact to the site may be available
through Gail on 02 9484 1097. |
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Drive
in and park as shown. Separate Parking areas for: Gypsy (camping
in or beside the car); and Car Free (not camping near your car).
To optimise tent spaces please do not park vehicles close to river
or under trees.
Access
to the site is only permitted during the Sydney ConFesters gathering.
To
minimise vehicle impact on the site, plan to remain on site for
the duration of the gathering.
No
public transport is available to the site. The nearest railway
station on route is Gosford or Hornsby, (a Sydney suburb) both
about 45 minutes from the site. Car-pooling is encouraged.
All
tracks on the site are unsealed dirt, which may become slippery
after rain - drive carefully. |
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| WHERE
TEMPORARY ABSENCE FROM THE SYDNEY CONFESTERS SITE IS NECESSARY |
| Sydney
ConFesters temporarily leaving the site are to give their tickets
to the front gate attendees who will mark them with a pass out.
On re-entering the site the mark will be removed from the tickets
by the front gate attendees. |
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| Please
use car-pooling as much as possible. Requests or offers of car-pooling
can be emailed to sydneyconfesters@yahoogroups.com.au at least 4
days before the gathering please! When offering or requesting a
lift please provide full contact details, the date, time and place
of departure or pickup point, such as a convenient railway station.
No guarantee is provided that a lift will be available for you but
we’ll do our best. |
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SYDNEY
CONFESTERS YAHOO GROUP |
| You
can join the Sydney ConFesters Yahoo Group to keep in touch with
upcoming events, see pictures of previous gatherings and access
background information about the group. Simply go to http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/sydneyconfesters/
click on “Join this group” and type in your name and
password. It’s quick and easy! |
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| Whilst
every care is taken by the Down To Earth Coop and Sydney ConFesters,
they assume no responsibility and accept no liability for the activities
of patrons or for any loss, injury or damage suffered or incurred
by patrons whilst attending the gathering or whilst located on the
Sydney ConFesters site. |
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Down
to Earth and Sydney ConFesters reserve the right to:
* Refuse entry to the Sydney ConFesters Gatherings site.
* Remove persons from the Sydney ConFesters Gatherings site.
* Require vehicles blocking access or parked inappropriately to
be moved.
* Require persons to leave if accompanied by a pet.
* Change festival dates or location with limited notification.
No
written, aural or visual record of this event may be made without
the prior permission of Down To Earth. Down to Earth reserves
all rights to publication of any or all records of the Sydney
ConFesters Gathering. Permission will only be granted to make
such records on the condition that the individual agrees to transfer
the copyright in the records to Down to Earth. |
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IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT ANY ASPECT OF
THE GATHERING
please
contact one of these people – Marie (02 9589 0261) or Jimmy
or Gail (02 9484 1097)
or
email to sydneyconfesters@hotmail.com
We
welcome you to Sydney ConFesters
Have a great gathering!
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gathering/sydney.txt · Last modified: 2007/10/21 17:11 by admin
