#  67 - June 1973 

THE  N.Z.  NATURIST

Editor in Chief

John H. Gilmour

Business Manager

Charles Selwyn

Copy Preparation

Editorial Committee

Advertising Representative

Barry Hill

Business Manager and Editorial Office

P.O. Box 2925, Auckland

President

Russell Delacour, Christchurch

Vice-Presidents
 

Jock Shoolbread, Auckland
Geoff. Allen, Christchurch

Secretary-Treasurer

Joan Treanor, Wellington

Public Relations Officer
& Overseas Correspondent

Kess van den Bosch, Auckland

Youth Organiser

Kathy Wyeth

"New Zealand Naturist"
Editor

John H. Gilmour

Business Manager

Charles Selwyn

Delegates representing all clubs

editorial

All societies, whatever their nature or purpose, have their problems from time to time. Some of these problems are administrative and others are more inclined to be simply a matter of practical and technical difficulties in the normal running of the organisation. So it is with nudist clubs. Our clubs have all experienced, at one time or another, major problems, most of them have been overcome, but usually only after much hard work by all members.

Typical of the setbacks confronting any nudist club from its inception is the difficulty encountered in finding suitable premises at a price the club can afford. Having found the ideal spot, with adequate screening, sufficient flat land for games areas, and all the other requisites, the next hurdle is the provision of facilities.

It would probably be true to say that no nudist club in New Zealand today is in a position to call for outside tenders for every improvement it wants for its members, and must, of necessity, rely on a large proportion of its own membership to supply the labour and the know-how.

Money, or rather the lack of it, is a major obstacle. To provide suitable premises for a certain number of people it is necessary to have enough people to provide the money, through subscriptions, to pay for the amenities. Which comes first? We have to make a a start somewhere.

Having made a start with a small enthusiastic group, the club is formed and land and some facilities provided, but there is a limit to the number of members that can be accommodated on any piece of land, at any one time, with limited amenities.

This problem is not exclusive to the very new clubs, nor the very small clubs.

None of us could foresee, a few short years ago, just how popular nudism was to become, and I feel sure few of us envisaged clubs closing their doors to new members. But today this is a fact. Two of the three clubs in the Auckland area, for instance, are finding themselves faced with the problem of too many members.

Auckland Sun Club has for several years been forced to adopt a policy of restricting membership to the number most comfortably accommodated by their limited amenities. Their membership, while open at the moment, has been closed several times over the past few years.

Now this situation has caught up with the largest of the three Auckland clubs (Auckland Outdoor Health Club) and they have been forced to call a halt to recruitment until their expansion programme is implemented.

So what happens now?

Where do all the prospective members go?

The time and the circumstances appear right for the formation of a fourth club in the Auckland area. All three Auckland clubs are in the Waitakere ranges, which means many nudists from south Auckland have a very long way to travel for an afternoon in the sun. There is a great need for a club in South Auckland.

Now let us suppose we could find enough people interested to get together with the object of forming a new club. There would be the problems of finding land, planning, building, and all the concomitant work which the establishment of a new club entails. This new club would have the blessings of the existing clubs as it would not be opening in opposition to, but as a complement to them. But is that blessing enough, there would be a lot of hard work to do, and I feel sure, knowing the nudist society as I do, that help would be forthcoming. Working bees at the new club could be supported by attendant working parties from all the other clubs.

The object of any sun club is to promote and foster social nudism. Any club which is unable, through whatever circumstances, to increase its membership, and propagate the nudist way of life within its own grounds, is thus able to continue to promote social nudism by helping with the formation of new clubs.

South Canterbury have made a step in the right direction, they have the blessing of Canterbury Sun Club. I am sure they are getting the physical help they so badly need.

It is certainly good to know that nudism is so popular and is at last "respectable" in the eyes of society. If we wish to continue to expand we must endeavour to accommodate all those people who wish to become members. We should not have to turn them away.

If any readers are interested in the formation of a new club in the South Auckland area they are invited to drop me a line. I will then make introductions and arrange a meeting at some convenient place.

Any group in any other part of New Zealand interested in starting a club, should write to the Secretary, Box 40-482, Upper Hutt. Their inquiries will be most welcome and every effort will be made to help.

John H. Gilmour

As stated in the previous issue a small committee of lawyers have met several times and discussed proposed alterations to the Police Offences Act. It was a difficult subject. We knew what we wanted, but to put our requirements into legal language was a different matter. After many trials and errors, somebody came up with a surprisingly simple proposition, which was unanimously adopted. The greatest difficulty was to ensure that offensive behaviour on a beach set aside for nudist activities was still punishable under this Act. I think the committee has succeeded.

If our proposal is adopted and becomes law, it is then up to a local body to decide if they want to make use of this article. In this way the democratic rights of every member of the community are safeguarded by the voice of their council if they want to put a piece of beach aside for nudist activities.

I would like to emphasise this: not any beach but a specified beach sufficiently distant from the more popular beaches that we do not offend anyone. On the other hand it does not mean that we have that beach exclusively to ourselves, but we can shed our clothes if we wish to do so without fear of a prosecution under an article of the Police Offences Act.

I know all the above is old stuff for the organised nudists, but outside our circles there is still quite a lot of misunderstanding in this respect. Therefore it cannot do any harm to put it once again in black and white.

The submission to the government is as follows:

Submission for amendment to the Police Offences Act 1927

The New Zealand Sunbathing Association would urge that Section 47 of the Police Offences Act 1927 as revised by the Police Offences Amendment Act 1967 be amended by the addition of a new sub-clause reading as follows:

(2) Any area set aside by any local authority for nude recreation shall not be a public place or within view thereof for the purposes of this section.

The N.Z.S.A. wishes this alteration in the Police Offences Act so as to make it clear to local authorities that if they set aside such areas, they would not contravene Section 47. The N.Z.S.A. feels that the state of the present law is such that even without the section being altered, authorities have this power. The position, however, is uncertain and it is this uncertainty we wish to dispel. Some local authorities have expressed themselves willing to provide areas for nude recreation, but have been deterred by the wording of Section 47.

The wording of the proposed amendment makes it clear that it is simply an exemption to the general prohibition of Section 47(1) and that the Act would otherwise remain in full force.

Should we succeed in this issue, which is so important for us, the New Zealand Sunbathing Association surely can be proud.

Emiel Roland

free
beaches

Take any Sunday at a nudist club and ask the men and women why they are there. If they are honest with you and themselves they will tell you they are there because it is fun; pleasant and relaxing, an opportunity to play. It is a form of recreation they have purchased because it is more entertaining than the routine responsibilities of living, caring for the children, earning wages and paying bills.

The pursuit of recreation has brought them to us. The more they are forced to take part in the operation of the club or the promotion of the philosophy, the less time they have for the fun and games that attracted them. When people purchase goods or services they have little interest in labour problems of the manufacturer or the mechanical difficulties in providing the service.

If we continue to insist upon involving each of our people in policy and legislation, problems of management and operation, and the difficulties of survival, we may effectively force our customers to other merchants where the patron can very simply buy a ticket and have fun.

There was a time when the numerical structure of membership was necessary in the legal manoeuvres for our clubs to exist and be tolerated in the community. Nudist participants had to be willing to make sacrifices both financially and physically because they believed in a philosophy - a freedom that must be supported and promoted. There have been thousands of members who contributed to the development of nudism to provide the stature we enjoy today.

But as the freedom grows, as nudist facilities become more prevalent, as participation in nude activities becomes more casual and the unclothed body more acceptable, people increasingly wonder who needs to make any sacrifice.

If we continue to live within the "member structure" of our nudist associations we attract only pioneers and missionaries; a dying breed with few new worlds to conquer and a congregation that responds with, "Who needs it?" Instead, there is an enormous market of customers eager to purchase a pleasant day in the sun beside a pool with people of similar interests; a few hours with a minimum of responsibility and obligation when you can forget the cares of the world.

We provide a unique service in the recreational field in the privilege of fun in the sun unencumbered by clothing. But if we don't provide this service and freedom without demanding participation in politics and management, the customers will find an adequate substitute by the stream or seashore, at regional reserves or perhaps by drinking a bottle of beer while watching a football game on television - even though they have to wear clothing.

The N.Z.S.A. will continue to need administrators and leaders to protect, promote and build bigger, better and more adequate nudist facilities, but few of the participants need to be involved. Minimum behaviour standards will continue similar to those of any recreational facility. The promotion and protection of nudist freedom will be financed by a percentage of gross income contributed by member clubs.

The national association will use these funds primarily for public relations, publicity, advertising and legal aid. But let's not confuse the issue by demanding that our patrons become involved in the operation. The visitor to a nudist club would much prefer to purchase his recreation on a "take it or leave it" basis according to the mood of the moment.

It is time we recognised the world is our "customer" and not necessarily a "member". Let us open our gates and welcome him by providing a structure that treats him as an honoured paying guest. 

by Al

customers
...not
members

The following is offered as an alternative solution regarding our quest for more public support for "free" beaches.

At a time when nudism is fighting for the right to use public beaches for nude sunning and swimming it is imperative that we constantly review our tactics and our strengths and weaknesses.

Who are we fighting, and why?

The opponent is the general public, who regards us as aliens (in our nudist thinking) who intend to invade their beaches (with a bow to Churchill) and psychologically destroy their young people - and we cannot compel society to believe what it does not wish to believe merely by our insisting that society believes wrongly.

But if we could prove that we have the key to something modern society desperately needs, then we would become an essential part of the social structure.

Surf lifesaving clubs are a minority group who, by combining weekend pleasure with a community service, proved that they had something society badly needed. They have become so important to modern living that they received something like $50,000 last summer in their first public collection.

Their distant cousins, the 'surfies', live happily in a surfboard world of their own - almost estranged from society (in a beachy sense), a danger on the beaches with their selfish pleasure until by-laws were passed to restrain them.

We have then two groups of people with the same interests but with different outlooks towards their fellow-men: one group is happily integrated with society, but the other cares nothing for society and is always a potential menace to it.

In the world of nudity we also have two groups of people with similar interests but a different outlook - one representing nudism, who are estranged from society and are considered a potential menace to it if allowed on public beaches; and a second, representing 50% of the population, who likewise enjoy social nudity (or the idea of social nudity) and yet are happily integrated with society.

One group lives for nudity and the other incorporates nudity into living.

In a recent Gallop Poll nearly 50% of Auckland people were happy about the idea of 'free' beaches. This represents, in round figures some 300,000 people who are interested in nudity - but not nudism, They desire the freedom of social nudity, but also the freedom to please themselves just when they will be nude and whether or not they join a nudist club. The 'N.Z. Naturist' three or four years ago censured these people for not joining our movement. The great majority of them would want, or would have time for, only a very limited amount of social nudity. Many of them would be parents who, by means of an open bedroom or bathroom door, or when on a beach holiday, allow their children an 'accidental' glimpse of their nudity. There would be dedicated private nudists also, and every category in between these two patterns of social nudity.

caution -
wide
load
following

Photo: Doug Cousins

We are glad of the support of this 'almost 50% of the population' in our fight for free beaches - but we do not speak for them. Should we not have a closer look at current needs and values, as they concern us in N.Z., in case we can update ourselves yet more, and to our own benefit?

Nudism has long been accepted and we no longer have to fight for its existence - therefore we gain nothing further by waving the banner of nudism faster.

Some of my workmates admit openly that they enjoy family nudity and think it a very sensible adjunct to modern healthy living, but they brush nudism aside as artificial thinking that seemingly tries to separate nudity from everyday living by insisting that nudism IS life. Perhaps the letters 'ism' on the end of a word still remind people of the harshness of Nazism, Fascism, and a few other fanatical groups with robot-like followers - perhaps the 'ism' causes a psychological block for some people.

If nudity had always been permitted on beaches all over the world 'nudism' would never have been heard of - it is only a name-tag, whereas 'nudity' has always been a concrete fact. 'Nudism' means something to only a couple of thousand people.

We are, basically, merely an extension of this 50% of private nudists and nudity-minded people who would also like to see free beaches in N.Z. Apart from a few nudist fanatics we are little different from these people - and they represent about 1¼ million New Zealanders!

Are we missing out in this huge following because of a name tag, or perhaps a lack of civic purpose - or both? Is not, for instance, 'social nudity' a meaningful substitute for 'nudism', or naturism. The word 'nudism' seems to indicate a small breakaway group, whereas 'social nudity' has a wide sound as though it involves everybody. If we could involve 1¼ million people by this means or that, is it not worth some thought! It would not be necessary to invite them to join a nudist club - we could surely interest ourselves in them as people with similar aspirations to our own. We could perhaps offer them a page or two in our national magazine in which they could express their views on behalf of social nudity from the private nudist's angle - they might influence people whom we could never reach.

A new look for nudism in New Zealand could be that we come to regard ourselves as the advance van displaying the notice 'Caution, Wide Load Following' - with the 'wide load' being the aforesaid 1¼ million.

A new purpose associated with the new image would be that we make an angry and very public accusation that some local authorities are showing a complete lack of civic concern for the psychological welfare of the children of this age who are constantly bombarded with sex from every angle and who, because of lack of sympathy, thought, or understanding from parents, have little chance of acquiring the early emotional and sexual balance that is inherent in honest and uncomplicated social nudity such as would be experienced by them on a free beach.

This would be our community service.

It is better to be aggressive in a good cause than to have to be defensive in a weaker cause.

This type of approach, backed by half of the population, could never be dismissed as an intrusion on society by a 'handful of nude cranks' (to quote some of our critics).

Organised nudists would vigorously pilot the theme that society will have very much less need for concern about the unhappy 'generation gap' between parents and children if it will teach and demonstrate a little common sense with regard to nudity within the family, in conjunction with other normal instruction that is considered essential in the moulding of a well-balanced childhood.

Society does not need an allover tan - but it does desperately need the family unity and stability that has been the world-wide boast of nudists for many years.

The above paragraph could be the short little catch theme that is simple for outsiders to remember and ponder on - the theme also that would give the Minister of Justice something very solid and easily justifiable to work on if he attempts to legislate for free beaches. It would be unwise to totally depend on the whim of the existing government for the blessing of free beaches - much better, surely, that we work for a similar image to that of the surf life-saving clubs and show that we have a concern for society and a service to offer it that is peculiar to our philosophy. 

An alteration in the law would give us free beaches, full stop - but an alteration in society's attitude to nudity would guarantee that also plus, possibly, some fringe benefits that society itself might suggest. Nude mixed swimming in all public baths at certain hours, or on certain days, is one possibility: areas for nude sunning incorporated into future urban developments that are not close to beaches is another: nudity in backyards at holiday baches beyond a limit of ½ mile from the local post office would be just fine.

'Permissiveness' will gain us nothing - it is only a feeble flutter of fashion.

Nothing of what has been advocated need alter normal sun club life any more than would the acceptance of free beaches.

In public debate we would speak of the value of shared nudity (not 'nudism') whether limited in time or scope, or whether in the home or at the nudist club; and not insist that there is value in nudity only by way of organised nudism - it simply isn't true! We should argue that a well-adjusted childhood is of greater social importance than either a Victorian attitude to nudity, or than nudism itself.

Sound reasoning by a psychiatrist would encourage many timid parents to allow a limited amount of nudity within the home, because allegiance to a cause that has, as its goal, a worthy purpose towards its fellows is uncomfortably justifiable along crusader-like grounds - as against having to make excuses for playing games in the nude in secret. The two social attitudes evoke two completely different psychological vibrations.

To insist on a predominance of nudity would be to invite the usual adverse criticism from society. To insist on 'playing down' nudity will be to invite criticism from the fanatics of nudism. If one method gives us much more nude freedom who really cares how it is done.

To summarise:

(1) Consideration should be given to the value of investing in a new public image for ourselves that will anticipate a possible widening of our range of influence - already started by the 'Nudist Beach Resort Development' committee in Auckland and who had indicated in its brochure that it wishes to cater for the general public who are interested in nude living, as well as for club nudists.

(2) The services of a professional psychiatrist would be of great assistance in helping us project such an image.

However, there first needs to be a willingness to bother at all about society. There has also to be a belated recognition that we reap whatever we sow, whether it be the seeds of isolation or the seeds of integration.

WALLY B.

Photo: Joe Smith

hesperides
sun
club,
sydney

Many things are born of frustrations - and they are not always revolutions.

The Hesperides Sun Club, for instance, became an idea and then a reality because existing Sydney clubs did not have the right blend of privacy, setting and potential that fitted the concept of nudism and a "natural" way of life in the mind of Harry.

We mention Harry now because he was the dominant figure in the birth of Hesperides.

He still is a dominant figure - but in a different way. He owns the land occupied by the club; he is the club's permanent president. He has established rules for the club that have caused defections from the membership, and there are probably prospective members who have been put off.

Harry is a vegetarian, so there is a club rule that no meat shall be cooked on the grounds. This, of course, means no barbecues. Harry is a champion of the natural environment and an opponent of pollution and he does not smoke, so there is a rule prohibiting smoking within the club.

These two rules, born of Harry's convictions, are his only influence now on the day to day running of the club. Although he is president he is a figure in the background. He is a busy manufacturer and importer and has time only for an occasional game of tennis and a swim.

The management of the club is in the hands of a committee of elected members. They set the fees, arrange the activities, recruit the membership, maintain the three swimming pools, games courts, lawns, fenceline, and initiate improvements. The committee is autonomous - the only matters referred to Harry are questions of capital expenditure which involve the property (such as the swimming pool).

The club has a tranquil rural setting on the fringe of Kuringgai National Park but a major attraction is its closeness in travelling time to the heart of Sydney. It is situated well up on the tableland that slopes upwards and northwards from Sydney Harbour, but it can be reached in half an hour's drive.

It is free from the smog that afflicts Sydney too often these days. Heat wave temperatures become bearable within its grounds, which has shade areas under trees and shrubs.

The area is an oasis for wildlife. In quiet moments a resident goanna (lizard) appears for a stroll around and blue-tongued and frill-necked lizards are visitors, too.

Birds are abundant and one of the beautiful gum trees is estimated to be at least 100 years old.

Compared with most other clubs the 2 1/2 acres occupied by Hesperides may seem small to some visitors, but every square foot is put to good use. And there are amenities to suit most people's needs.

Photo: B. Griffin

Photo: B. Griffin

Approaching and entering the club is no problem for those new to nudism who might be fearful of losing their anonymity. The main gate is down a leafy, clay road, only a short distance off a bus route, and there are no overlooking rows of houses or open spaces. Most delightfully secretive, in fact. The corrugated iron screen fence is well obscured by trees and bushes. Each member has his own key to enter. Visits may be arranged by writing to the Secretary, P.O. Box 50, Lindfield, 2070, NSW.

Immediately inside the gate is a parking area that has been shrewdly set out among the original trees on the site. There are spaces tagged for large and small cars respectively. It is only when all the members decide to turn up on the same day at the same time that it becomes hard to find a parking spot. The cars are all in the shade and this is a boon when it's time to drive home, or if members have small children that need to have a sleep during the day.

The tennis court and miniten/volleyball court are next to the carpark and on the other side of these is the main lawn area. This is flanked on its long side by the swimming pools - a toddlers' pool, a circular learners' pool and the uniformly deep main pool. The clubhouse runs along another side of the main lawn area. This is currently being extended to provide much needed storage space for members' seats and sports gear. The clubhouse comprises a kitchen area for making drinks, including refrigerator, toilets (septic tank system), and a sauna room.

Outside the sauna room under a lean-to is a laundry sink and a shower with hot and cold water.

Flanked by the clubhouse, tennis court and parking area is another lawn area which is the main children's playground. This has a trampoline, climbing bars, pole tennis, swings, a sandpit and a two-roomed open-sided playhouse furnished with small chairs and tables.

On the far side of the main pool is another lawn area which is given plenty of shade by a beautiful hedge of bamboo.

The club grounds occupy the south-eastern corner of an original five acres bought by President Harry. On the other side of the bamboo and other screening shrubbery lies Harry's own nature- land where he cultivates, makes compost and grows most of his vegetables. He has a cool, concrete block house set on the highest part of the property. Harry's wife Rose, who is an artist in copper enamelling, tile-making, decorative lamps, and more recently, pottery, has tastefully decorated and ornamented their house.

The house and its garden are enclosed and screened by a continuation of the high fence which gives privacy to the club. This means that Harry and his family (he has two children) can live as nudists 24 hours of every day - much to the envy of other members.

Photo: B. Griffin

Photo: B. Griffin

The club runs with a minimum of organisation of its members. There is a strong feeling of independence, of wanting to be left to do your own thing. Members please themselves in going on and off the tennis and miniten courts, basking in the sun, reading in the shade, gossiping to their friends, or porpoising around the pools.

The club has achieved a high level of success in keeping any "pressures" on members to a minimum. Therein lies its attraction for a great many.

There is a keen awareness of the benefits of healthy living and eating. This is fostered by Harry and Rose who have installed a stone-wheel wheat grinder in the clubhouse for members' use. Members can buy wheat or rye grain from Rose, grind it themselves and have just the freshest whole-grain flour for baking their own bread. Or they may be using Rose's favourite recipe for roggenvolkenbrod (sour rye bread).

Most clubs at one time or another have problems with duty rosters for the maintenance jobs. Hesperides did, too, until last October. The committee decided then to increase members' fees so a person could be employed to do such things as cut the grass. One of the problems was that most chores need to be done on a weekday when there are few, if any, people in the club who would be inconvenienced.

This decision marked a turning point in the life of the club which has just celebrated its eighth birthday. Many foundation members have moved on. Those who remain now like to enjoy the fruits of their labours (countless nudists everywhere have endured pool digging, for instance).

The pioneering spirit is no longer evident. The membership has grown and each individual may not know all the other members.

People who join the club now see it as flourishing and well appointed. It becomes more difficult to work up enthusiasm for development projects. But there is always a proportion of any group that are super-active and growth continues.

Photo: Joe Smith

what a sunbather
does in
the winter

Down south here we do not get much sun for sunbathing but since the hive of activity during the summer I felt I had to do something, other than watch television.

Exercise was the most important thing as without it I became fat and slow so decided on badminton as the sport suitable for the winter. Having never played the game before I wanted a club where a novice would not be too much out of place. After visiting three clubs I settled for the handiest to home which was by far the friendliest.

Not being very competition minded the club soon had me chasing that little tuft of feathers until my arms were tired and I had run out of puff. Now I can say I sometimes catch the shuttlecock and do not run out of huff so it has improved me.

At night there have been staff dances which were so hot and crowded they made you think summer was still here, very different to the sun club dance which had a very good crowd and was a success.

I was now finding that there were not many nights left to do other things as badminton had developed into three nights a week, shopping one night, Saturday night usually something to do, and another night for my weekly hairdo. So you see it does not take very much to keep you busy during the winter.

One thing which did cause quite a breakup of one game of badminton was the night after a particularly high hair style had been executed by my hairdresser, which looked good at the time, but let your imagination picture three very startled people laughing, while the fourth is looking for the shuttle. No doubt you have guessed, yes, there it was neatly nestled in my hairdo which meant the end of the hair style and almost the end of the game. Another facet of the game is that husbands think it is a grand opportunity to get their own back, by hitting you with the shuttle as often as possible, and even resorting to hitting you on the head with the racquet occasionally, just to keep you in order. My next season's outfit will be white, padded suit and crash helmet and perhaps injuries will be on a minor scale only.

Mavis, Otago.

a visit to
beck road

It's a typical Bay of Plenty country road boasting a sealed surface for its greater part, meandering through a beautiful rural district, lush grass everywhere, fat sheep and healthy lambs graze with pedigree cattle that are the pride of all Bay farmers. Over the last mile or so we were off the seal and back to the gravel which reminded me of the last half mile to my native Auckland club at Ranui.

Now the rolling lands had been left behind and the hills were our neighbours clad in a dense clothing of manuka and native trees. Suddenly we were there road's end - and confronted by a substantial locked gateway. This then was the domain of the Tauranga Sun Club and I marvelled at the gate itself - hardly a tradesman masterpiece but as Neil the genial Club Secretary swung it open for my car to enter, I thought of the hours of willing toil that had resulted in its construction.

Through the screening trees of the driveway and on to the first clearing aptly named the Sun Bowl, but on our day the sunshine just wasn't there; indeed rather cool and damp, but Neil assured me that most of the one hundred odd members and their numerous children acquired their healthy northern tans in this lovely spot with its screening of ferns and native trees. Complete with cook shop, carpark and volleyball court. Here indeed was a spot for the naturist to enjoy.

Below the Sun Bowl there spreads before us a marvellous canyon dropping to ground level one hundred feet and more below. Massive rock cliffs, weathered by the years dwarf everything in the valley. Ferns of all varieties, pungas, kauris and totaras abound. Peaceful springs provide an abundance of fresh, clean water for the delightful splash pool way down on the valley floor. Endless hours of work from willing teams have provided a well defined zig-zag track which, while it will not allow for speeding youngsters, provides maximum enjoyment for this truly remarkable setting. Here you can forget the mundane things of life and commune with nature for a while, only the sun, the wind, the murmur of tall trees, and the songbirds, Tuis, thrushes, wood pigeons and bellbirds make this a spot to remember.

Thank you Neil for your kindness, you have every right to be proud of your club grounds and of your folk who have made its existence possible.

Doug Skene, A.O.H.C.

Photo: Joe Smith

my
introduction
to
nudism

With the colourful March issue now decorating the bookstalls, I am prompted to express my thanks to the magazine in a way that may encourage another chance reader to take more than a casual interest. My name is Nona.

From a small business school, near my home at Tamworth in the northern New England part of the State, I had come to Sydney in the care of an uncle and aunt for a course in computer programming. Within a few months my aunt died after a short illness in hospital. I looked after my uncle until he had wound up affairs and moved back to the country, after which I found accommodation at a Baptist church hostel.

It was on a visit alone to the hospital that I picked up a discarded newspaper from a seat in the foyer, finding that folded into it was a car magazine and inside that a smaller book, the significance of which escaped me in the dim lighting.

Later, in warm pyjamas and relaxed for sleep, I picked up my night's reading whereupon my introductory copy of the N.Z. Naturist fell demandingly into my lap. The illustrations, so different to those in men's risque books, intrigued me and as I began to read the articles I was engulfed in an overwhelming sensation. I realised that since the freedom of early childhood, I had become a complete stranger to my own body. When I had absorbed the book from cover to cover, I took a long hot shower as though to soap away the past and ended with an icy spray which tautened the skin. In the wetness of the mirror my imagination changed my whiteness to a curvy golden brown. In the morning, still naked between the sheets, I wrote a note to Woodlands Sun Club for more information.

Within a week I received an illustrated brochure and a hand written letter from Elsa King. It was suggested that I phone Susan, a laboratory assistant at Sydney University who lived nearby. I did so and we arranged to meet after work the following afternoon. I met Sue in the bus shelter as I stepped off the Paramatta Road bus at the corner of Missenden Road. She seemed much younger than her stated 25 years and surely not six years older than myself. We recognised and greeted each other gaily, setting off in a south-westerly direction through back streets arriving at a tall old house in a row of small cottages and climbing to a tiny apartment at the top. There was hardly room to move inside but doors opened onto a roof area furnished with a garden table and chairs. I was left with a cool drink and an album of wedding photos, while Sue showered and returned looking fresh in a long sarong. She gave me a big fluffy towel which served as a wrap after I, too, had taken a shower and found my clothes taken away to air in the sun. I felt uneasy and soon got dressed again. Seated at the table outside, Sue put out a box of snaps to look through while she prepared a huge bowl of salad. They were family photographs taken by Sue and by her husband, Brian, of all the usual activities at home, the car, fishing, and of outings and parties. Intermingled were a fair sprinkling of nude shots of good and indifferent quality most of which, Sue explained, were taken during a swimming carnival at Heritage Sun Club which is situated in a rugged gorge along the Georges River. Sue then went inside and brought out a treasured packet of large colour photographs, taken by Lawford, of Brian and Sue at an inter-club nudist beach rally.

Soon after six Brian arrived home in a business suit, threw a nonchalant greeting as he disappeared into the bathroom and returned looking ruggedly handsome with a trimmed beard, dressed in faded shorts and an open shirt. Over the meal we nattered on about childhood years and ended in heated criticism of the loose morals of our permissive society. Their own conduct impressed me as faultless.

We met at the bus shelter again early the next Sunday. They in their old Volkswagen and me with my beach bag. An hour's run westward through Liverpool brought us to Woodlands gateway. Brian gave me the key to undo the worn brass padlock and I could hear the squeals of children splashing water as the gate swung open. Nervous fears at my first sight of naked men, women and children, all greeting our arrival, soon subsided as I was introduced to friends at the poolside.

We left Brian tugging at his shirt as Sue took me on a conducted tour of the grounds. We crossed a creek to a line of caravans, waved to a couple playing tennis on a smoothly rolled court, examined the clean and substantial amenities block, the club-house with its extended stage area, and finally to be introduced to Elsa in a short towelling wrap and busily engaged attending to the well stocked shop, office, phone and the bell at the gate.

Within an hour I felt quite silly being the only one still in clothes and became a nudist with the rest, with only my white skin to proclaim my newness. Sue had thoughtfully given me some tablets to build up melanin in my body and prevent sunburn. After a long swim and frolic in the pool I applied plenty of cream, for carelessness at this point would have brought worse disaster than bright pink breasts and buttocks. Of all my first impressions I was most fascinated by so many children, happy in their innocence and radiating the ultimate advertisement for this wonderful environment.

During that summer of 1970 I spent many hours with Brian and Sue, sunbathing on their roof top and travelling together to the club. By the next year I had become a member of the naturist movement in my own right, with a motor bike for independent travel and an 'adoptive family at Camden' to explain my absences from the hostel.

On one weekday visit to the club, the only other person at the grounds was a brown young man, in socks and boots, pushing the mower round and round whilst I lazed in the sun and wrote my weekly letter home. Eventually he shut off the noisy engine and pushed the machine into a shed. He grinned as he passed to take a shower at the end of the pool and returned glistening to squat beside me. He introduced himself as Joshua, also from the country, now working shifts in a newspaper printery and living near the city. We shared our lunch, brewed tea and continued a lively discussion of mutual interests, including an inspection of our motor bikes. We played several hectic games of ping-pong, swam and lazed till the sun went below the trees, until at last our idyllic day together was ended. We swam and showered once again before dressing and both laughed at the thought of seeing each other for the first time in clothes. It is my most memorable experience, to have spent a whole day with a handsome man whom I had never met before both naked and alone together, a delightful test of mutual respect and trust. We rode towards town and Joshua continued on to start work.

For many long days Josh became a voice on the phone, until his change of shift, when we were able to share a weekend in the happy companionship of the other club friends. Brian, Sue, Josh and I have remained the closest of friends, with occasional visits to their rooftop nudist aerie, a long camping weekend to Naturi Sun Club which has a site with glorious views towards the northern expressway, and a day on the newly declared free nudist beach at Stockton Bight beyond Newcastle.

With regular sun, exercise and thoughtful diet, my body has become more lithe and brown than I had imagined in my glances into that steamy mirror nearly three years ago. My skin is clear and lungs free of congested mucus. Joshua and I plan to be married in a year or so. I love him with a Christian conviction much deeper than I am sure most girls here at the hostel will ever experience.

Nona J. Baillie.

my
australian
holiday

Last December Norman (of the Hawkes Bay Club) and I visited Brisbane, Australia, where we went to the Good Companions Club. The grounds, developed over many years, are very nice with miniten, tennis and volleyball courts, all paved, a large creek for swimming and boating, baches, caravans and a good amenities block. Our accommodation proved to be an old Brisbane tram but as there was no netting over the windows, we had our first experience of Australian mosquitoes, which even repellent failed to daunt.

Sunday, a hot day, had many members resting in the shade of a building with roof but no walls. My thermometer registered 32 degrees! And this for the club's Christmas Party, where - would you believe it - Father Christmas arrived by water scooter down the creek to distribute the usual presents and goodies to the children.

Here we met several members who were establishing another club, Eureka, some distance away. We had the chance of visiting their newly acquired grounds of ten acres, nearly flat, in typical Australian bush (not nearly as dense as New Zealand forests). With some clearing and facilities already provided, they still had a problem - water below ground. A hole for a toilet, quickly filled with water to ground level and the bulldozer clearing the boundary was bogged at least once.

Later, in town, telephone calls from prospective members followed up their publicity campaign. It seemed strange that in a largely populated area like Brisbane, Good Companions has only about 120 members, and not till now have two other clubs begun to form.

Next day we were picked up and taken 80 miles inland to Toowoomba. A couple of days with a naturist family at 3,000 feet on a very humid plateau proved the stickiest part of the whole trip. On this farm we tried to find snakes - they get them up to 10 feet long - but saw nothing except a four foot goanna up a gum tree and on a drive inland, wild koalas high up in the branches.

On the flight north from Brisbane to Cairns there was a brief stop at Townsville - obviously a very dry place Then on to Cairns, and a zig-zag route over the town as we approached the runway. One of the prime reasons for this trip was to revisit Green Island and retake the colour slides that on my first visit were no good. After a pleasant stay we took a bus south to Townsville for a weekend with members of the Walkabouts Sun and Health Club. Saturday was a visit to Magnetic Island where our hosts, knowing their way around, soon found a beach for a nice swim sans togs. Lovely! Here we saw the Marilyn Monroe tree with a bikini painted over the obvious bumps in surprisingly accurate positions.

Sunday at the club again proved hot, but with a swimming pool we kept cool. The membership is less than 50 but as the grounds were once a caravan park it is well developed though small.

Monday we flew to Sydney, and after some adjustments to an unfamiliar car and the Australian Road Code we eventually arrived at Naturi Club to receive a warm welcome from the Secretary. Here a couple had kindly loaned us their caravan. As with all Australian clubs Naturi is proprietary, having been developed carefully over many years. They have a sauna with showers, a round pool about 30 feet in diameter, flush toilet block, miniten courts, picnic area, clubhouse etc., as well as members' caravans. Apart from the heat the stay was very pleasant. We remained based at Naturi whilst visiting other clubs - Kiata Country Club and Rosco.

For Kiata we were told that it was a 40 mile drive taking an hour but found it was 60 miles taking over two hours. We spent a few pleasant hours at this club, which is on a very rocky hillside and has the usual buildings, two man-made lakes (one for drinking water and the other for swimming), and caravans and cabins dotting the hillside under the gums. Being mid-week there were few members present. Anyway, it was too hot!

Rosco, near Newcastle, was the next club visited - and we still had the heat. We called on members and they took us to the grounds for the night. There is a nice pool here, games courts, and clubhouse, but little else.

Next day started hot, with black clouds. Eventually lightning and rain heralded a thunderstorm. The temperature dropped 17 degrees in an hour, but it remained hot enough for "club uniform". As I was standing in the doorway of the clubhouse a bolt of lightning hit the roof! Two light globes were knocked out but a fluorescent tube on the same circuit was undamaged. The rain quickly passed and within an hour the ground was as dry as ever. By the end of the week our visiting was complete so we separated, Norman to spend Christmas in Sydney (where he received the full blast of the heatwave) and I to stay with relatives near Naturi (where I was a little luckier as it was cooler and I was in club uniform with the swimming pool handy). After a final night together in Sydney, Norman and I headed back to Auckland and our own rally. What a sharp contrast between Auckland's cold and rain and Sydney's scorching temperatures!

Doug. R. Cousins

Photo: Doug Cousins

n.z.s.a.
notes

NATIONAL RALLY - 1973/74

Once again it is Wellington Sun Club who is staging the National Rally at their grounds at "Five Acres". The dates are: NZSA Executive and Delegates Meeting, Friday, 28th December; the Rally proper, 29th December through to 2nd January 1974.

We assure you it will be another happy affair with plenty for everyone. Special arrangements are again being planned for the children so that parents can be free to take part in (or watch) the sports programme or just enjoy the sun.

Application forms will be available through Club Secretaries only. Intending visitors must be members of a sun club.

Facilities are being expanded to cope with the expected crowd although the club's major venture - a new hall - is more likely to be ready when the Rally comes our way next time.

REMEMBER THE DATES: DECEMBER 29th to JANUARY 2nd.

REMEMBER THE PLACE: WELLINGTON SUN CLUB INC.

Looking forward to seeing you all there with your families.

RAY HYNDMAN

Rally Organiser.

Acting on instructions received at the General Meeting held during the Rally at "Oranui", the grounds of the Auckland Outdoor Health Club, the following letter was sent, on behalf of all nudist clubs in the country, to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Walding.

Dear Sir,

We wish to express our deep concern regarding the largely unchecked and rapidly deteriorating condition of our environment both nationally and internationally.

This association represents and speaks for all the nudist clubs of New Zealand and as such we are directly involved with nature, the outdoors and healthy living.

We are concerned to learn that expert conservative opinion gives us no more than twenty years of life on the planet, if we continue pouring smoke into the sky, oil and chemicals into the oceans and rivers, deforesting the land, poisoning insects, killing animals, fish and other living creatures.

Less conservative opinion states that it is already too late.

We prefer to think that while there is life there is hope, but, nevertheless, somewhere between these dreadful possibilities lies the end of life as we know it now, and we put it to our Government through you, to treat the question of pollution control and thus our very survival with the utmost priority.

Many people are not fully aware of the facts and thus the Government through its powerful office could use the mass media to inform all people of exactly where we stand and the grave consequences ahead and thereby gain the cooperation of all the people in the great cleaning up and replanting operation which must be done.

We feel as a newly elected Government with the confidence of the people firmly established, with the added advantage of a country such as New Zealand which as yet has not reached the proportions of pollution suffered by other countries, we could do much to be a model and an example to the world.

Joan Treanor,

Secretary/Treasurer, N.Z.S.A.

Accommodation at Pineglades During

Commonwealth Games

As yet Canterbury Sun Club Inc., have not had many queries re accommodation during the games. May we suggest to all members here in New Zealand and Overseas that providing they have tickets to the games they can stay at Pineglades. But numbers are required well in advance, so please advise the Secretary immediately.

DEADLINE
FOR

SEPTEMBER ISSUE

20th JULY

news from
the clubs in
new zealand

Northern Sun Seekers Inc.

With the season drawing to a close Northern Sun Seekers can look back on a very eventful and successful year, the highlight of which was an invasion by Auckland Sun Club members on March 25.

Forty of them, plus one family from Auckland Outdoor Health Club, came north to join fifty-odd of our crowd for a most enjoyable day at the club. We took the precaution of taking them on a two-mile route march (one mile up and one down) before challenging them to a game of volleyball but even that didn't tip the scales our way we got clobbered.

The purpose of the great trek was to show the visitors our pride and joy - a massive kauri, hundreds of years old. An idea of the size can be gained by the fact that it took nine people holding hands to encircle the base of the trunk. The walk itself, once you begin the descent, is delightful in itself, a well-defined track winding its way through well grown primary native bush. And we'd defy any club to match the view from the highest point, giving as it does a panorama encompassing 50 or 60 miles of Northland coast.

The one catch is the amount of effort involved - the icy-cold pool got a real thrashing when we tottered back.

During the past few months the club fell into line with the rest of New Zealand clubs by allowing members, within certain limitations, to take interested friends to the grounds.

This matter has been the subject of some pretty intensive debate, and finally a special general meeting was called to sort things out. At the meeting Gary resigned as president and members struck a blow for women's lib by electing Maria to the position.

One development is the introduction of the NSS citizenship award for young nudists. We are still tying up loose ends but it will be open to any nudist child, probably from Form II age down, and will be judged on the contribution of the child to life in his or her club. We shall be contacting club secretaries once everything is finalised. The award will be worth $15 a year.

The Mowlem Trophy is hanging on the clubhouse wall and we will give notice now that it's going to take a lot of removing, judging by the favourable comments we keep hearing about the movement and the number of non-nudist skinny- dippers on our beaches.

Word appears to have got around that Uretiti Beach, the scene of a club outing on the day after the election last year, is used by nudists, and more and more people are putting it to the same use. This suits us, obviously, because the more the general public accepts it as a nude beach the less chance there is of somebody complaining. A nude beach with no fuss, no bother - and no cost.

Photo: Kevin N.S.S.

Nelson Sun Club

Other clubs may be interested to know that we've gained a 96% increase in membership during the last financial year. Our A.G.M. is now over and there are one or two new faces on the committee. Congratulations to these people, I hope they can keep up with the pace! The grounds are a hive of activity with what appears to be major constructions popping up or down, as the case may be, all over the place. Add to that the starving cattle from neighbouring farms which calmly flattened our fences in search of greener pastures and left their mark in more ways than one, the grounds really look more like a national disaster area. And I haven't mentioned the fire yet. Unfortunately the wind changed during a controlled burn off and suddenly it was an uncontrolled furore of flame that took off up the hill. The Fire Brigade did a good job - one suck and the swimming pool was empty. The damage wasn't too great though, after all what's a few acres of gorse here and there. An insurance claim has been successfully settled on this.

Part of one beautifully sunny Sunday afternoon was spent in rounding up a couple of our sheep to be slaughtered for the hangi which followed our A.G.M. Visitors would have been charged entertainment tax - those sheep sure gave us a run around the paddock. One of the monsters weighed in at 135 pounds, and they tell me that John's car hasn't been the same since. After all, no-one can be expected to take a couple of sheep in a car boot to the butcher, and still have a presentable car.

We were very pleased to welcome our national president Russell and national secretary/treasurer Joan (plus other visitors from the Canterbury Sun Club) to our recent A.G.M., Hangi and following party. We do hope that you enjoyed your stay with us and we promise that by the time you next come we'll have a new rule - "The cow bell must not be rung after 2am." Joan became a country member of our club, by the way Joan where's that new tenniquoit? You know, the one you said we needed.

Congratulations to the new South Canterbury Sun Club, best wishes for a rosy future from the Nelson Sun Club.

Over the winter months we intend pushing ahead with our building programme. This also means keeping up with the sun tan, because in Nelson the sun shines all the time - would you believe most of the time! The drought is still a serious problem, not only at our club grounds but everywhere. The district has had no substantial rain fall since October, but luckily our wells are still supplying us with sufficient water to get by on.

N.Y.C. - National

June is an important month for us. It will be then that all the member clubs of the N.Z.S.A. will be voting on whether or not they officially want us younger set actually taking an interest and part in the running of the nudist movement. We are on the verge of incorporation, and are thus approaching the NZSA as a separate entity.

I hear N.Y.C. is being set up in Wanganui and that they even have their own clubhouse, or should I say club-tent!

N.Y.C. - Auckland

Well, the parents have been treated to yet more incredible entertainment by us N.Y.C. jokers and jokeresses. This time our evening was one of Italian flavour. But the best flavour was that obtained from those fabulous pizzas prepared so sumptuously by our capable N.Y.C. chefs who slaved over hot stoves to give the adults their bucks worth. We ended up making about ninety bucks, We are like squirrels at the moment with our money, saving probably for our very own clubhouse which we should be able to get cracking on, once the AOHC planners give us the exact spot on their grounds. Hopefully, N.Y.C. members from other branches will be offered the hospitality for which Auckland is famous, in our own abode, come summer.

We have already been considerably helped by advice from several parents on the best and cheapest materials to be used in the construction of the clubhouse.

Our next weekend away will be at the Bernard Fergusson adventure camp where Auckland N.Y.C. will learn how to shoot rapids in canoes, light fires, cook food, compass and map read in the bush. Swing down flying foxes into freezing cold river water. Charging over commando courses and various other pursuits designed to prevent our kids being capable of doing anything energetic for a week afterward!

Our membership is still expanding although no doubt the winter will slow things down somewhat.

We even have a separate editor for our monthly newsletter.

See you at this spot in three months time.

Kowhai Valley Club Inc.

The two sister clubs in Auckland (A.O.H.C. and A.S.C.) will agree heartily with me that this has been the best summer for many years. Sunday after Sunday consistently fine and really hot. Of course, it was not so good for the farmers and market gardeners, for the dry weather developed into a real drought. The lack of rain affected our club to a certain extent - our shrubs and screening plants had not been in the ground for a sufficiently long period to develop strong roots, and many of them have died. Those that merely have a sick and depressed appearance may recover now that the welcome showers are here. We hope so!

Kowhai Valley has had a most encouraging influx of new members over the last few months. Their subscriptions, naturally, will be very welcome for our finances; but what is even more welcome is the fact that they have displayed real interest, in the shape of regular attendances, friendly companionship, and generous gifts of plants, tools, timber, furnishings, and so on.

We regard it as a compliment to our club that so many people are prepared to overlook the long distance to reach our grounds, for we are further away into the "never-never" than are the two other Auckland clubs.' However, the distance, combined with a No-Exit road, renders us comparatively free from inquisitive "rubber-necks" - and our incomparable view is well worth the long travel to reach it.

We have just recently taken a momentous step forward by adding a swimming pool to the amenities on the grounds. Unfortunately, owing to what appeared to us as an incomprehensible hold-up of permit by the local body Council controlling our area, the erection of a pool was delayed too long, and actual swimming will perforce be postponed till next season. However, the bright blue interior has such an inviting and attractive appearance that we experience a glow of anticipation for the future whenever we gaze upon it. Ferns and shrubs with flowers of many colours border our pool at back and side. Shakespeare must have had it in mind when he wrote: - "The green mantle of the standing pool". (King Lear).

Visitors from other clubs, not only in Auckland but from afar, will always be welcomed to our grounds, on adequate notice being given. Nevertheless, please note: We are not as yet ready for any period longer than one day. For one thing, our grounds, being fairly new, are not at present adequate for camping, and moreover the club house building permit stipulates that it be not residential.

Just prior to writing this note (mid-April) we held our Annual General Meeting. It was a happy and harmonious gathering, and the members present were very pleased with the Treasurer's Accounts, which revealed an extremely healthy financial situation. For the impressive list of assets on the balance sheet we are sincerely indebted to the many members who, over the last few years, have dug deeply into their pockets to augment the funds.

One small point to conclude: we have twice received newsletters from sister clubs in New Zealand addressed to "Kowhai Valley Sun Club Inc." Would you all kindly note that there is no word "Sun" in our registered title!

Tauranga Sun Club

Now that the summer is slowly dwindling away, we are settling down to our winter programme, which includes social and film evenings, saunas, trips to the hot springs and a trip to the Chateau when the snow starts to fall, and of course the old working bees at the Club. At the time of this going to print, this club and naturism on the whole have really been in the news here with the possibilities of a free beach in this area. The local paper has really been plugging this issue with interviews with members and opinions from the public in general. Our next step is to plan our campaign programme, and by the next issue a full report will be available. Over the past months some of us have taken several trips to a beach down Opotiki way and have been able to enjoy sunbathing, swimming and fishing in the nude. These days have ended on the beach around a campfire with the day's catch barbecuing and everyone singing.

Wellington Sun Club Inc.

Summer bowed out rather abruptly this year and Fiveacres members have already buckled down to the winter works programme in preparation for the rally next summer. Additional sports courts are high on the list of priorities, as is the screening of the new land on the northwest side of the grounds to permit its use for camping etc.

A major highlight is the commencement of foundation work on the new clubhouse, which will eventually give us over 4,000 sq. ft. of amenities and recreation space.

The first winter social activity was a supper dance at the Central Park Cabaret, a week before Easter, and this was thoroughly enjoyed by the ninety-odd who attended. Sauna evenings are commencing later than usual this season, as we await the opening of a brand new complex in the centre of Wellington.

Photo: Doug Cousins

Wanganui Sun Club

Since the last magazine it has been fairly quiet in the River City. The reason for this - the weather has been so hot and pleasant that members have been so busy enjoying the near perfect Summer that it was a shame to think of working. Now the weather is certainly much cooler we will have to get busy on our winter programme of making the grounds even more attractive over the winter months ready for a great season next summer.

It was a pleasant surprise when returning home from our lovely long holiday around the Northern clubs to find the small advertisement I had put in the paper had struck home well and there was a large number of applications for membership. Although there is still plenty of room for more expansion the number of members the club now has is very encouraging and I think reflects on the work that was done to improve facilities at the grounds and activities within the club, and with other clubs.

By the time this has gone to print the first "SPLASH-IN 73" would have been and gone. Never mind if you missed it there will be another one or two during the Winter so just read our newsletters carefully so you do not miss the next one. They are always plenty of fun. We have now gone on to our winter programme of fortnightly swims and saunas with the second swim of the month a social event as well.

Our annual general meeting is to be held on the 23rd of September. We will be holding a "swim-in" consisting of a swim in the tepid baths, sauna, supper, and social the night before so some of you clubs get a party together and come and join us that weekend. We are giving you plenty of warning so what about meeting the friendly folk from the river city that weekend? Remember we can now have campers on our grounds and although the summer will not have started the weather is often reasonable at that time of the year and the grounds are pleasant in their rural surroundings at any time so lets all get together, here on September the 22nd and 23rd.

A special general meeting was called last month to discuss a proposed lease of the property we have had the use of for some years now. It will be a little while yet before things are finalised but things look bright.

If you wish to join in our activities please feel free to write Box 410 Wanganui for further information.

Auckland Sun Club Inc.

The past three months have been very busy for our Club. January saw us in Thames for our yearly "Gold Trip". In March we were pleased to see the largest contingent of visitors ever to visit our grounds on one day. Somebody counted 60 cars all told. Many thanks to all from Waikato and Tauranga who made the trip up. Also a large group from N.S.S. motored down and paid us a visit. Once again, thanks from all of us.

We in turn paid a visit in force to N.S.S. Believe me, 110 miles from Auckland is very worth while. They have beautiful grounds.

Winter saunas have started. The pool's empty. we're broke but we've had a ball this past summer.

Palmerston North Sun Club Inc.

Work has continued during the summer months to improve Lake Downs. The usual large number of visitors have stayed on our grounds. The house always having members and visitors at weekends and during the week. The house was recently painted a cedar colour by many willing helpers.

A new ablution block was decided on and it is hoped this will be built this winter.

A club brochure was printed and has been sent out to various organisations. Lake Downs has had a very hot summer, perfect for sunbathing. Membership increase has been good. Many were introduced to the club by our own members.

Lake Downs is now becoming well known as a restful friendly club. The setting of our grounds and quiet countryside is making the club very popular with members and visitors.

Palmerston North has been for some time the largest club outside the main centres and we intend to hold this position. The greatest assets of the club are the members themselves. Their work and interest is now apparent in our progress.

We extend a warm welcome to members of other clubs, through their club secretaries, to visit us during the winter. We promise you a pleasant stay in our cosy house, a good fire and pleasant company. To future members considering joining us at Lake Downs drop a line to our Secretary, Box 980 Palmerston North for a club brochure. If you wish a couple from the club can visit you in your home and any questions will be answered.

Gisborne Sun Club

The G.S.C. expressed its sympathy at the passing of our past National President, Gavin. We will always remember his willingness to visit us annually and are pleased he was able to see the ground we had purchased for our activities. Gaynor and their children will always be welcome in Gisborne.

The one hundred dollar note raffle was won by ticket number 1100. It went to a Ruatoria resident Mrs N. Krebbs who bought the ticket from a Ruatoria member. It should also be pointed out that the raffle was drawn with the supervision of the Ruatoria Police! Many thanks for the terrific support we received from members of all the clubs and the general public. The net result was $82.50 for the G.S.C.

Early in February three car loads of Gisborne members travelled to the Hawkes Bay Sun Club to join in the celebrations at the opening of their swimming pool. Those attending thoroughly enjoyed their weekend and thank the H.B. Club for their hospitality and congratulate them on their efforts. As we are fortunate enough to live as close as we do to H.B.S.C. our representation must have been about the highest at the function.

Later in the month four tenniquoit teams visited the Waikato Outdoor Society to compete for a shield. The shield was made by a Waikato member who is travelling to Gisborne at Easter to present the shield. The weather was wonderful, and the hospitality we received was in keeping. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We must apologise for the noise we made, but Waikato, please take this as an indication of our pleasure at being there.

By reading this far it is obvious that we won the shield but judging by the standard of their "so called" learners we will have to work hard to retain it in the years to come. On the trip home we declared "free" an inviting swimming hole in the river in the Waimara Gorge. An appropriate sign will be forthcoming!

We are preparing for an influx of visitors at Easter and expect them from the Palmerston North, Waikato and Auckland clubs. They will be staying at Ruatoria and Gisborne members are taking time off to entertain them.

Since last going to print progress at the grounds has been steady and at times most enthusiastic. We have managed to co-opt the services of a retired electrician cum farmer and "switch on" should be within the next few months.

After many blisters and tired backs the first swimming pool hole has been dug and we are now organising for the foundation pour of concrete. All going well an ex G.S.C. now H.B. member will build the pool in May. The front screening is well on its way but is held up at the moment awaiting more timber. The children have been a big help here by staining (themselves!) the fence as it progresses.

A recruiting campaign was carried out in the local newspaper with satisfactory results.

Indications at the moment are that six members will be attending the mid year meeting in Taupo. This should make for a happy weekend.

Don't forget! Next Month! N.Z.'s best cabaret! Get your tickets early as there is a limit of 100 couples.

South Canterbury Sun Club

How does one go about starting a Sun Club in a conservative provincial city such as Timaru. This was a question four couples asked themselves quite a few times over the past three or four years We were all country members of the Canterbury Sun Club and strangely enough, only met when at "Pineglades". I must admit that although the idea was one I wished to see become a reality, I was only too happy to travel the eighty-odd miles as often as possible to enjoy all the facilities of an established Club, and let someone else do all the spade-work. However the others were very persuasive and "put a bomb" under the idea with the result that we now have a very active, enthusiastic and happy club in South Canterbury.

First of all we contacted other C.S.C. members in the vicinity including two couples from Mid-Canterbury to let them know what we were doing. With their approval we rented a P.O. Box and advertised in our local newspaper. Our first reply came from the very same newspaper asking for an interview as this was a completely new venture in our district. Imagine our feelings if you can. One moment blithely enjoying ourselves at "Pineglades". Completely anonymous. Next moment, full of foreboding and trembling in every limb we are being interviewed. Happily, the apprehension was worse than the actual event. A very sympathetic reporter put us completely at ease and through his story on the main news page we had our first offer of land. This we mentioned in our first newsletter. Unfortunately it has proved unsuitable and we are currently investigating another property with high hopes and optimism. Other news items appeared in the paper and the Local Radio Station also contacted us and an item came over in the local news.

Applications came in and a hectic three or four weeks followed with visits to all applicants with the result we now boast 38 adult members and 26 children. Ages ranging from 65 years down to 7 months. So much for conservatism. Our A.G.M. followed and committee elected. This proved amusing also as only two people knew everyone present. Picture if you can a committee elected by such terms as "the man in the purple pants" or "the lady in the trouser suit". Nevertheless it proved effective and a very good hard working group to start the ball rolling.

Photo: Con, A.O.H.C.

Since then we have formed a Social Committee and as soon as grounds are finalised a Planning and Works Committee will be formed to involve all present members with active participation in our project.

Outings together have followed our formation with the new members to the fore when it comes to donning "Club Uniform". Most of these have been to a local river where several secluded pools have been commandeered for nude swimming. Other noteworthy events have included a couple of trips to Pineglades, a soak afternoon at Alan & Margaret's, a visit from Joan (National Secretary) and Russell (National President) for morning tea, celebration of Pam's 21st?? and a day with Fe and Pat.

At the time of writing we have a lawyer to handle property deals and incorporate our club. Our opening social is being organised and visitors are expected from Christchurch and Dunedin.

In conclusion may we express our appreciation to Joan T and Russell D for their encouragement and support, to C.S.C. for their support and for throwing their grounds open to us, to Steve B of Palmerston North for his letter offering help and accommodation for our members, to the Wanganui Club for their mention of us in their newsletter, to Eddie R and the Otago members who are supporting our social and to all naturists too numerous to mention for their interest. It feels wonderful to at last really be part of the naturist movement.

Taranaki Naturist Club

After looking for land for 12 months we have finally purchased 20 acres of land at a height of l500ft on the northern slopes of Mt Egmont. Although the annual rainfall is high in this area a wonderful summer was experienced with hot sunshine every weekend, even one day when it rained in New Plymouth, 12 miles away. The land is gently rolling, partly cleared but with at least 10 acres of native bush which we are leaving untouched except for a bush track to a small river where there are pools in which the more hardy members cool off.

Mike from Palmerston North bought and kindly delivered a caravan to us in March. This will be available for overnight visitors and as a clubhouse during the winter. The only other building on the property is a small shed where equipment is kept.

Our general acceptance by the public of Taranaki is fantastic with people who don't intend to join contacting the club to encourage and wish us well in whatever we do. A neighbour whose house overlooks part of our grounds has offered the use of his refrigerator, telephone etc. at any time while another neighbour has given us a tractor and promised 150 trees for screening.

An open day early in the summer proved very popular and it was decided to make this an annual event.

The other successful venture was a Press Day when reporters from all of the local papers were invited and gave us an excellent write up. This, after a number of "Letters to the Editor" (both for and against us) resulted in the membership very nearly doubling in a few weeks.

All members who attended the Rally returned and spoke so well of A.O.H.C. that another group of members returned in February for up to two weeks.

Visits to Wanganui (100 miles south) for their swim-ins have proved very popular with most members staying overnight and visiting Wanganui club grounds on the Sundays after the Saturday evening sauna and swims.

Photo: G. Pearce

Auckland Outdoor Health Club (Inc.)

As most of you know, we had one of the most publicised rallies ever, with Dr Finlay opening the rally and Sir Dove-Meyer cutting the 21st birthday cake since it was the 21st rally. Out of all this news coverage came two things - (a) a large number of new members and enquiries from a great many people, and (b) the agreement by Sir Dove-Meyer to become our patron.

I wrote some time ago that the club was moving into a new era. A planning meeting was called and members supplied this meeting with a great number of ideas. If all of these ideas are implemented these grounds of ours will be just fabulous - there will be interesting things to do for old and young. "Oranui", the whole 26 acres of it, is a jewel, the landscape itself offers almost limitless possibilities for all sorts of sports and pastimes to be placed in nooks and crannies of the grounds without taking anything away from the general parkland aspect. There is even a swampy dip in the land that would lend itself for conversion into a lake for small paddleboat and model-yacht sailing - the gentle hillsides around that area with its tall trees, could in time become the focal point of the club - looking down on a small lake that supports water lilies and bearded iris. I could not think of a more romantic place.

It is difficult not to burst with enthusiasm or impatience, but the beginnings of a time of development are there and with sound planning done beforehand there is a good chance that we will not destroy the general air of park- and bushland. New camping areas can be weaned away from the everlasting blackberries, the bane of our lives. New Clubhouse space, by building onto the old one will give us more room when it rains, new toilet blocks, the first of which is in the making plus the fact that the financial planning will be under good sound control all make me mightily impatient. The truth is, that although we are part of a movement, often clubs do not see themselves as such, members tend to enjoy what they have and give scant thought to the future, which by rights demands that provision be made for more people. To forget to provide for the future is easy, when what you have suffices now, but Oranui is faced with a programme demanding this provision for the future - we are strong enough to tackle it.

letters
to the
editor

Dear Sir, -My congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Mrs J. A. of the Hawkes Bay Sun Club for her letter in the December issue. Though I enjoy the N.Z. Naturist and have been delighted to watch it grow in size and quality over the years, I too feel somewhat disappointed that the comely young women depicted in your pages invariably conceal their lovely genitals beneath pubic hair.

The models appearing in overseas nudist magazines freely display their labia and clitoris, and are all the more charming for their utterly frank femininity. After all, it is strange that a woman should shave off underarm hair in the interests of beauty and comfort, and yet hide the delicate beauty of her mound of Venus behind a tangle of sweaty locks.

The bikini and the mini-skirt, those two symbols of women's liberation, have taken many years to enter the fashion scene. Yet today their practicality is beyond question. In the nudist world there still exists a shyness among New Zealand women, a reluctance to adopt the vogue of depillation so popular in other countries. Let us hope that many more of our womenfolk will have the common sense and courage of Mrs J. A. For the fuller sex education of our young people and the delight of all beholders, may there be fewer "bearded ladies" in the clubs and may your magazine publish more photographs of beautiful nude women unmarred by the dark smudge of that unsightly hirsute triangle. Perhaps Mrs I. A. could set the ball rolling by submitting a photo of herself.

With extreme reluctance I must air one small point of disagreement with the views expressed by that lady. Some men, including myself, have shaved off their pubic hair and enjoyed the sense of freedom obtained by their doing so. The appeal of a clean-shaven male pubis, like that of a bare chin or "short back and sides", is a matter of taste. I know that some women prefer the cared-for appearance or even the little-boy look that depillation gives to a man.

Mere Male.

Sir, -It is with some diffidence that I touch upon the subject Rally again, much has been written and said, but J.K. of A.S.C. put his finger on one of A.O.H.C.'s weaknesses - there were many I agree.

Let me now leave some thought with you all as regards forthcoming rallies.

It is a well known fact that people initially are only too willing to help, and many were the answers to such requests in A.O.H.C. and from other clubs outside Auckland. However, most club-members are so used to being well-known by their first names only that in many of the replies the signature was "Bill" or "John" or "Jean". Very fine but enough to drive a Rally organiser nuts, if he has only in his own club to contend with twelve "Johns" and six "Bills", let alone those from other clubs. It would seem to me to be wise that (a) when one offers to help in a particular way during a rally one signs with one's full name and (b) when one arrives make contact and say "I am Bill so and so and I offered to do so and so. When can I start and where are the tools."

Secondly, there are three clubs in the country with sufficient room to accommodate a rally, which inexorably every third year looms on the horizon as a mammoth task, because facilities sufficient or even ample to deal with a normal crowd on the grounds are inevitably inadequate for an influx of six to eight hundred people. Auckland has, in practically the same area, three clubs operating. A National Rally is a nationwide event, yet in our case neither of the two other clubs offered, as clubs, to undertake any part of the organisation necessary to deal with such an event, a fact which many overlooked or never thought about, yet one which strikes me as very strange, since it is common practice amongst other clubs to gear up together in concerted effort over a wide radius to deal with the organisation of conventions and the like. Let's hope that a Rally in Wellington in future means a rally set up and organised by Wellington, Wanganui and Palmerston North - in unison. That a rally in Christchurch will have the help from other clubs there and that Auckland in future can bask in the certain knowledge that the other clubs in the vicinity take on part of the rally organisation instead of demanding certain facilities under threat of non-attendance. That way I'm sure rallies will be more entertaining, more efficient and much more fun for everyone involved.

Claire.

Sir, -Recent copies of the Naturist magazine have carried letters that might suggest that not everyone approves of all that is going on within our nudist clubs, some, it would seem, disapprove of the behaviour of some sections, others criticise the reproductions in our magazine. That is a healthy sign if it is a constructive criticism.

In the beginning the movement began with a few men and women who wanted to live outside the world of rat-racers, where for a short while they could strip-off and enjoy the sun and freedom from clothes, where they had a set of human values that gave offence to no-one, where they tried to be no better nor worse than any one else, and where colour, religion, politics, and many other things give way to their communal enjoyment of the very best that the Creator in His wisdom has bestowed upon us. They set a standard that cuts across all barriers and we today should strive to emulate them. Let me quote from our own N.Z.S.A. pamphlet "Your Introduction to Social Nudism" - Ultimate aims of the movement include the promotion of mental and physical health ... and unashamed acceptance of their bodies and the raising of moral standards. Some of you will snort when you read this, but for a moment give a thought to your own set of human values, your mental health, and your moral standards, and ask yourself why you joined the Nudists?

Many young people in our movement today and others who read this magazine, may not like what they read and hear, and will stop to give a thought to what they are going to say to their children in the years to come. Believe me there is still room in our Clubs for you where the beauty of your personality, your high moral standards, your respect for others' infirmities, and your unselfish willingness to do the menial jobs will keep our Clubs going and respected by those outside our movement. You may not always be understood but you will gain great personal satisfaction and a healthy sun-tan.

Now about reproductions in our magazine. Why not make it a truly N.Z. magazine and not debase it with professionally posed nudes that only pander to the erotic mind of the sensual and widens the social gap between those same models and their sisters who have not been so richly endowed with acceptable vital statistics. Is it not our boast that in the raw, we are all equal? Yet we make a Venus of one and a Cinderella of others. What amuses me is that I have yet to see a nude female who is not built to the same broad specifications with only very minor differences in weight, colour, etc. yet some presume to be a lot different. Why?

What about the unashamed acceptance of their bodies and the raising of moral standards? Think of those who suffer in the comparison, and give a thought to what people of other nations may think, especially if they measure beauty by a different yard-stick. They may even think the pictures vulgar and immoral, and be most uncomplimentary in their remarks.

One thing is certain; normal people, whether they are dressed or undressed, enjoying themselves in club activities on club grounds spell out a language that is known all over the world, and if they happen to be in the nude splashing in the surf or playing their games on their own grounds, who could paint a finer picture? - Unashamed enjoyment of all that is healthful and beautiful. The picture on the back of our last copy (No. 66) of the 'Naturist' is a very fine compliment to your paper and I hope we shall see many more like it in the future, for I am sure that only in that way will our magazine grow in popularity and in stature.

T. Rotorua.

Sir, -It has come to my attention that several clubs have intimated to readers that their club membership is now closed. As an advocate of social nudity it appears to me that the Naturist movement is emulating the ostrich.

I understand that the movement's constitution is to foster and propagate the ideals of social nudity and this cannot be done when prospective participants are turned away.

I can understand that several clubs have limited facilities and a brake must be imposed as far as membership is concerned but why not reintroduce the "open days" once a quarter; at least the prospective participant in social nudity could "indulge" four times a year.

Suntan.

Sir, -With every issue of our magazine I have said that there could be no possible way of improving its presentation.

When I received the March number I realised that my predictions were once again mistaken. As a professional photographer and printing tradesman, it was a sheer delight to open my copy.

The colour reproductions, the outstanding quality of the photographic work are far superior to any I have seen in any overseas publication.

Congratulations on your fine production.

Sunny, West Coast.

Sir, -A Nudist Youth Club - to misquote: 'To keep them or not seems to be the question'.

At the moment A.O.H.C. is split into two camps about these youngsters and it is time something is done about it.

I like to see a N.Y.C. movement as it is a very good opportunity to keep our wandering teenagers within the clubs. But I do not like the present set up. I have heard two different opinions about N.Y.C.

"Let them go - leave them alone - they are alright", and "I shall fight that N.Y.C. - I shall never allow it in my club - I'd rather resign."

Both statements are extreme, but where is the middle road?

I would like to see drastic changes made. The first change must be the age limit. Now it stands from 13 years to 25 years. That is impossible. Young people in their early twenties are often working, earning their own money, have the freedom to visit hotels, etc. They cannot mix with school-children.

On the other hand a 14 year old cannot keep up with the older ones - although he tries hard and is often in trouble because of it. One particular problem seems to be alcohol.

I would like to see the age limit changed from the present one to 12-19 years. In this way alcohol can be banned.

As the N.Y.C. is a nation-wide movement each individual club should come under the guidance of a young married couple above the age of, say, 24 years. Each N.Y.C. member should be a member of an existing nudist club. At the present moment any youngster can join - pay only a fee to N.Y.C. yet uses (abuses?) all facilities of the host club.

Any youngster from non nudist parents should have parental consent, pay the N.Y.C. fee plus a token fee to the host club. He or she must also realise what nudism means. Wandering around fully clad or just wearing long pants seems to be the 'in' thing and that destroys the purpose of the movement.

Any club that has a N.Y.C. group (and please, let all clubs have them) should allow that group a small part of the club grounds for its own use. In this way the youngsters' time can be actively spent in getting their own clubhouse, games court etc. Now the kids seem bored, they are getting rowdy and equipment gets damaged. Fund raising could include car washing - collecting and selling dead wood (and so help clear the club grounds under committee guidance).

These are just a few suggestions. But I like to see something positive done. After an enthusiastic beginning it would be a pity and very wrong if the Youth Club was to fold up.

Ines, A.O.H.C.

Sir, -As a letter of criticism has come from my city I feel I should write this letter as I am sure a lot of other people would not agree with the writer. The N.Z. Naturist is in my opinion a very good naturist magazine of very high standards and held in very good repute both in this country and in many overseas countries. It was spoken of at the I.N.F. congress as one of the best of its type in the world.

All humans, even Naturists, must spend some time indoors so why should not a percentage of the photographs be taken indoors? The criterion of photographs selected for publication should be reader interest, in tastefully displayed pictures, of sun club activities, and the beauty of the human body in its natural state.

Unbalanced, untidy snaps have no interest except for perhaps the person who took the snap. To appeal to most people a photograph has to have a certain amount of posing to bring out the subject's true worth. True we could fill the magazine with sport shots and the like but the magazine would soon bore people and the sales even to sun club members drop away. No, I feel the photographs should be as wide a coverage as it is possible to have, so as the magazine should appeal to as many people as possible, and amongst sun club members there are a lot of people who have an eye for the good photograph and the beauty of the subject without feeling the standard of the magazine is being lowered in any way. The picture on page 14 of the No. 64 issue is a perfect example of this. It is not a sun club picture but who could say it lowered the standard of the magazine in any way.

There would certainly be very few sun lovers who could be offended by any photographs in the N.Z. Naturists. It is possible of course that if the magazine was shown to some people who still have prudish ideas and not the more open minds of the naturist they would attempt to criticise and state the magazine does not appeal to them. It is not for them the magazine is published. It cannot be made to everyone's individual liking but rather to the liking of the average naturist.

Just in passing I would like also to refer to Derek's letter. I fully and wholeheartedly agree with his last paragraph but feel it is up to the association to try and iron this matter out rather than first airing it in the magazine. I am not so agreeable with his criticism of the photographs. John has only a few photographs to pick and choose from and does well to give us as good a selection as he does. I see nothing wrong with photographs taken of the human body from any direction, frontal or otherwise. I will not say I like or not the two photographs he mentioned as I wish not to run down other's work, as 1 see plenty wrong with my own, but I would not cast them aside because they are frontal shots.

Lastly I feel that it is up to Naturists not just to criticise the magazine but to get behind John and his team of hard workers and to supply him with pool material, photographs, cartoons and articles. Keep up the good work, John.

Bernie, Wanganui S.C.

Sir, -I would like to endorse the remarks passed by James I. Wellington in issue No. 65 regarding the photo published on page 5 of the N.Z. Naturist No. 63. There is little I can add to his sentiments which to my mind were sane and commonsense.

Over the years I have noticed a certain element gradually gaining control of the executive positions in some of our clubs.

Alcohol on club grounds is definitely detrimental to the good image which has been built up over the years, and if having a 'Bar' at some clubs, which I believe has already been done, in an effort to raise funds and to induce others like- minded into our clubs, then I think the less we have of that type the better it would be for all concerned, especially for the nudist movement's public image.

As James I says, surely people should be able to spend a few hours on a Sunday without it.

Wallace C.S.H.C.

Sir, -A most delightful issue - this No. 66 of the Naturist, some good photographs, some superb ones and a lot of interesting reading. The "NYC at Ruatoria" article made very satisfying reading too - no wonder they all kept very quiet about precisely what they had done - this way we all know about it now.

And that brings me to reply to the two Letters to the Editor, the one in No. 65 from "Worried" and "Derek" in No. 66.

It is as if one hears a gramophone record going on and on in the one groove: "They don't seem to know their place nowadays - and I must say they seem to have no moral fibre. I say let them leave us in peace to enjoy the fruit

Why can't they be satisfied with their own clubs, like ... etc. etc."

Let me say this "Worried": The young, if they don't know their place, don't know it because you don't allow them a place. If they seem to have no moral fibre, it is because you have neglected to show them what moral fibre is all about - the ability to live wisely and happily and fruitfully in all circumstances, without wishing to hide away, without closing the door.

"Why can't they What you really mean "Worried", and the groan is almost audible, is:

"Why can't they just go away somewhere, where I do not have to see them and take note and think and care."

Youth - the lifeblood of any community, questioning, troublesome, sometimes harem scarum, full of zest and vim and crazy ideas, willing and wanting to act, think, and do by themselves for themselves, is what we need, before it's too late, before this Nudism dries up into an ossified, mummified state of non-being.

Then Derek in No. 66. Don't you worry your little head off dear, upon returning with the NYC from Ruatoria, Gordon & Kathy (bus driver and his wife) were besieged by the scandalmongers wanting to know all about it, the dirty bits that happened on that trip.

I ask you - who are we to criticise - after all, drinking beer, rude talk to others and children, lack of help when asked to give a hand are standard procedure amongst the adults in our clubs, aren't they?

NYC is an autonomous club and thank goodness for that, the wrinklies can't "Re-organise" them - some far-sighted adult somewhere foresaw what was going to happen long before you thought of it. I suggest you write to Kathy and Gordon of A.O.H.C. and ask them their impressions of travelling with a bus-full of youngsters all over the place for five days. To me it is enough when they tell me that they would do it again if the opportunity arose.

And the other things you ask, the rumours? Well now, we did hear them too and went ahead and ferreted out that (a) they did not pertain to NYC members and (b) one of them was not even a member of a nudist club. Doesn't that make you feel nice and safe?

Claire.

news from
the clubs in
australia

Spielplatz (Austr) Recreations, Melbourne, Victoria

Previously Sun Valley Club which was closed after the land was acquired by the State Elec. Commission, Spielplatz (German for playground) was formed by three of the former members who purchased 20 acres of heavily timbered land 22 miles north east of Melbourne and adapted it to our purposes, a pleasant club house, a filtered swimming pool, barbecue facilities, a covered area for table tennis, volley ball, tennis and badminton courts were constructed.

In the three years since, large numbers of native trees have been added and this year the dam has been greatly enlarged and we plan to stock it with suitable fish, the children will then be able to add another activity to keep them happy - at the moment they are able to enjoy trampoline, swings, slide, sand pit and a junior gymnasium, plus hunting for frogs, tadpoles and lizards or roaming the bush grounds.

An active social calendar is prepared by the committee including house parties, visits to other clubs, a beer festival and this year we have organised a swim and sauna night programme which is open to all members of other clubs at a large and progressive gymnasium. These nights will be held on the 4th Saturday of each month commencing 26th May 1973 and will cover the winter months until October 1973.

It has been an excellent summer season and the filtered pool has enjoyed great popularity, particularly after a series of volley ball games for which we have purchased a new net.

During the cooler months we hope that our members will continue to attend as a barbecue lunch, followed by either a yarn around our open fireplace, a game of chess, scrabble or a game of volley can always be had in our pollution free atmosphere.

Members of all New Zealand clubs are welcome to visit us at all times, please drop us a line preferably in advance so that we may arrange your visit (enquiries to Box 131, Camberwell, Victoria, 3124, Australia).

Golden Valley Country Club, Queensland

Greetings from Golden Valley Country Club, Queensland's youngest naturist club, established November 1972, and highest, 2,300 ft above sea level.

Golden Valley is situated on a 96-acre site, 60 miles north of Brisbane. The property consists of gum tree forests, grasslands, rain forest gorge containing majestic trees, ferns, palms, vines, granite cliffs all set in a rugged terrain. Through. this gorge flows a swift mountain stream, a section of which forms our famous waterfall and natural pool. These magnificent surroundings are blessed with a variety of bird life and fauna, making our grounds truly a natural paradise.

We claim to be the most publicised club in Queensland through the newspaper and television media. Our big night was Wednesday, February 14th, when we received ten to fifteen minutes on a popular Brisbane television programme. This well-produced programme featured our beautiful valley, including the waterfall, club activities, and interviews with four of our members.

The membership of our club is growing week by week. The enthusiasm and co-operation of all members to keep on the move is really something.

The attendance at our first social evenings, to see the stage production "Hair", and a barbecue in the grounds of a club member's home, was excellent. The next social evening will be a farm dance at a Brisbane hall.

Club amenities are slowly being established. Despite the set backs, due to the wet season, we now have a large summer shed, containing picnic tables and chairs, plus youngster's afternoon sleeping cots. A concrete surfaced mini-ten court was finally completed during the last weekend in March. Forthcoming amenities include a gas barbecue and water heating appliance, a shower block to replace our present temporary shower, and a volley ball court.

April 29th we will conduct our first open day. Those visitors who wish to experience nudism may do so during a two hour period down at our waterfall, whilst non participants can remain in the amenities area.

Unfortunately due to our quaint Queensland censorship laws it is difficult to obtain naturist magazines. Those who are fortunate enough to obtain the New Zealand Naturist and are looking for a modern, progressive, young thinking club will find Golden Valley will fill your needs.

For further information write to The Secretary, Box 22, Lawnton, Queensland, post code 4501.

A Visit to Good Companions

First, I must say that New Zealanders and New Zealand naturists possibly do not realise just how fortunate they are. In this country we have green fields, beautiful bush and most clubs manage to obtain land with clean, clear streams or at least have an adequate water supply for a reasonable swimming pool. We certainly must never underrate the value of New Zealand's fresh water supplies and as naturists we should also be keen conservationists.

As we were to visit Brisbane I decided to make contact with the secretary of the "Good Companions", a well-established club. Well, before we left New Zealand we received a friendly letter from Brian, secretary of the "Good Companions" assuring us of a welcome to his club.

Brian had given us a phone number to ring and as a result of our call he and his wife and family met us punctually a few miles from Brisbane and we followed their car to the grounds. The club has the use of several acres of Australian "bush" - mainly gums with no undergrowth as we know it. They have been established many years now and have very good facilities in the way of ablution blocks, a large pavilion with wrought iron tables, electric stove, refrigerator, etc. There are tennis courts and trampolines. Temporary accommodation is available in a couple of converted trams.

When we arrived at the club grounds we were warmly welcomed by the few members and visitors from a New South Wales club who were present. As it was a week day, there were few people in attendance. Brian and his family then drove south to meet other visitors from New South Wales.

Brian told us that he was expecting a visit from Doug C. and the president of another New Zealand club.

A river is supposed to flow through the club grounds, but as August is Brisbane's driest month, it showed little evidence of flowing and its colour, rushes, water lilies and hidden depths did not entice us. But if we had those grounds and equipment with a New Zealand stream! The Good Companions will shortly have piped water and will then, I understand, build a swimming pool.

An interesting feature was the signposted tree with many signs pointing in the direction of well known sun clubs, e.g. Sun Valley U.S.A. All in all we had a most enjoyable day and hope we can sometime extend reciprocal hospitality to some members of the Good Companions.

George T.S.C.

Mowana - Northern Rivers Club - N.S.W.

Since our last report, there have been a few changes to our plans. We found the site for grounds which we had previously selected on Keith and Gloria's property, was not so easy to reach owing to a very wet gully which had to be negotiated. Further to this, we found that some of those late model cars which were wide and low could not make the grade over another portion of the track. In any case, a car towing a caravan would never make it

We had planned to lay timber across this gully in order to make it crossable for motor cars. However, it was decided that it would be easier and more satisfactory to select another site, (before any more improvements were done) on the near side of the gully, thus avoiding the necessity of crossing over.

The new site has several advantages over the original one selected, including better prospects for permanent water as well as being more level. It also has a better shade area in addition to open space for the sunbathers. We found out recently that the small dam at the original site did not hold water for very long, too high up on the side of the range.

The Meeting which was to have been held on February 11th, after two postponements. was finally held on March 18th. This being A.G.M. it was necessary to elect new office-bearers. All office-bearers were re-elected and in addition a new office of vice-president was filled. The Committee is comprised of all the office-bearers. There were a few slight changes to the Constitution to meet with changed circumstances.

It is now one year since the Club was officially formed (without grounds) and we have some progress in that we now have an increase in membership from 13 adults in the beginning to 26 at present after allowing for a few expected to drop out. We are hopeful of gaining many more members in the not-too-distant future, especially now that we have grounds of our own.

It was decided to have one Sunday in each month for a general get-together of members. Owing to the fact that we are few in numbers and many have long distances to cover, we decided on this idea so that we can get a good turn-out once a month. The second Sunday of each month was the day chosen and visitors should make note of this. Those members who live close still attend every weekend, and they are making short work of jobs to be done.

There is a great deal of improvement to be made on the grounds and in due curse we hope to have something worthwhile for the comfort and pleasure of members and visitors. Perhaps by the time we have reached our second birthday there will be a different story to tell.

We have just released our first Club Newsletter and hope to make this a quarterly feature. This will give a detailed account of progress from quarter to quarter as well as improving the grounds we hope to improve our "News Letter".

Today, the 8th April, we held a surprise Club Birthday Party, or it was supposed to be, but word did get around and we had a great event. This event was the first for the Club, we became official on 15th April last year.

By the time this news is printed, we will have increased our membership, this time mainly by single ladies, which we think is very gratifying.

Some members who did not know of the change of Club sites, were very impressed with the new site, and commented on the amount done to make the new site usable.

There are still many vacancies ft3r membership, single ladies, families and couples. All enquiries to MOWANA Club, Box 24, P.O. South Grafton.

Naturi, New South Wales

After a very hot summer the autumn months have been very mild and beautiful, and most of our members have been regular visitors to our club, new members have been gained, and club- life has been very enjoyable and happy. The table tennis in the new clubhouse has been favoured by many members, children and adults alike, the trampoline has a new top and the children have remarked on it, how much better it bounces. Beautiful flowerbeds have sprung up on permanent sites, and the lawns are kept in trim by our faithful friend, John, who enjoys making everything look neat and tidy, and still finds time for a game of chess or mini-ten.

There seems to be a strong tendency these days for articles of a pornographic nature to creep into naturist publications and to my mind this is not only unnecessary but can have a very harmful effect upon the general public whose good opinion and respect we should be catering for.

We must face the fact that at the present time we are not yet accepted by the large majority of the public simply because they are not aware of why we like to discard our clothes on suitable occasions and carry on whatever we want to do whilst nude. As a result of this state of affairs it behoves us to be extra specially careful about what we give them to read through our media of magazines and bulletins and so on. Our opinions and observations on all subjects should be of a high order when we submit anything to be included in our magazines. I can remember back 50 years or more when nudists were a persecuted body of people who were thought to be queer if not really dangerous, but slowly and by degrees we have changed that until the general public and the authorities too, tolerate us and to some extent we now have the protection of the law against undesirable characters who would molest us if they could. And this change (slow as it may have been) only came about as we gained a greater degree of respect from the people who really matter. Just imagine what would happen if some of the semi pornographic articles I have seen in so-called nudist publications were used in evidence against us during a court trial. Suppose for instance we decided the time was ripe to submit a test case for nude beaches and the opposing counsel drew the court’'s attention to this low class literature, and addressed the court in this fashion "Your honour I submit our beaches would not be safe if we allowed these people to put them to the use they propose and I not only accuse these people of being dangerous but I produce their own magazine to support my charge. It is nothing but pornography and bawdy jokes which you would expect to see in those sex shops which we are endeavouring to close" - Now this would be fatal and we must see that we are never placed in such a humiliating position. There are plenty of subjects we can discuss with noble and higher aims to uplift our members. There is a time and a place for everything and what takes place in the bedroom is not suitable material for a nudist magazine or bulletin.

If we eventually want to get the authorities permission to use certain beaches for nudist activities we must prove ourselves worthy of that consideration and the only way that can be done is to gain the respect and good opinion of the authorities and the general public.

Across

 1. Greek letter
 4. Contend
 8. Small keg
10. Female relatives
11. Immoral man
12. Make a choice
13. Snow goose
16. Vigorous
18. Settle
19. Sorrow
20. Winglike
24. Ward off
25. Adjourn
26. Musical instrument
27. Force

Down

 1. Foul stomach deposit
 2. Hellenic
 3. Sea birds
 5. Indian nurse
 6. Ornament
 7. Composition
 9. Predatory
14. Benign tumour
15. Cystic envelope
16. Dickey seat
17. Trade name for Olivine
18. Of a dark hue
21. Subject
22. Check
23. Ait.

CROSSWORD No. 67

club directory

The secretaries of the clubs listed below
will be pleased to hear from genuine enquirers.
Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

NORTHERN SUNSEEKERS INC.
P.O. Box 4126, Kamo

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB
P.O. Box 2702, Auckland

AUCKLAND SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 2925, Auckland
Telephone Henderson 67-100

KOWHAI VALLEY CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 6238, Wellesley Street West,
Auckland 1

WAIKATO OUTDOOR SOCIETY INC.
P.O. Box 6l9 Hamilton

TAURANGA SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 2205, South Tauranga

GEYSERLAND SUN CLUB
P.O. Box 1007, Rotorua

GISBORNE SUN CLUB
P.O. Box 391, Gisborne

HAWKES BAY SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 551, Napier
Telephone 55-331 or 35-523

WANGANUI SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 410, Wanganui

PALMERSTON NORTH SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 980, Palmerston North

WELLINGTON SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 2854, Wellington
Telephone 837-862

NELSON SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 467, Nelson

CANTERBURY SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 1823, Christchurch

SOUTH CANTERBURY SUN CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 610, Timaru

OTAGO SUN CLUB
P.O. Box 126, Dunedin

SOUTHERN SUN & HEALTH CLUB INC.
P.O. Box 486, Invercargill
Telephone 41W Nightcaps

TARANAKI NATURIST CLUB
P.O. Box 3039 Fitzroy, New Plymouth

N.Y.C. (NUDIST YOUTH CLUB)
Enquiries and Publicity
National: P.O. Box 1931, Palmerston North
Auckland Branch: P.O. Box 6802, Auckland

Colour

Front cover ...................... $25

Back cover ...................... $20

Inside full page ............. $20

PHOTOGRAPH

PAYMENTS

Monochrome

Full page ............................. $10   

  Any other black

   and white used ............ $2

ADVERTISING RATES

FOR

N.Z. NATURIST

Full Page ........................ $100

Half Page .......................... $60

Column Inch (min.) ........... $8

CONTRACT RATES AND

CLUB RATES ON

APPLICATION