# 107 - December 1983 

Many items of interest to members could be included in a history of a club but in writing it one has to decide what really is historical. A lot of people have helped and worked for the growth and betterment of the Gisborne sun Club and it would be difficult or could be unfair to some, if one tried to include a number of names in the History. However the Coker family’s enthusiasm gave the Club a big boost along the road in its early days but unfortunately were not here to see the fulfillment of their dreams, owning our own grounds.

To keep club interest alive over the years before purchasing our own land members visited many beach and river sites for swimming and sunbathing, along with visits to members properties.

This club has lead the field in many aspects of Nudism in N.Z. Each year from its inception there has been social entertainment where the general public has participated, halloweens, cabarets barn-dances etc. The first public raffle run by a nudist club was held by Gisborne. The National Rally held at Tolaga Bay was the first hosted by a smaller club in recent years. This was also the first time a liquor licence was held for the event. Other clubs have hot tubs installed but Mecca was the first to have one. Holding the lease to the Browns Beach property means we are the first to have legal access to a beach. And of course one must remember - we are the first to get the sun!

1950s

A family from Auckland, members of Auckland Outdoor Health Club shifted to Gisborne and contacted the only known nudist at the time, a Mr Douglas Cook who owned Eastwoodhill. The family used this property for sunbathing.

1954

An advertisement in the Gisborne Herald brought 4 families together and they used part of Eastwoodhill known as Douglas Park which was set aside for nudist's use. An area was even bulldozed level to provide sites for chalets but no legal title was given so no building eventuated. Contact was kept with Perc Cousins who visited the area once or twice. Another property at Waerengaokuri was offered by a member about this time but owing to poor access to the sunbathing area, did not prove popular with all the nudists. This helped to cause a split in the group which finally fell apart.

1967

Rod and Doreen Coker encouraged 7 couples to form a group and on 10th July at a General Meeting at the Coker's home it was decided that the Gisborne Sun Club be formed, Rod being president and Doreen Secretary.

1968

The then N.Z. Sunbathing Association Inc granted Provisional Affiliation to the G.S.C.

1969

Ian and Jennifer Fairbrother offered the use of their shearer's quarters and farm at Ruatoria for nudist activities owing to the lack of the Club's own grounds. This was used along with visits to various beaches and other sites until the club purchased its own property.

1970

Full affiliation to the N.Z.S.A. was granted this year. In October a property in the Waimata Valley came on the market for tender. The club members viewed this and placed a tender forthwith but it was not accepted.

1971

Swim nights at Morere Hot Pools were regular features during the winter months.

1972

In March some land was looked at for the club to use near Patutahi but as no legal title was available the decision was made not to pursue the matter further. June had 4 members viewing a 1 acre citrus orchard on the Waerenga-A-Hika straight. This had once been the site of a Catholic Church. The Fairbrother's purchased the land then offered it to the club to buy. On July 9th at a general meeting the decision was made to buy the acre. A competition was then held to choose a name for the grounds and Mecca was chosen. A club house was erected and was officially opened by the president Bert Taylor on 26th November. The Nudist Youth Rally was held at Ruatoria in December-January.

1973

The first N.Z.S.A. sports trophy won at a National Rally by a Gisborne member was the Junior Tenikoits doubles. This was a thrill for a small club, and for the winners, Lance and Susan Fairbrother. The club became a member of the Incorporated Societies and the signatories to this make them the foundation members of the Gisborne Sun Club Incorporated. Their names,

The club raffled a $100 note nation wide, being the first club to do this. The first of the ablution facilities came this year with an outside flush toilet (in a shed of course) and a bucket shower. The tenikoit court was laid and the front fence was built, replacing the wire netting one. The tool shed at the rear of the grounds was erected.

1974

In June the club signed the agreement to purchase the grounds in its name for $4,671.00. The swimming pool was built and full by February. May saw the final sale of the orange trees at $5.00 a tree. The concrete tank for rain water was then bought with the proceeds. The letterhead was designed by a member and note paper printed with it in March.

1979

The pouring of the miniten court was done after receiving a grant from the Sports and Recreation Committee via the Gisborne City Council. In October another stall was held for two days at the A.&P. Show to publicise G.S.C. and nudism.

1980

Another Family Fun Day in February saw members once again advertising nudism in Gisborne. The official opening of the miniten court was in February with outside visitors attending, including those who sat on the committee who granted the money to make the court possible. The first ball being hit by Mr John Hackel. A concrete deck was poured behind the swimming pool as a sun deck.

1981

The club, along with other nudist clubs lent $100 to the N.Z.N.F. to help restart the N.Z. Naturist after some months of being without our magazine. The regional conference of P.R.O. of the clubs was held at Mecca and the meeting was addressed by Mr Don Castles, Gisborne City P.R.O. In October grants were received from the City Council and The Cook County Council to develop the children's play area. A timber fence was built around the swimming pool along with a timber decking.

1975

The ablution block was started. The flag was designed and made by one family. The first resident caretaker came to Mecca. Through a member the land at Browns Beach was made available for the club to lease, thus giving legal access to a beach - the first in N.Z.

1976

Nudist Youth Club held their Rally in Gisborne using Mecca as their head-quarters. Some time was spent at Mr J. Barnes-Graham's property at Hangaroa which he kindly lets the G.S.C. use for summer outings. The hot tub arrived and the pump shed was erected this year.

1977

The National Nudist Rally was held on Lochness Farm at Tolaga Bay and hosted by G.S.C. The swimming sports being held at Kaiaua Beach, with approval from the Cook County Council.

1978

The barberry hedge behind the swimming pool and hot tub sites, was removed and the hot tub was then cemented into position. A block wall was erected behind the pool and a timber fence replaced the hedge behind the tub. In December a stall was held at the Poverty Bay Show Ground's, Family Fun Day to publicise nudism.

1982

A boiler was railed up from Nelson for heating the hot tub as the old one had burnt out. A concrete base for a bowling mat was poured and a synthetic grass covering stuck on it. Both the National Secretary and Treasurer of the N.Z.N.F. are members of G.S.C. A carpet square was donated for the club house. This sounds a minor detail but concrete floors in winter can be rather cold!

June 8th meeting heard a suggestion that G.S.C. change to a Country Club with optional dress, members becoming shareholders in a company. At the August A.G.M. it wad decided to wind up the G.S.C. and form a private company to run a dress optional country club at Mecca. There had to be a change in the constitution for this to occur so a special general meeting was held in September to do this. Barn dances and the annual cabaret are still being held each year.

1983

Anniversary weekend saw members camping at Lochness Farm Tolaga Bay and being taken on a boat to a little island opposite Cook's Cove for a day. A filter was fitted to the hot tub and a cover for the boiler was built. Special meetings were held to discuss the forming of the Country Club during the year and with the prospect of this, membership showed remarkable increase. A Monte Carlo slot machine was placed in the club house. Sports challenge days were held during the summer. In April a special general meeting was held to wind up the Gisborne Sun Club and all the assets and liabilities to be held in trust by the trustees of the Gisborne Country Club. In May a special general meeting was held to confirm the winding up of the G.S.C. On June 5th the final ordinary meeting of the G.S.C. was held. It was noted that the member who first came to Gisborne from Auckland and sunbathed at Eastwoodhill was present at this last meeting. The final committee meeting to sign over the seal to the Country Club was held almost to the day one year from the first suggestion of change.

The transition from being a member of a nudist club to a shareholder in a company was painless and - thank goodness - I still felt the same. I had visions of turning into a greedy, money hungry business woman once I became a shareholder in the company. This, of course, did not happen and happily I'm still me!

In August 1982 no one in the G.S.C. argued the point that drastic action had to be taken to lift the club out of stagnation as far as membership and finances were concerned. We knew that NZ was unique in being the only country with all sun/nudist clubs being incorporated societies, the majority of clubs around the world being proprietary, that is; owned and run by individuals or combines. This is basically all that has happened in Gisborne - a change to alternative running styles in an effort to keep the nudist movement alive on the East Coast.

There is no doubt in my mind that had this change not taken place then the G.S.C. would now be in recess.

'Rubbish!' you bigger clubs may shout, but just think about it; the bigger clubs are concentrated in or near large cities. They have the choice of being selective and charging high fees.

Larger memberships also ensure that new blood is injected into committees keeping up levels of enthusiasm. I can assure you that in G.S.C.'s case it became a yearly battle trying to fill committee positions. It was also obvious at August 1982 that subs for the ensuing year would not even cover phone and power accounts.

Exhaustive membership drives by the 'faithful few' achieved nothing. Thus started the chain of events, the outcome of which, has produced the Gisborne Country Club Ltd. The most significant point being an amazing influx of members merely on the name change! The legalities took about a year from start to finish and in July 1983 the company was formed,

What about the nudist? Well I can honestly say that the new members are extremely enthusiastic about nudism, in fact it was a consensus of new members who indicated that "no togs in the pool" be kept as a sacred rule. The words "clothing optional" are hardly ever spoken (except in winter of course when the option to keep clothes on is quite strongly upheld). The fact that from a membership of 46 adults at August 1982 to 85 at July 1983 (100% increase in other words) there must be something right in what has been done.

Looking back, the seeds were sown about ten years ago in our local town swimming baths in England, when one of the local 'young bloods' succeeded in undoing the back of my bikini top, this being a favourite trick of the time. I immediately made for the deep end where I could re-dress myself in peach and was amazed at how good the water felt on my naked body. However, the seeds lay dormant for the next few years, during which time I sunbathed in public wearing a bikini, frantically twitching it about to give me the maximum sun without allowing the local population to see anything they shouldn't! In this period, I also met and followed my Kiwi husband, John, back to New Zealand.

The story now moves to a quiet valley on the west side of Auckland's Waitakeres, and two couples, camped for the weekend, and trying to keep clean in the hot humid weather. We had been swimming in the stream with our togs on and had kept cool, but when it came to having a wash, it became rather more difficult and we looked at each other, all of us wanting to take our clothes off and have a good wash, but nobody wanting to make the first move. In the end, John said to Neil, the other guy, "Well, if you will, I will." and that led the way for us all to strip off and make the most of the clear running water. And what a great feeling it was! Afterwards, we admitted that we had all had a look at each other's bodies just to see what was what, but were then able, not to entirely forget each other's nakedness, but to treat it as something natural and not to feel embarrassed or disturbed by it. As Neil said to me "Once I had seen that you were naturally fair haired, I wasn't worried." I'm still trying to work that one out.

Once we returned home, we talked about it and decided that we would like to continue enjoying the sun in this completely natural way, and so made enquiries about our local nudist club, Auckland Sun. We went along on an introductory visit about two and a half years ago on a horribly wet and cold February morning, but were still so impressed by the people we met and the surroundings that we decided then and there to join. Fortunately, we didn't make too bad an impression and they decided to accept us. That was all very well, we still had to make our first appearance in public, to come out of the closet, and so, a week later, the weather favoured us with a glorious display of sunshine, and we set off, armed with towels and sun tan lotion, to become nudists.

Full of apprehension as to what we were going to find, as all the people we had met previously had been clothed because of the cold, we parked our car and ventured down the walk between the trees to suddenly come upon a veritable troupe of naked bodies, lying on the grass, finishing lunch, the more energetic were just starting a game-of volleyball and, further away, we could hear children splashing in the swimming pool. We stood looking around, rather bemused by this spectacle of so many people enjoying themselves without any clothes on, we also felt rather conspicuous standing there fully dressed! Luckily we recognised some faces and went across to say hello, and were' soon made welcome and had started to enjoy ourselves. All the people there without clothes made it a lot easier for us to take our own clothes off and, apart from our 'cottontails', we soon blended into the surroundings.

Since then, we have made many new friends through the nudist movement, we've visited other clubs and enjoyed their visits to us, we've been to nudist dances (that is, dances arranged by nudists, I've found women nudists still like to get dressed up in the evening and show off in their finery like any women, and that goes for me too), we've been to our first rally and are looking forward to attending the next one.

We've had a few odd reaction from our friends and family, all of them were amazes at first and asked all the usual questions about what happens, why we do it, and don't we feel odd with all those people looking at us, one of the guys I work with still can't figure it all out and thinks if I'm going to the Club, then I've got to take my clothes off; in this weather he's got to be kidding; he can't understand that even in Winter it's good to go to the Club, sit in front of the fire or play pool and keep in touch with people and events. Most of our friends have got over the amazed stage and now look upon us as being slightly mad but in a harmless sort of way!

As for us, we think it's the best thing we've ever done and hope to carry on enjoying the sun in our natural for the rest of our natural!

Everyone knows Black's Beach in San Diego is the most famous nude beach along the entire Pacific coast of the Americas, frequented by endless thousands of free beachers throughout most of the year.

Many people know that Memorial Day Sunday is the date for the annual Black's Beach party of freedom artists which now, after eight years, is called the Fine Arts Festival. To inaugurate this 8th Festival, many varied games, body painting, volleyball, music etc., was planned for the beach, as news media coverage was expected, by a television crew from Playboy, by Ethel & Edin Velex - the world famous video tapers - and others.

Not everyone knows that Joanne Newman, better known as Joi, is the toast of the beach, as she is the cause celebre of the fine art of body painting on the local scene. Various T.V. stations have in the past shown brief flashes of frontal nudity when covering the subject of body painting by a variety of artists. Hear nudity has been dwelled upon for longer times in the same connection. Joi truly deserves a place in the ramp light. She is an advanced body painter who promotes the art form and seeks its recognition universally. She heads an organization named the Body Painting Guild that seeks the promulgation of the fine art of body painting.

Joi is an artist whose time has come, whose renown is to be international before the end of 1983. Her manifest destiny is to spearhead the universal acceptance of body painting, and the Naturist press around the world is the perfect medium to start off the campaign.

Joi's group of artists has been practicing their craft and art for years, and they can be watched on Black's Beach most weekends, but mainly during June, July and August, the warm season. Millions of tourists and locals have enjoyed watching the body painting sessions over the years while visiting Black's Beach.

Naturist tourists will also like to visit Swallows nudist club in El Cajon, a town adjacent to San Diego. A pool, volleyball court, restaurant, and all the other amenities of nudist country club, as well as the security of checked admission, is a powerful draw card.

Naturists/nudists, when travelling as tourists, usually like to combine tourism with nude sunbathing. Many locations around the nation and the world offer only one or the other attraction. San Diego combines the best of both worlds, like some places in Florida.

For our naturist/nudist tourists, however, the main attraction of San Diego remains the uniquely famous Black's Beach, the sole beach in North America which was legally declared nude, if only for a rather brief period. A reactionary board of supervisors later rescinded the Nude status of the beach, and law officers for a while tried to enforce dressed bathing. Enforcement was a flop, and thousands now flock to the beach on sunny weekends, most bathers bare as radishes. The cops have given up. Nudity wins.

It was only natural that fine artists with a flair for the palette, would discover a natural medium for their art while on a nude beach. Tattoo artists have been recognized around the world for centuries, if mainly among sailors. A movie with Rod Steiger, "The Illustrated Man", has won great acclaim. This century has seen many ladies getting small tattoos on the thighs, the breasts, the pubic area, or in other inconspicuous locations. There is still a social stigma attached to having permanent marks-however artistic-engraved on the epidermis, especially for ladies.

Since the Pharaohs' days, women have enjoyed painting themselves, for general adornment, for mystique, for prestige, and to boost their sex appeal. The famous sex pot Cleopatra, leader of an empire, goddess in her own right, divine and irresistible to most men of the era, painted her face boldly and strikingly. the combined image of natural beauty and fancy artwork was simply stunning.

The fine artists on the nude beach make evanescent music and evanescent paintings. The body painting artists paint the face, as done women and make-up artists, but not merely for the purpose of feature enhancement. The primary aim is basic artistic expression, like painters using canvasses, walls, or any other surface for their art form. Body painters concentrate of the torso, with only occasional use of other areas. Irrespectively, the human canvas as a medium for evanescent art is becoming increasingly recognized.

Prudish attitudes, even among nudists, have prevented body painting from coming into its own right till only a few years back. This photo journalist experienced virulent criticism when, at a nudist club in Ontario in 1967, he photographed a group of nudist kids for whom he had prior releases, while they had fun body painting each other with water colours. Of course, the adult nudists in question were particularly prudish, since similar body painting sessions had already been successfully and joyfully undertaken, and photographed, at that period of time.

Sixteen years hence, we rarely encounter such antiquated attitudes any longer, and body painting sessions frequently are featured during nudist conventions or festivals, if only among kids and teenagers. Only few good body painting artists exist, like in any artistic field of endeavour. Therefore most naturists/nudists look upon body painting as only another game, another form of having fun while nude, a people's art form which, because it is indulged in by many individuals lacking skill or talent, is somewhat disdained or ignored.

That is too bad, because some very talented artists do exist among body painters. The human canvas is their medium; exercising their skill they create semi-evanescent artistic expressions which last for a few hours or less, but which are no less master pieces of their particular field.

As of 1983, it is up to the naturist publications to begin featuring this art form. Naturist art is a natural to show up in naturist magazines; or shall we leave the field to Playboy? That would be a disgrace.

Personally I greatly enjoy naturism depicted true, frank and not air brushed. Some "models" wholesome naturist all, with the normal auxiliary arm pit hair growing same as the hair on their head, eyebrows, eye lashes, vaginal pubic area and elsewhere must be highly disappointed and embarrassed to be moulded into something other than the human female she is in reality. We rightfully glorify the female body as there is no living organism other than the male human body which is equally beautiful. The other half as the saying goes.

Nothing truer under your New Zealand sun. To shave under arms indicates a loss of femininity, a diminution of an inherent feminism. To shave arm pits is an attempt to bury feminism, a misplaced attempt to be more desirable sexually when the development of the perfectly made human species cannot be improved upon as the male is instinctively drawn to the female for mating purposes by sight, sound, taste, smell and feel for procreative continuation of the human species, with a mind and thinking power to develop and improve psycho-sexually, socio-politically and environmental atmosphere in which every living organism survives. Females should not be ashamed of their bodies as admitted by the act of shaving underarms, an ill conceived habit fostered and promoted by some individuals empowered with money to promote their products for profit to the detriment of their fellow human beings psyche. Let's not bury sex by the misconception of changing the appearance of the genuine female.

A false image of WOMAN is created by the commercialised world of manufacturers advertising in women's magazines, on TV, radio and newspapers with able writers, all interwoven in the commercial world, depressing women and their image of themselves. Being moulded by outside influences into the forever young, nubile, false sex symbol. When a woman loses her identity, how, when and where can she have fulfillment of reality, dreams and ideas of mind and spirit? According to most all thought molding pressures of today many women lack a sense of personal spirituality being only interested in permitting themselves to be formed into an image, a false standard, replacing the now perfect body with one which is supposed to be more perfect.

Nature has evolved hair on the body for protection against injury, as cushion and coverage of tender genitals as well as the sexually stimulating odour of the clean body, body cleanliness now days being achieved by the generous use of soap and water without false cover-ups of artificial sickening deodorants and application of various cosmetics. Will the five senses of human existence be eliminated, sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste in the centuries to come? Physiologists, psychiatrists and social scientists think not. So why not be honest with ourselves by striving to become and remain the healthy person in body, mind and spirit nature intended. Men are drawn to women as much for their feminine spirit, charm and character as well as their wholesome bodies.

Clothing and cosmetic advertisers sell women in magazines, especially women's mags, how to make their bodies a thing of physical beauty. By telling women that they are lacking in physical beauty, thus brain washing them into believing that THEY ARE inferior, lack charm, and that they can become adorable, loving and to loved, man catchers. It's sad but true that about 90% of all women permit themselves to be duped into believing themselves to be inferior to other women who are more successful in marriage, in business and in other social strata, because the other women are more beautiful physically.

Your touch up artists must identify with such advertisers illustration of product artists, rather than with being a naturist first and an artist second - You the artists are not selling cosmetics nor artificiality but rather You the artists are selling NATURISM. A lovely beautiful young female body lolling on the sand with up raised arm over her flowing silken tresses displaying the bald underarm look is not naturism but only the miss-applied out-of-place sell of cosmetics.

Women's fear of losing their femininity has forced some females to extreme measures in the fond hope of being more physically beautiful thus skirting or covering up their feelings of inadequacy in relating to the opposite male sex. Thus the shaving of the underarms came into vogue principally with the aid of cosmetic manufacturers of course who are in business because of the profit motive.

There is a growing divergence between the body as enhanced by the specialists as made over and human reality, which is not beneficial to a good sell image by which the happy well adjusted female woman lives. Why do these genuine female women require such insistent false glamorisation as the pictorial representation in magazines such as Naturist Magazines? The advertising of cosmetics moulds women's minds and in the process makes stuffed dolls out of women who are not supposed to have minds of their own. The making over of the female body is treating her as a mindless woman and not as an independent person which she should be in this world, an equal to the man - she having desires, ideas and fulfillment the very same as her male counterpart.

To be less masculine as desired by women is indicated by their shaving of arm pit hair. Strive to be more feminine by personal development of personality and enhance total self image, one that is outgoing, positive and sure in one's personal goals and achievements. Strive to develop one's feminism rather than attempt to be different by altering physical appearances that would be incongruous with normal human body as designed by evolution. Whether one believes in Creation or in Evolution of man, human hair is here to stay as long as man is upon this earth. Hair is esthetically beautiful where placed on the body and the body is rendered ugly from where it is removed such as stringy underarms on thin women.

CANTERBURY SUN CLUB INC.
I.N.F. Conference 1986

At the Annual General Meeting for 1983, the members of the Canterbury Sun Club Inc. resolved that the Club apply for the privilege of hosting the proposed I.N.F. Conference 1986.

This article is "naked" soliciting of support for Canterbury to host the proposed conference at Pineglades.

Naturists who have had the opportunity to visit Pineglades will agree that superior facilities are available to visiting delegates, along with ease of travel to other centres.

Pineglades is in close proximity to major road, rail and airport facilities and just 24km from Christchurch City.

It is proposed to offer some cabin accommodation and/or powered caravans to overseas delegates, there will be adequate powered caravan sites for N.Z. delegates and observers. Alternative accommodation, if desired, could be arranged in Christchurch City or in member's own homes.

The Canterbury Sun Club's delegate to the N.Z.N.F. will be presenting a formal application to the Federation to host the conference in the "Mainland," and support for this application from delegates would be appreciated.

This great naturist centre you will find in the Haute Provence.

At the gate someone will check you in and soon you will be able to park your caravan or tent, for those who have neither of these, you can rent a bungalow, or a room at the hotel, if both are full they may have a place for you at the dormitory, of course July and August are the busiest months of the year.

There are places for 200 tents, 60 caravans, they have 11 rooms, 20 beds and 28 bungalows. About the grounds you will find a large swimming pool, some equipment for the tiny ones and a good assorted shop where you can buy fresh bread each morning along with other necessities.

The views are spectacular as we had put our tent in such a way overlooking the valley and mountains on 2 sides.

Be sure to meet Penelope and Nanon, 2 donkeys who will take you into the valley, of course you can also walk quite a distance through the valley, crossing the creek, climbing up the other mountain.

The food at the restaurant is good and normal prices. Showers and toilets throughout the grounds are very clean compared to most french toilets.

The grounds itself are divided into terraces, so you can pick your own side and level, high or low, sun or shade.

The surrounding area has a lot to offer, your nearest town is Buis-Les Baronnies, having several good shops.

Another interesting town to visit is Vaison-La-Romaine also known for its music festival during the month of July, and the villages of St. Jalle, and Brantes, through the deserted streets where most elderly people still live. Here one feels the breath of history pour itself over the visitor, every stone you touch seems to give a certain feeling, take the village church of St. Jalle, it dates back to the 12th century and is being restored at the moment. When we entered the village the bells started to peal and Mona I wondered if they did that every time when tourists were spotted in the village, as upon entering the church a big sign asks the tourist to put some money in the altar block for the restoration of the church as the local people cannot pay for it all, its a point of rest and prayer in such a beautiful area. We also came across a hermit in another chapel who was preparing communion, a monk of few words we heard in the village PITZERIA, he hardly speaks to the villagers they told us, a strange man indeed. Be sure to visit the pizzeria near the municipal camping of St. Jalle, you are treated like a king, the rest you will see for yourself.

During our stay in this area we noticed that quite often at about 16:00 hours we would get a thunderstorm, due to lack of wind and several mountains it happens more than once or twice that you will get such a storm 2 or 3 times, as it just doesn't get over the mountains, but the next morning you will have blue skies again. I must not forget to mention that when a storm approaches you will hear some loud explosions, those are caused by local farmers to disperse the clouds, as they don't want any rain during the period of lime-tree-blossom time, as in July people come from all over the world to buy this product.

What we also enjoyed everywhere and it makes a nice picture indeed, the broom which is blooming everywhere in June, the bright yellow flowers against a sharp blue sky gives a certain effect.

One negative point I must make about the PA system, during the height of the season many people are called up to the office, and it comes over much too loud over the many loudspeakers throughout the ground, the volume could be a little lower to my feeling.

If you like a quiet holiday come early June when all the broom are in bloom and a sweet smell fills the air, when you come in July or august the place is very lively with hundreds of naturists from England, Belgium, Holland, Germany and of course the natives not to forget.

"La Romegas" a place every naturist much visit once at least of a lifetime, that is if you like nature and relaxation. I call it an earthly paradise.

N.Z.N.F.
ANNUAL PRIZES

This year the Annual Prizes for Best Article and Best Family Photo published in the Naturist during 1983 have been doubled by a generous donation from the Australian Nudist Federation.

Three judges will be appointed by the N.Z.N.F. to select the winners and be announced at the N.Z.N.F. Rally.

Wow - a nudist...!

New Zealand and Australian
Club News

ROTORUA SUN CLUB.

Hi there, once again from those of us in the centre of the North Island.

Yes we are still alive and going strong with strength increasing.

A few members had doubts as to the continuing support of our members - but I'm glad to report these were dispelled at our last gathering. The club spirit is fantastic - the majority of members travel for anything from an hour upwards.

An enjoyable time was had by all at our first ever social & AGM that was held in our new clubrooms. The number of tents and caravans etc. was amazing for this time of the year. The club rooms had their first use as sleeping accommodation - very comfortable and warm according to the occupants.

We are looking forward to the new season - perhaps an even better one than last year. We also hope that even more of you from other clubs will favour us with your presence - especially now we have a few more facilities to offer.

Here's to a great season ahead with perhaps a little more sunshine.

NORTH SHORE SUN CLUB.

At North Shore Sun Club we celebrate our 10th anniversary this October; looking back through photo albums we can see what a long way the club has come in just 10 years. And perhaps appreciate what very hard workers our foundation members must have been.

The club was founded in October 1973, so we are taking Labour Weekend 1983 for celebration culminating in a grand reunion and Champagne Brunch.

We are also looking forward to what has got to be along hot summer - surely we are due for that? And if you should be in Auckland over the New Year join us at Kirikau for another classic Spit Roast, on January 2nd 1984. The last two have been occasions to remember, with perfect weather and great company.

NATURI CLUB, N.S.W.

Excellent progress has been made in the laying of the paving bricks in our pavilion. Many thanks to Ivor, our enthusiastic tradesman. We now have a wonderful club in a fantastic setting. It is good to see our sports courts such as Miniten and Badminton being well patronised, which shows that these courts cater for the energetic members.

The heated roomy clubhouse has been very popular during the wintry days, the wood burning large open fireplace has been a boom and Saturday evenings have been a good time for us to get together and put forward our ideas for discussion in an informal and pleasant atmosphere. Also enjoyed are the friendly games of table tennis, pool and darts, passing the evenings away most happily.

It is so good to see so many enjoying themselves at the club either just lazing around on the well kept lawn or playing Petanque (Lawn Bowls, quoits, or Miniten. It is a great life, o if you haven't tried it lately, do come and join us. Spring is here and summer not far away. Our wood burning Sauna has proved immensely popular during the cooler days and I have been told the Goannas have been about, another sign of summer. The crystal clear pool is being patronised too, but not without a few "Oohs!" and "Ahs!!" not mentioning names, but I have seen a few members getting out quicker than they dived in, yet others have stayed in for a lengthy time, enjoying themselves.

While many members become involved in the running of the club, and the various duties that go with it, simply because they enjoy that involvement, it is important to reflect every now and again what makes our nudist club different from any other sort of club. There is a lot to enjoy about being a member of "Naturi"!

The club area is part of a 70 acres estate, high natural trees and scrub land surround the property, which is located only a 30 minutes drive away from Gosford or Hornsby. All sincere enquiries will receive prompt attention. Don't delay, write to the Secretary, Naturi, Box 11 Berowra. 2081. and enclose a S.A.E. for a reply.

SOUTHLAND SUN CLUB.

Hi there, greetings and salutations from the southern most Sun Club, or the last club before the big ice. Contrary to the beliefs of most people we play more sports than the most popular two down this part of the country, rain-shower dodging and stripping or the sun. (Both these sports are played at lightning speed). We also indulge in the usual, miniten, volley ball, Frisbees, the occasional game of cricket, (when rain doesn't stop play) and... wait for it... swimming. Yes, we have just opened our swimming pool; christened by the youngest member Kim, (6mths) and a founder member Doreen (over 30). We had a large gathering of people from our club and some members of the Orchard Club in Dunedin travelled down to brave the icy waters for the first time. We are very proud of this pool. We built it ourselves and we all sit around it looking at what a good job we did. (Too cold to swim in it).

Our heartfelt thanks to all those people who picked our club to be the recipient of the trophy for the most progressive club.

This is a very treasured item in the short life of our club and will always be remembered by us.

Two nights we will long remember this year, the vice-versa do, won by Steve (beard and all) for the Males (Females?) and Bev she made a very dashing hit man.

Then the progressive dinner, when a great time was had by a very large number of people. Some great food as well.

In case anybody is thinking of travelling down this way our grounds are about fifty kilometres on the Winton side of Invercargill, between the Aparima, Oreti, and Wiau rivers and as our late nights suppers have confirmed, the trout fishing is excellent. See you all soon. 

AUCKLAND OUTDOOR HEALTH CLUB.

We await with anticipation as the summer holiday season draws near.

In fact, something similar to the one experienced in the Northern Hemisphere would be welcomed by all especially after last years fickle conditions.

For a property the size of "Oranui" constant maintenance is required to keep the place in tip top condition. In recent months we have felled some old pines, sold firewood, removed the pool filtration tanks and have undertaken a major development of our top paddock for further caravan sites which will include another toilet block. Back in August a special general meeting was convened to give members an opportunity to express their ideas on future development of the grounds and facilities over the next few years. A lively discussion that followed brought forward suggestions on establishing a Bar licence, Sauna & Hot Tub, a mini golf course, a bunk house and possible extensions to our clubrooms.

It may seem ambitious by some but these proposals are a guideline for members to pursue in the future. Our social scene has come alive again with N.Y.C. hosting a Labour Weekend function. An excellent evening can be assured for those who attend. Another pleasant occasion was a presentation by our President of a certificate to a couple for 25 years membership of the club.

Our grounds were revisited once again by the "Akarana Caravan Club" members for a weekend stay.

This was followed a little later on by the "Rangitoto Caravan Club". Both groups had an enjoyable time and are keen to return next year.

A Merry Xmas & Seasons Greetings to all.

CANTERBURY SUN CLUB INC.

Another busy year.

After the completion of the Spa Pool & building, we proceeded straight on with the fitting out of the Sauna room which now gives us a fantastic facility. This encourages a lot of members to use the grounds more in winter, with a few crazy ones to be seen dashing between the Sauna & Spa and then into the freezing cold swimming pool (quiet invigorating, I've been told).

After the completion of the complex we arranged with the Christchurch Star, contractors involved & local businesses to support us in a two page Newspaper feature with an additional full page in the Saturday Sports paper. It was great publicity for us & we received a lot of enquiries regarding membership. We had a record increase in membership last year, of 60 people.

Presently we are in the process of upgrading toilets, showers & kitchen facilities and putting in more power points in the north end of the grounds.

After all these major projects we will be settling back & enjoying a summer of relaxation at Pineglades.

WANGANUI SUN CLUB INC.

A DAY WITH WANGANUI

Wanganui invites you to visit them for a day of relaxation and a chance to wind-down after the Rally.

(NO FROGS)

The Club Grounds are nestled in the hills approx 20kms north of Wanganui on State Highway 4... about an hour's drive from the rally, with ample off-road parking.

Swimming, Miniten, Volley Ball, Teniquoits, or just plain relaxation.

SPECIAL HANGI LUNCH PROVIDED.

Plan to spend Tuesday January 3rd with Wanganui. Full details will be posted on the Rally notice board.

PARADISE SUNSEEKERS

Paradise Sunseekers have moved to their new grounds. This is an ideal and picturesque spot on the shores of one of Rotorua's famous lakes bounded by forest trees with the added advantage of a thermal spring. It is not our intention to over-develop this area as nature has provided virtually all the essential elements to make this spot perfect in itself. Such a situation must surely be almost unique in naturism in New Zealand.

A membership drive is underway and already shows that the people of Rotorua are keen to support us.

We extend our best wishes to all other clubs, and look forward to making your acquaintance at the Rally.

SOUTH AUCKLAND NUDIST CLUB INC.

A further episode in the continuing saga of our ablution block. The electrician together with the local power board have been working energetically in installing the maze of wire, power points, switches, and lights that are needed to make our new building provide the functions expected.

A new three phase cable has been installed to allow for caravan powered sites and reliable power for our pool pump. Along with the installation of the power cable went a telephone cable for the public phone to be installed on the ground at a later date.

Unfortunately an over enthusiastic member on a runaway tractor stopped it by dropping the blade through the cable. Not to worry. We're looking forward enthusiastically to a hot summer and seeing you all at Palmerston North.

SUNSEEKERS INC.

Sunseekers is the oldest of two West Australian clubs, having this year celebrated our 21st birthday. We have well appointed grounds in the hills (aren't all clubs in the hills?) east of Perth and share our peaceful setting with numerous forms of wildlife, including various species of native birds, kangaroos, semi-tame possums, bandicoots and on occasion, peafowl from a neighbouring property.

Like most other clubs we boast a large in-ground pool and facilities for volleyball, badminton, tennis, badminton, petanque and a putt-putt course.

Whilst things have been a little slow during the colder months we have not been stagnant, with our duplex caretaker's residence and a sauna both nearing completion and work proceeding on various members' chalets, so that by the time the warmer weather gets here our contingent of summer nudists may find things have changed.

Meanwhile the clubhouse has been extensively used by the members for impromptu and organised socials, for the most these have been very enjoyable evenings.

Anyway enough of us for now, we look forward to reading you club notes in future issues and hope you may get the same pleasure from hearing our little snippets of news.

To all, a MERRY SUNSEEKER'S CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NUDE YEAR.

HAWKES BAY SUN CLUB.

Spring has arrived, the flowers are flowering, the trees are growing, the workers are working and the grounds are looking good.

In fact it has been said by some of the older members, "The grounds are looking better than ever."

Our long weather forecast is that we are in for another long dry summer, but the effects of our last one are still being felt. Our grounds are very green now, but fears are held that they will dry earlier this year. A fire ban will occur and along go our bar-b-cues.

As the National Rally is to be held by one of our closest neighbours, the bush telegraph reports that many H.B. members will attend this year's venue.

The club has the use of a Sauna Parlour & Spa pool twice a month. This has been very popular during the winter months.

NEW ZEALAND CLUB DIRECTORY

The secretaries of these clubs will be pleased to hear from genuine inquirers. Please enclose return postage.

new zealand

naturist

incorporating australian nudist news

No. 107 December 1983

The New Zealand Naturist is the Official Journal published quarterly by the New Zealand Nudist' Federation Inc. Registered at the Chief Post Office Wellington as a magazine.

Editor:

Graeme Brown

Typesetting and Artwork by:

Ad Service, P.O. Box 22271, Otahuhu

Printed by:

Howick Press Ltd.

P.O. Box 38-065.

Howick.

Distributed by:

Gordon and Gotch (NZ) Ltd

(Top)

AUSTRALIAN NUDIST CLUB DIRECTORY

This magazine is protected by copyright, no part of it may be reproduced. stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photographic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the editor.

In our desire to present different points of view we publish articles and letters which do not necessarily represent the opinion of the editor.

All correspondence should be addressed to:

P.O. Box 2925,
AUCKLAND.
NEW ZEALAND

General inquiries concerning nudism in New Zealand, or overseas, should be addressed to the:-

New Zealand
Nudist Federation Incorporated
P.O. Box 391. GISBORNE.
NEW ZEALAND

Applications for membership of clubs should be made direct to the club secretary (See Club Directory)

PHOTO CREDITS

Leif Heilberg

   Front Cover, I.F.C., P4, P7, P9,
   Centre Spread, P12, P15, I.B.C.

Doug Cousins

   P16, P19

STATE ASSOCIATIONS:

Nudist Association of
Victoria,*

15 Cuthbertson St.
Broadmeadows 3047

Nudist Association
  of Queensland,*

P.O. Box 101,
Woodridge QId 4114.

NOTE: The clubs marked with an asterisk (*) above are affiliated with the Australian Nudist Federation.

DEADLINES FOR COPY

108 March 1984 - 30th January 1984

109 June 1984 - 20th April 1984

110 September 1984 - 15th July 1984

111 December 1984 - 1st Oct 1984