Litha 1997 Newsletter Editorial

I'd firstly like to extend a welcome to our new members and hope that you will find community and help on your path through being a member of the Alliance. If I can be of any help, please don't hesitate to call or drop me a line. I can also be reached through the e-mail at the following address: pa_nsw@hotmail.com

The "independence" of our state is going well, and I am now handling a lot more requests for information, membership renewals and new member information. 1998 will see us hold a stall or two during the year, to raise awareness, members and funds for the NSW region. We will also be putting together a Pagan Alliance T-shirt which will be available early next year. This is all now possible, because I've spent the last couple of months setting up the admin structure, and coming to terms with just what is required of this role.

Enough of the admin, what's been happening in my backyard? Well I am so happy to announce that we have a couple of kookaburras living in a tree near to us, and I am delighted everytime I hear their calling. There is a baby one, who hasn't quite got the laugh down pat yet, but give him time and I'm sure he will. There are quite a few kurrajongs eating the newly hatched cicadas in our yard, and in the area. I have a feeling this will be a great year for cicadas, there's nothing quite like them to let you know that it's summer. The local jacaranda trees are in flower, and I know that Grafton recently held it's jacaranda festival to celebrate the arrival of the beautiful purple flowers. We have a number of bats visiting our apricot tree each night to feast on the newly ripened apricots. We let the bats eat the apricots and those apricots that fall to the ground, are put into the compost. As it sit to write this, the days are hotting up and I suspect that summer this year will be hot, hot, hot! I look forward to the Boxing Day Test Match, as this is one of the ways I mark my seasons. I know it must be the middle of summer if I allow myself the indulgence of five days in front of the cricket. This is how I connect with my child within, dreaming of past cricket matches played and acting like a child when Australia lose a wicket. There are some more shared experiences of connecting with the child within, later ir this newsletter, and I send a special thanks, to Kate, Colin and Maria for their contributions. We recently went fishing in Rozelle Bay, and were delighted to see thai the oysters and mussels are starting to make a come back in the harbour. They are some of the first species to die out at the detection of pollution in the water. Whilst there is still a lot of pollution around, there must be an inkling that it's getting a bit healthier, otherwise we wouldn't have beer lucky enough to see them. If we just keep cleaning up the harbour and be aware of what we are putting in the water, there might be some hope left for our waterways. This is another way of connecting with the child, by playing in the mud and coming home smelly and covered in dirt! Enough about my backyard, what's been happening in your yard, or on your balcony?