For those who are regulars at the Confab Clothing Optional swim nights, usually held in Collingwood, an alternate trial venue has been proposed and Confab want to gauge interest!!

From the email sent to the Melbourne forum:

Hi all,

Some exciting news to pass on from the Confab team…

We have been looking at numerous venues that could host clothing optional events and have secured the use of one venue as an alternative trial.

This venue is in Castlemaine.

Before going ahead with the Castlemaine venue we need to know who would be interested in attending – basically we need to know approximate numbers to see if it is viable.

It will be a 3pm start and finishing at 6.30pm on Sunday 6th June.

Castlemaine is 120km from CBD, mostly Calder freeway, driving time approx 1.5 – 2hrs.

For those who want to use public transport, a train leaves from Southern Cross at 1:35pm arriving at 2:55pm and departs Castlemaine at 6:45 arriving Southern Cross at 8:30pm, return cost $33.40 or $16.40 conc (includes metropolitan zone 1& 2 travel if pre purchased (see v/line for more info.). Trains leave approx every hour. The venue is a 5 minute walk from the train station.

You can contact us by email at 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ] with requests for car pooling.

We would like the cost of entry not to exceed $10.00 person.

The facility is a quaint older building and includes an indoor heated swimming pool, small spa (not much warmer than the pool), Dry Sauna, an area for massage tables and refreshment tables, Cardiovasular exercise machines, and male / female showers.

If everyone attending could bring something for Afternoon Tea, it would be greatly appreciated.

Please let us know if could be attending, whether it be a yes, no or maybe, by 27 May. If we do not get enough positive responses, to cover the cost of the hire, the event will be canceled. Please respond to 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

Please also remember that ConFab is run completely by volunteers, is not for profit, and all are welcome. – please help spread the word.

We will confirm the event on the 29th May via email to those who have made contact with us at 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

If you are able to get there, and are interested in attending, send the organisers an email ASAP!!

This case has been pottering around for quite a while now, and many nudists in Australia may not even be aware of it. The situation is simple, but the ramifications are complex!! Basically, a 13yo boy and his 11yo brother were uncomfortable at home around their nudist mother and step-father, and mentioned it to the biological father. The father called police, and then the interesting ramifications came to light!!

As mentioned in this article and others:

The questions raised – whether parents have a right to practice nudism in their own home; whether children need to be protected from it; whether law enforcement can seek to stop it – put a new twist on a long-standing issue.

We’re not going to do any detailed analysis on this one, it is a US case that has some interesting implications here in Australia. Everyone will have a different opinion on this anyway, and the law does not appear to be clear (and it’s often different between states, and countries). Our only observation was that the children had expressed their discomfort to their parents, who perhaps should have acted on that knowledge more pro-actively than they did. We almost certainly don’t know all the facts, but there’s no doubt that nudism in the family home is a tricky one, particularly with children involved – not because there’s anything wrong with simple nudism and children, but because children must have an environment where they feel comfortable – so their needs automatically win, don’t they?

Came across this great article covering great places to be nude around Australia! It appears to be written by a Brit, given the reference to pebbly beaches and cold winds, but we did like this particular snippet:

And if you think that nudism is reserved only for beautiful people, think again! Nudist beaches have all sorts of body shape and age, from the very young to the very old. It is an unwritten rule of naturism that staring is not allowed, so you needn’t worry about being leered at. Photography is also not allowed and you’ll find a sense of community here that is hard to find elsewhere.

Check the article out, well worth the read!