Solar West NLG Inc.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
As of July 2007, we now have a new domain name and website at solarwest.org.au. This website is hand-coded in HTML, and was maintained by one person, so updates were often slow to appear. The new site uses Joomla, which is a powerful Content Management System and this will allow easy updating of information by multiple authors, easing the pressure of maintaining this site. The new site features multiple content levels visible to the public, registered users and members respectively. Members are also able to create content. This site is no longer being maintained, and is retained purely for historical reasons, and because it continues to receive thousands of visitors each month. Please update your bookmarks.
We now have a public Google Calendar set up for all Melbourne Swim Nights, which should go a long way to resolving confusion over dates. Over time, expect this calendar to flesh out with more and detailed events.
The following links allow you to integrate this calendar into your own iCal or XML calendar applications.
Our Masseur is wishing to take some time off, and has asked that we find someone else to share the workload with him. Therefore, we are inviting suitably qualified persons to offer their services. Please email solarwest@optusnet.com.au to discuss this if you or someone you know can be of assistance. Please note that our masseurs need to be club members and meet normal membership requirements.
If you have joined recently and have not seen any emails from the members-only 9cays Discussion List, please ensure that you are properly registered and subscribed to the list, or email us with your correct details so you may be added.
After selling out of the Large size of Backless Briefs and being left with only the waif-thin-supermodel sizes, we have successfully managed to exchange all our unsold pairs with another distributor for more of the Large (IE: Real-Women) ones. And as a bonus, we even got some Lace briefs at no extra cost! Price is still $12, cheaper than RRP, and no extra charge for lace, but be quick. Hopefully now we can sell enough to recover our costs.
Attendances continue to be lower than we need to pay for the pool. We seem to be averaging $100 loss per night, and are forced to use membership subscriptions to cover the shortfall. While we hate to labour the point, the club cannot survive, let alone reduce fees as we want to do, if we continue to lose money every swim night.
Imagine our surprise when we turned up last swim night to find the pool fenced off in blue plastic. Seems every pool in town has been taken over by teams competing in the latest international disruption our event-mad government's snared to make our lives a misery. Anyway, can't have the Lower Mongolians checking out your secret moves, so up went the security screens. Thank heavens it was Lithuania or some equally top-ranking mob using our pool. If it had been the aussies or yanks there would have been armed guards and razor wire and we'd still be going through the ASIO security checks just to get near the building.
Our social outings this summer have included several weekend camping trips to "Wattle Gully" in West Gipplsand (another one coming up over Easter) and the Australia Day protest day at Point Impossible, followed by a visit to Corio Valley Nudist Club (Corio) for a fun (if somewhat chilly) Australia Day weekend, BBQ and Dance. We hope to conduct further outings throughoout the year, and welcome any suggestions.
Here are a few photos from the first Wattle Gully trip:
The Xmas Party on Nov 25th was a huge success. Santa put in an appearance and distributed gifts to all the children, and once again, everyone attending received a free Gingerbread Nude. After the huge response last year, we decided to bake extra, and these were sold off at the end of the night for $1 each (a real bargain price!). Combined with the raffle, this helped us cover recent shortfalls, and the club is once again on an even keel.
The ANF have drafted a letter to the Victorian Planning Minister for distribution to all concerned nudists. Please download the
We have received a reply from the Dept. of Sustainability and Environment, basically acknowledging our letter to the Planning Minister regarding the Torquay nude beaches. However the following paragraph is of concern:
"In addition to the request from the Surf Coast Shire Council, the Minister has also received requests from the Mornington Peninsula Shire and Wyndham City Councils requesting a revocation of the prescribed area status or highlighting the need for a review of the existing prescribed areas in their municipalities."
What this means is that ALL Victorian nude beaches are under threat simultaneously, in what appears to be a coordinated attack!
As the department is currently preparing advice to the Minister on what action, if any, he should take, now would be a very good time for people to put pen to paper and voice opposition to these requests. Failure to do so may mean no more legal nude beaches in this state.
Our 15th Birthday/Poolwarming party was a resounding success. Even though MAC charged us the new, higher rate, they did provide the giant inflatable at no extra charge, and all the kids (and many adults) had a ball trying to get to the end of it without falling off. In the process providing plenty of entertainment for the supporters/hecklers floating around nearby.
A huge thank-you to all who attended. The majority were from ConFab, with visitors also coming from Metro East, Corio Valley and the ACT Nudist Club, and the visitors really helped make the night special. The only disappointment was that over half of our own members chose to stay away. While some had other commitments or were ill, more than a few were scared off by the prospect of single guys being allowed in. It is a real pity that those people weren't there to see for themselves how misplaced their fears and prejudices were. Hopefully they'll wake up one day. Without the visitors, we would have made a $200 loss on the night, so think about that.
Our new home is at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre opposite Highpoint West shopping centre on the south side. Easiest approach from most of Melbourne is along Gordon St, which runs from the Princes Hwy to Highpoint. We officially open at 7pm (although helpers are welcome to turn up a little earlier to lend a hand with preparations) and doors close at 8pm (to give those on the door a chance to get wet as well. If you're running late, ring us on (0421) 28 5005 and let us know so you don't get locked out). Supper is at 9pm and we need to be out, or at least dressed, by 10pm so that window coverings can be taken down. There is a HUGE expanse of glass, and it takes a long time to cover/uncover it all.
For more information, contact us by phone or email.
Issue #3 of the new Australian Sun and Health has arrived. We have plenty of copies available, and will be taking them along to the other swim nights as well.
**NOTE: This is NOT the old Sun & Health.
That magazine is now delayed indefinitely**
WE NEED YOU ALL TO ATTEND REGULARLY!
Naturally, if the finances don't improve, expect to see a price increase in 2007/08.
VicFreeBeaches.doc and either print it out, sign and mail to the minister, or use this as a base for your own letter or email.
Contact details are on our Home Page, linked below: