Hi friends and family that I know.
And the friends and family I have yet to meet.

     Last year seemed to be getting very long and i just seemed to get
very full. almost like i was digging a hole in quick sand with a round
stick to china.
Than came www.yaamma*festival*.org festival in Bourke where things just
got started (im sure there where lots of other things but they are are
blurrrr:-)
Bourke is an incredibly well known town thats been forgotten or nobody
really new it was real.
Mostly populated by aboriginal children, where parents seemed to always
be somewhere else.
My challenge was to keep track of all the gear that looked interesting
or flammable to Kids with lots of time on their hands and an amazing
ability to be invisible, climb Marquees and levitate the unbolted.
Amongst this amazing array of children where athletes, gymnasts,
Artists, singers, Dancers  Politicians  even  security guards, some much
more talent to mention.
the highlight was when a 5 year old child begun dancing on the
corroboree area to the macarena and having 100's of people dancing and
cheering along with her and she didnt bat an eye.
And Uncle Phil top points for being the Loving yet stern dad to the many
hundreds of kids running a little skew of the big picture :-).
     www.yaamma*festival*.org is happening again this year and is still
in the planning stages.Contributions will be warmly welcomed and you
will be treated like royalty (Bourke style).
I can see a big opening for strong loving people who can keep the
attention span of kids and young adults while teaching them something
they can use that they can grow from.
circus skills maybe or sports maybe team building skills.(you decide :-)

The Blur is clearing as i was able to journey with the crew from REGEN
http://www.regenprojects.org/
these guys know how to throw a party. a motley crew who have a deep
passion for planting trees.
now focusing there energy on bring people together @ a weekend Party
with live world music with Big name talent coming together to contribute
to this Not for Profit Group. 2 more stage areas 1 with a Very big sound
system for that sound to big to be measured in just decibels. and a
chill out area full of carpet cuss ions and fairy lights.
As you might be aware my contribution to these festivals is with
equipment. it rained it was windy things blew around (away) people went
to bed late and got up early with out sleeping every one was run to the
end of their tether. And at the end of their Was a huge smile just as
big as the beginning. These guys Have been just humbling to me .Thank
you.They are also looking for contributions..........



Sydney ConFesters is going from strength to strength. With Jimmy and
Sophias at the helm its in full sail. With a capable crew .The biggest
challenge was understanding how you get alignment on a grand scale. The
solution seemed so simple "Ask".


...
WWW.DTE.ORG.AU/SYDNEY
Sydney ConFest is a CONTRIBUTION festival with hundreds people saying
How can i help all at once. This is catching us (me) off guard as i
havent been able to let go of enough jobs that people can go away with
at once :-)
  Im putting it out there for people who can step in and Help me let go .
Sydney confesters is looking for co-ordinators so as to help distribute
the fun evenly across the festival. every one who attends has the right
to contribute and should be given that opportunity.
Share the love. Personally i am looking for people who can guide and
assist in the education process in tasks like.
Marquee erection dismantling
knot tying
connecting portable gas cooking equipment
foot transport of equipment 2 and from storage
food transport to the festival
compact container packing
research and development on sustainability in
lighting, water transport /
heating and a variety of projects
radio communications
erosion prevention
identification and tagging of equipment
Lets not get too carried away :-)
The meetings are now flowing with everyone aligned to creating a
sustainable festival where you can be yourself while experiencing community.
NEXT SYDCONFEST is AUSTRALIA DAY LONG WEEK end of january
sydneyconfesters@...
for MAP BOOKINGS CARPOOLING ETC
....
Now to top it off The Big  Momma (Thanks Sofire)
C O N F E S T
www.dte.org.au
Sofire and i headed of a day or two early. stopping in on the relos' o
the way
having had a Xmass dinner with the folks a week early (is that allowed?).
Then the the slow trip we had planned was but a blink and we were
there.Locked out till day Break.
now when we got there and set up our modest camp site.we/i began to
think Now what can we/i do... Toilets? nup done.
Water? . Nup done Fire places? Done all we could do was slip on some
overalls and wander round looking busy :-) ( thanks brian and crew) This
did not last terribly long, temperatures rose, pipes burst, candles
where lit near piles of leaves on a fire ban day with a shaken beer was
a stand by exstinguisher.Miss understanding sprinkled around
It was an other year of firsts for me.
"new camp site""with other people""who happen to be mums""who had there
kids with them"
I dint really know how it would look. It looked great . Thanks guys.
Then the highlight of my festival outside of sharing time with sofire,
I hosted a work shop called "healing circle"
They say you tend to teach what you can most benefit to be learning.With
so many perfect candidate to be Hosting the circles, This year was one
where i was it. I am honored and thank all the people who attended and
offered every ounce of support they could muster and trust my process in
creating a space ,Both in physically clearing the space and bordering it
with branches and lining it with fresh sand and straw, and emotionally
by inviting people to let
go/embrace/witness/imagine/sing/hug/embrace/laugh/cry and just Be.

Each day had new faces join the old ones, the circle Grew , Then Grew
sow more, Menninda from Melbourne, was amassing not only did he bring
the energy of the ridge, bit stepped in and in the heat of the day
enlarged the circle, by removing more dry mud and relocating and
collecting more sticks to border the circle and spreading the sand and
hay,I recommend you look him up next time your in Melbourne.
No Confest is complete without a Confest CRY i got to do both types,
Happiness of just being and witness others Being, giving, sharing and
loving, and of sadness, Things i had to let go of to move forward.
Ideas, compromises, beliefs and perceptions (theres always more).
Hearts some times Break open to make room for more. like the shell of a
seed opening to grow.
Sofire and i Journeyed Back via June'(north of Wagga) where fires still
burned in tree stumps and the ground was already black carbon. a tree
had fallen (still onfire) only momens before we had arrived blocking
half the road, less than an hour later a bull dozer pushed it aside and
buried the stump they got ther shit together out there, our prayers go
out to Sofires cousin whos burns we hope are only a memory received
while stepping into his power,and that his hands arms and body heal
quickly and return to full function.
There have bee so many other stories that have made my heart sing and Im
thakfull for that.
Keith (hands on skin )and Ken (Joy Fest) keep goin your doing good work!



Thank you for reading my rant , journey, year in review.helping me
remeber and appreciate all of you.
It is my wish that you have been able to read this in the
context that it was written. ( It took over and hour and the spell check
is American )
If i missed anything please fill in the blanks.....
I LOVE YOU GUYS, YOU ROCK!
Benny Menczer
Marourba,Sydney,Australia,earth south,here...........

PS I would love to hear about your year
and what inspires you
click reply to sender or
removals@...

PLEASE let me if i can share your inspiring stories with others

If you wish to know more about.
gatherings in melbourne
healing circles in melbourne
gatherings in sydney
confest car pooling
sydney confest
drumming circles
healing circles in sydney
Festivals round australia inc confest

Or if your feeling generous with your time
equipment or knowlege and willing to contribute
Give us a Hoy

Love and Light
"Light Feather"
Earth Tribe




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Is anyone interested in going to Confest 27th or 28th Dec. I'd like to
share costs in your car or I can take mine. I just decided I need to
get silly SOON!!! Ring me 0432 159 799 or email. Hope to see you all
there.

I will be out of the office starting  24/12/2005 and will not return until
16/01/2006.

I will respond to your message when I return.  If you require anything in
the interim, please contact Helen Deegan on 8347 3405




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Hi Robert

   thanks for your message - I haven't quite decided yet whether I'm driving or
not; this is my first confest (and first camping expedition) so I'm rather
anxious about all of it!  I'm still trying to organise myself for it as this was
a very last minute decision to go - only yesterday.

   Carpooling is a great idea and would probably be a good thing for me to do - I
will get in touch with you again in the next day or so after I sort myself out -
but of course in the meantime if you get other people interested in travelling
with you, don't wait for me.  By the way I live in Box Hill - not sure how far
out of your way it is.

   bye for now
   Lucy



Benny Menczer <removals@...> wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>I will be leaving for Deni on 27th Dec from  around North Ryde   and
would
>appreciate company and the sharing of petrol costs.
>
>There is room for two people and depending on where the pick up point is,
>would like to leave in time to get to ConFest before the gate closes on
>Tuesday, so it would be reasonably early. I intend leaving ConFest on 4th
>Jan during the morning.
>
>Please contact me on 0412811621   or 98885289 if you are interested.
>
>Cheers,
>
Robert
britt2803@...



---------------------------------
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Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>Hi there,
  >
  >I will be leaving for Deni on 27th Dec from  around North Ryde   and
would
  >appreciate company and the sharing of petrol costs.
  >
  >There is room for two people and depending on where the pick up point is,
  >would like to leave in time to get to ConFest before the gate closes on
  >Tuesday, so it would be reasonably early. I intend leaving ConFest on 4th
  >Jan during the morning.
  >
  >Please contact me on 0412811621   or 98885289 if you are interested.
  >
  >Cheers,
  >
Robert
britt2803@...

Hello beautiful people,

   My good friend Paul, wants to go to confest ..yay!!!!!!!!!!!!
   He is looking for a ride starting the 27th (My birthday.....yay yay!!!!!!)
   Hes happy to go to any train station, minimal gear (one backpack)
   Hes happy to share driving and petrol!
   He wants to be where all the healings are :)
   Please call him on 93416050, or Email me
   Peace and Love
   Wafaa :)




---------------------------------
Yahoo! Photos
  Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays,
whatever.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi,

     My friend and I are looking for a ride from Melbourne to Confest
on Dec. 27 or 28.  Will share the cost of petrol.  Email:
katiehagel@....  Phone: 0424758197

Thanks!
Katie and Chay

Hi hippies : )

   My friend Steve is leaving Parramatta (Sydney) on Boxing Day (26th December)

   and has some room in his van ...

   If you're interested call him on 0405 108 159.

   : )


---------------------------------
Yahoo! Messenger  NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I also know a couple of young men seeking a lift, so a bus would be
good, but if you happen to have room for 1 (or 2, or 3), please call
or text me, norrie mAy-welby
0421 470 285
http://www.may-welby.blogspot.com
I am unlikely to access the computer again this year, but I will check
this list if I am still seeking a lift come Tuesday!

Hi,

      My boyfriend and I are looking for a lift from Melbourne to
Confest on the 26th, 27th or 28th.   This will be my first Confest and
his 5th.  We'll share the cost of petrol.  We live in Ascot Vale, but
we're also willing to meet up elsewhere if that's more convenient.
Ph: 93728640.

Thanks!
Katie

Hi,
I'll be going to confest on Monday 26, or the latest Tuesday. I live
in Hoppers Crossing Melbourne and have room for 1 maybe 2 people
(small car). No need for money, but please no smoking in the car.
Please ring  97491070 ASAP
or email pperov@...
Happy Confest everybody
Paul

Share petrol / biodiesel
Please call penelope
0423980643.
Thanks

Hello
I'm Georgio, i'm french and i'm in australia from 2 days , in
Melbourne exactly. I'm looking for a lift to confest for 27 or 28
december or anywhen before...
Have a happy life

Georgio.

need a lift from Sydney to Confest on monday 26th december
for two boys.
Call me anytime on 0410 812566
My name is John

Need a lift for 2 boys from Sydney to confest (deniliquin)
Leaving sydney monday 26th december (boxing day)
and arriving hopefully that day
we will pay fairly for this lift (share cost plus extras)

Hi guys, I know it is late, but I am wondering if anyone has any room
for me in their car for a much appreciated lift from Confest back to
Sydney on or around the 1st or 2nd Jan. And ofcourse I will chip in
with petrol!! Thanks, Kristy.

You can email me on shields_ks@...     Thankyou!!

if you still need a lift pls email me at michelleobrien@...
thanks,
Michelle


--- In confest@..., "michael.kiki" <michael.kiki@y...>
wrote:
> Hi All
> I'm looking for a lift from Melbourne to confest early on the 28th
> December - happy to share petrol costs and / or driving and can also
> give you an astrology reading of your natal chart on the way. Please
> email me at michael.ki@c...
> :-) Michael

Hi there,
I am thinking of going this year - driving from St Kilda - pls email
me at michelleobrien@...
thanks,
Michelle
btw I think you may be out of touch with the cost of petrol - it cost
me $50 one way to Benalla last w/e


--- In confest@..., "Steph" <spring_39_jewel@y...>
wrote:
> Hi to all the happy confesters,
>                                I was wondering if anybody had a space
> in their vehicle for someone (me) travelling from melbourne to
> *Confest*, I can get to any suburb from the melbourne trains. I'll
put
> in $10 petrol money. I would love to hear from you!
> my email is: spring_39_jewel@h...
> my phn is:94603263 (ask for steph) or 0400987943
>
> Hope everyone has an awesome time at confest!
> The Love, Peace, Freedom and nuturing of confest! ahh...and the
water!...

I Pete I'm thinking about going too I live in St Kilda and I have a
car. pls email me at michelleobrien@...
thanks,
Michelle


-- In confest@..., "Pete" <chopperj007@y...> wrote:
> Hi everybody,
>
> I am looking to go to confest for the first time this new year, was
> wondering if I could get a lift with anyone this year.
>
> I live in footscray and am willing to pay my way and contribute, but
> also looking to meet people and have fun with at the festival as I
will
> be going on my own.
>
> Hope to hear from you soon
>
>
> Pete

Re: www.dte.org.au

ohn Elliott's former country property is in danger of going down the
psychedelic gurgler. By Anthony Hoy.

Bad enough for John Elliott he lost all his money. Now the bankrupt
Melbourne businessman may be forced to share his farm with hippies.

Elliott’s Woorooma Station, near Moulamein in southern NSW, sold to
developer George Fendyk in May last year for almost $8m, but Elliott
family interests managed to keep their hands on the station’s handsome
homestead. According to local agents, Fendyk is currently considering a
bid, rumoured to be in the region of $250,000, for 260ha (640 acres) of
Elliott’s old property from the Down to Earth Co-op Society, organisers
of the twice-yearly alternative lifestyle events known as ConFest.

These episodes typically feature “spiritual healing”, formless,
disoriented dancing, “arts” and “crafts”, hallucinogens and lots of
drumming. Always, always with the drumming. “We come to celebrate our
being-ness,” warns the ConFest web site. Highlight of this year’s Easter
ConFest, held last month at Gulpa Creek (on land bought by ConFest for
$200,000) in NSW: a pappadam juggling troupe. Some 10,000 people turned
up, tuned in and dropped their mobile phones in the mud.

They’ll be juggling their pappadams at Big John’s place if the ConFest
deal proceeds (where do hippies get this sort of cash, by the way?). The
plan is to rotate these ConFest dirt worship parties between the current
Gulpa Creek site and the former Elliott property.

All of which should really boil Elliott’s mung beans. Back in his
heyday, the then millionaire hosted his own Woorooma “communing with
nature” festivals, but these primarily involved duck shooting over the
farm’s rice paddies and five-star open-air dining on Billabong Creek,
complete with white linen table settings and black tie service. Getting
high required Elliott’s personal helicopter. A more down-to-earth
Elliott has lately been seen around Moulamein being chauffeured by an
attractive blonde in a relatively late-model Mercedes; they should blend
right in when the Children of Aquarius take over.

Believers in karma (that is, every festival attendee) will delight in
the fact that ConFest was conceived in 1976 by former Labor deputy PM
Jim Cairns, who aimed to “transform society and bring an end to
alienation, oppression, exploitation and inequality”. With ex-Liberal
Party president Elliott now among the oppressed, he’s sure of an
invitation to any future hippie gatherings at his old farm. Woorooma:
it’s Australian for Woodstock!
http://bulletin.ninemsn.com.au/bulletin/site/articleIDs/410B42ECFB69CEE1CA256FD9\
00131F46

http://www.rodspark.com/holidays/MurrayHol2003/confest/indexconfest.htm
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~rsywp/index.htm
http://www.green.net.au/boganv/prep.htm
http://www.laceweb.org.au/lwv.htm
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~greenpaddocks/confest.htm
http://www.dte.org.au/  main
http://www.users.bigpond.com/petesake/recent.html
http://starman.server101.com/confest_australia1.htm
http://www.confestpoems.blogspot.com/
http://www.eco-shout.org/showevent.php?id=484
http://www.loveandpeaceworkshop.com/programs/share/index.asp?P=74&L=2&SNID=1&ICI\
D=9&
http://events.britishairways.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=28512
http://www.truelove.com.au/lucy/12months/index.html
http://backend.ewock.com/ewocksql3/asp/index.asp?ID=469&Action=Standard&IDPage=3\
430&Secure=False
http://photobucket.com/albums/v291/wgljazz/
http://spleenie.com/gallery/confestOct2005
http://www.wcet.org.au/create/southside/choir.htm
http://cathy.co.jp/web/skincare/confest/05.html
http://www.grovegatherings.com/notices.htm
http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=9623831&postID=110310563443672748
http://www.robsrun.org/
http://www.roveberg.com/2004/05/i-cant-find-my-silver-dome-tent-have.html
http://www.gotravelinsurance.co.uk/public/news.asp?id=15102164
http://www.confest.org/
http://www.angelfire.com/mt/earthdream2000/itinerary.html
http://www.bellingen.com/homeland/links.html
http://www.tranceplant.org/
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rahkshasa/3859.html#cutid1
http://whatsonwhen.com/events/event.asp?/events/~28289.jml
http://www.funkeyforest.com/links.html
http://triskelemanagement.com/pictures/confest
http://www.conone.org/transceptual.html

hi, chloe here...
i'm looking for a friendly person(s) who could kindly offer me a
lift to the new years confest! i live in the blue mountains, so a
lift from any train station in the mountains would be awesome, but
i'm also very happy to meet you at any train station in sydney.

im more than happy to pitch in for petrol, and im sure you'll enjoy
having me as a car companion! all i have is my big backpack, and a
guitar. i'm pretty happy leaving on any date, really... 27th, 28th,
or 29th. don't mind. i'll play guitar for you, sing for you, give
you a massage and some healing warmth... anything! i must be at this
new years confest cos it's gonna be a beautiful experience!!!

please let me know asap if you can help me out!

sending my warm blessings.

cheers,

~ chloe ~

Hi All
I'm looking for a lift from Melbourne to confest early on the 28th
December - happy to share petrol costs and / or driving and can also
give you an astrology reading of your natal chart on the way. Please
email me at michael.ki@...
:-) Michael

im looking for friends travelling to confest on the 27th,28th or
29th, from sydney or close outskirts, im good for sharing of dollars
and driving time, singing songs, and having those unusual deep
philosophical car trip conversations
-  i curently have no car for the down trip but i will be returning
with a car back to sydney!! and am interested in companions for the
return journey
my number is
0407 835971
lots of love
x allana

Steph wrote:

>Hey,
>    I was looking for a lift from melbourne, any suburb i can get to
>from a train station (Northcote, wherever in melb) on th 28th of
>December (or before) to CONFEST! I will put in petrol money ($10).
>Thanks for listening
>my email is : spring_39_jewel@... ; phone no. is 94603263 or
>0400987943
>
>Have fun at confest!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi to all the happy confesters,
                                I was wondering if anybody had a space
in their vehicle for someone (me) travelling from melbourne to
*Confest*, I can get to any suburb from the melbourne trains. I'll put
in $10 petrol money. I would love to hear from you!
my email is: spring_39_jewel@...
my phn is:94603263 (ask for steph) or 0400987943

Hope everyone has an awesome time at confest!
The Love, Peace, Freedom and nuturing of confest! ahh...and the water!...

Been to 6 ConFests since the 1989-90 one at Walwa, bu sadly none since 1995-96
so I'm
looking forwards to this one,just can't get away from work until the morning of
the 31st.

I'm hoping to leave from the bottom corner of SA early on the morning of New
Years Eve and
go straight across probably thru Hamilton & Ballarat or Horsham & Bendigo to
Echuca then up
to ConFest, should have room for 1 or 2 others, share some of the costs if can
and maybe the
driving. Coming back about the Wednesday. Leave a message here on the message
board to
start a contact process.

David

This is the time and reason for this list
if you can offer a ride please be clear of when your leaving
where your leaving from including state and suburb
and how much moolla if any you require for the trip.
a phone number would be handy
and your email address (again)

If you would like a lift be just as clear...
Good Luck


See you down there.
Benny
(moderator)

hello fellow confesters..thought I had better report in ..in case you
think we are slumming it up here..not riveting news tonight..more like
penetrating news..
Have sited the toilets in positions where depositors can get a view of
the environment,those that couldn't we just moved the odd tree..
According to the' Lord of the Rings' bashful maybe bombastic Brian we
are up to schedule..tomorrow is vehicle maintenance and shifting the
water tank..can see me being a valuable asset in both these stupendous
tasks..
A couple of 'gypsies' have arrived..set up their camp and now we wait
with baited breath to see what other task they will dive into..
that's all from me really.... am old and tired..
heaps of good spirits from the few at 'heaven' we wait your
arrival...Kiwi Brian....

hey all,
not sure if this is the right place to post car pooling notices, but what
the hell, couldn't find anywhere else.
my sister and i need a lift from sydney down to confest, hopefully on the
28th dec and then a lift from confest to melbourne, hopefully on the 3rd
jan. dont mind at all if the two trips are with different cars/people, the
more people we meet, the more fun we have.
we'll chip in with petrol and snacks, and my sis can drive, if you want to
share that too.
cheers,
rachel


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]