National Committee

President John Groombridge

(04) 589-5461

Vice PresidentJackie Caldwell

(North Island)          (04) 589 5461

Vice PresidentJoyce Fleming

(South Island)         (03) 322 7990

SecretaryJackie Caldwell 

 

TreasurerJohn Groombridge

(04) 589-5461

Members 

Ian Bushett(04) 237-0193 

Joyce Fleming(03) 322-7990 

Linda Geeves(04) 478-4820 

John Lowe(06) 752-7915 

George North(03) 

Correspondence should be mailed to the official FBG address

LOCAL CONTACTS

Auckland Jan Winn 

(09) 482 0134

Tauranga Ted Lidgard 

(07) 542 2344

Waikato Roger Morris 

(07) 856 8857

Taranaki John Lowe 

(06) 752 7915 

Hawkes Bay Murray Ennor 

(06) 879 6988

Sthn Hawkes Bay Hugh Bowles 

(06) 374 6238

Wellington Meryl Baker 

(04) 528 7010

Linda Geeves

(04) 478 4820

Christchurch Joyce Fleming 

(03) 322 7990

Steve Wilkinson

(03) 325 3316

 

AGM 96

A well attended Annual General Meeting of the FREE BEACH GROUP Inc was held at Rewa Rewa School Hall on Saturday 14 September 1996. The President's Report and Treasurer"s report were presented as published in the September-October newsletter, and adopted by the members present. The Treasurer's recommendation that subscriptions remain at $20 per membership unit was adopted.

The notice of motion to elect Joyce Fleming as a Life Member of the Group was adopted unanimously, and a Certificate to commemorate the appointment was circulated before sending to Joyce, who was unable to be present.

The Wellington Regional AGM followed the National AGM, concluding with tea and cakes.

Following the AGMs members relaxed in a spa at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre, and then a buffet Dinner at the Wellington Manor Inn.

National Committee

The National Committee has appointed Jackie Caldwell as North Island Vice President and Joyce Fleming as South Island Vice President.

The Committee has also decided to make a $200 donation to Rotota Sun Club towards their Recovery Fund which was established to recover from unexpected legal expenses. Rotota Sun Club has made Free Beach Group members very welcome over the past six years or so, especially at Easter and Labour weekends. Many of our members are now also members of Rotota.

Travelling to Northland?

Max Martin writes to say that any members visiting Northland during the coming Summer, are welcome to contact him to join up on one of Northland's wonderful beaches.

Contact Max at:

"The Cottage", "Waipuna Bamboo Nursery", State Highway 1, Pakaraka, RD2, Kaikohe; Ph: 09 405 9614.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions continue to roll in, but there are still some still to come, is yours one of them?

If there is a 96, on your newsletter label, it indicates that we have not received your renewal, else it has arrived since the newsletter labels were processed.

Thank you to those who added a donation with your subscription.

If you have for9otten, please send your $20 without delay, we don t want to lose you, and remember that all those who renew before 30 November go into the draw for the refund of their subscription and one of the new Fred Bear Caps (two caps if the draw is for a couple). If you have misplaced your renewal form, attach the label off your newsletter envelope to your ($20) cheque and mail it to Box 30-099, Lower Hutt.

The Members Directory will be included with the January/February newsletter for all those who have indicated that they wish to be included and who have renewed by 30 November. If you said you did not want to be listed, but have changed your mind, write and tell us.

Sadly, this will be the last newsletter for those who do not renewed by 15 December.

We welcome our new members, and hope you enjoy the events which have been planned for the Summer.

Things are a Changing

On a recent visit to Auckland I visited an old haunt of mine - Long Bay. As the tide was high I decided to take the cliff-top walk to Pohutukawa Bay to enjoy a sunbathe and the views along the way. Behold, at the top of the first part of the track, a well produced and mounted sign:

POHUTUKAWA BAY

only cloth optional

No nudity on walking tracks

or anywhere else.

Auckland Regional Parks

I have been using this glorious part of Auckland's coastline for over 30 years, as have many other sun-lovers, and am heartened to find that at last someone in Auckland has the sense to admit and openly acknowledge that a "Free Beach" exists.

Thank you Auckland Regional Parks.

Ted Lidgard

Auckland Diary

Beach Days

This Summer Auckland Beach Days will be EVERY SUNDAY at our most popular beaches, Orpheus Bay and Pohutukawa Bay. Members, friends and sun club members are invited to join us on these outings.

Swim Nights

Remember to go to the swim nights held by the Hibiscus Coast Sun Club at Palm Springs, Parakai, near Helensville. These swim nights are held on the last Saturday of every month (except December and January) from 6pm to midnight; cost is $8 per adult. Take your own food and drinks, or buy it there.

Spa and Sauna

The Auckland Sun Club invites visitors to their Spa and Sauna Evenings, held every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm; cost $2-50 per person. Take your towel and your FBG Membership Card please. For more information phone (09) 814 9973.

Orpheus Bay

Travelling from the North Shore, go south over the Harbour Badge and take the Cook Street exit. At the top of Union Street turn right into the North-West Motorway. Coming from South Auckland, go up the motorway and turn off at the sign to Helensville. Go along the North-West Motorway and exit at Waterview. On Great North Road veer right at the second set of lights and again at the fourth set of lights into Ash Street. Drive past the racecourse and at the seventh set of lights continue straight across onto Titirangi Road. At the top of the hill drive through the shopping centre then at the roundabout take the second road on your left (Scenic Drive); go 1 Km then veer left and follow the signs 12 Km to Huia. This is a lovely drive through native bush with glimpses of the Manukau Harbour, very pretty. At the top of the hill above Huia, turn left at the sign to Hula Point Lookout, and park on the grass about 200m from the main road. The Con Bryan Track leads down to the beach from the far left corner of this grassed clearing, about 5 minutes walk to the beach. Time your trip to avoid the high spring tide when the water covers most of the beach.

Pohutukawa Bay

From the city go over the Harbour Budge and up the North Motorway. Just past the sewage ponds turn right into Greville Road, then at the top turn left into East Coast Bays Road. Go 3 Km to the Northcross roundabout, turn right into Carlisle Road, then follow the signs through the Torbay shops and down to the ARC Long Bay Park. Park at the far end of the grounds and walk for 20 - 30 minutes to the second beach. If the tide is in, take the track along the top of the cliffs. There are some shady pohutukawa in the middle of the beach, and good swimming at all tides. On the way home, be careful to take the first turn right at the end of the Torbay shops (Deep Creek Road), or you'll end up at Waiake Beach. Pohutukawa Bay has a sign indicating that nudity is OK on the beach, but not on the walking tracks.

Naked Painter

The Evening Post of 12 October 1996 reports that a nude painter raised the hackles of a neighbour by painting his house while naked. The neighbour said the man persisted in working in the nude, and described the practice as disgusting. "It's not hot - it is a little chilly for this type of action," he said.

The neighbour had complained to the police but was told that little could be done. Senior Sergeant Nimo Ponifasio of Whangarei confirmed that police could take no action as the man was not in public. "We confirmed that he was not in public view - he's around the back of the house apparently. If someone pokes their head over the hedge and sees him naked then they should not be poking their head over hedges."

Fred Bear Shop

An Order form is included with this newsletter listing items available from the Fred Bear Shop.

Two types of towels are listed. The regular towel is suitable for the beach, the luxury model is larger and thicker and is ideal for visits to the spa or sauna.

A baseball style cap with an adjustable back strap will keep the sun out of your eyes, and a nylon wet gear bag will be just the thing to carry your damp towels, or other items.

The latest edition of the beach guide gives directions to all those interesting and remote beaches around the coastline.

Car stickers with the words "Go Natural Go Bare", and bumper stickers with "I'm a bareskin" are guaranteed to attract attention.

All are our official yellow and black and prominently feature Fred Bear.

All items are ex-stock at present, just fill in the pink order form, attach your cheque and send it in time for Summer.

Summer 97

Included with this newsletter are brochures promoting clothes optional holiday resorts. Two are in the Nelson area, the well known Mapua Leisure Park and the new Old MacDonald's Farm near the Abel Tasman National Park. North-west of Tauranga is the new Katikati Naturist Park.

A group of Wellington members will be at Mapua over the period 7 to 20 January 1997. Christchurch members are planning to be at Mapua during the period 5 to 12 February (which includes Waitangi Day). So if you are going to any of these resorts, make sure you display your Fred Bear logos and make new friends.

The NZNF Rally will be at the Auckland Outdoor Health Club from 28 December 1996 to 3 January 1997. The theme of the Rally is Camelot. For further information write to AOHC Rally Secretary, Box 95-235, Swanson.

The Auckland Outdoor Health Club has organised a "Post Rally 2 Day Nude Cruise", Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 January, aboard the vessel MV KEWPIE TOO. The route retraces the old steamer and sailing ship routes from Helensville to Dargaville through the historic Kaipara Harbour. Trip price of $136 includes all meals, one nights accommodation at Dargaville B&B, evening meal at Northern Wairoa Hotel (DRL), Dune bus tour along West Coast Ocean Beach. Organiser is Tony Judson, ph: 09 420 4129; RSVP by 15 November 1996.

FREE BEACH GROUP Ngatuhoa Lodge 97 will be from Saturday 18 to Monday 27 January 1997, don't miss the Greatest Experience on the nudist calendar, see separate article and registration sheet for full details.

There are sure to be FREE BEACH GROUP members at Uretiti Beach (DoC camp ground between Waipu and Whangarei) during January, and daily at Breaker Bay, Wellington. Around Auckland head for Orpheus Bay and Pohutukawa Bay (see Auckland Diary for directions). Christchurch visitors should try Taylor's Mistake beach or Woodend Beach (turn left at beach and look for a Fred Bear flag).

We have also included a brochure from the Cancer Society with suggestions on how to protect yourself from the adverse effects of excessive exposure to the sun's rays. The Group has donated $50 to the Cancer Society.

Enjoy your Summer, and do find time to write and tell us about it.

Ngatuhoa 97

Ngatuhoa 97: from Saturday 18 January to Monday 27 January.

The Free Beach Group Summer social event of the year in an idyllic native bush setting in the Kaimai Ranges. Comfortable lodge with all amenities, great company, and activities to suit everyone from lazing around doing nothing, to volley ball and tramping through the bush to view that magnificent waterfalls. If you have missed previous Ngatuhoa's, you can't afford to miss another!

Those arriving on Saturday 18th are invited by the Ngatuhoa's internationally acclaimed chefs, Bill and Fern, to bring a frozen #8 chicken for a communal barbecue on Sunday evening.

And then on Friday, the famous Bill and Fern team will roast another succulent pork on a spit, so bring a $5 note and some vegetables, wine and deserts to complement your share.

For those with an Olympic desire, Saturday will be your opportunity to participate in a rerun of an ancient Greek nude event, the Ngatuhoa triathlon.

Saturday night is the night of the ever popular fancy (un)dress ball, and the theme this year will be "BODY ADORNMENT".

An information sheet/enrolment form is enclosed with this newsletter. All welcome, bring a friend.

We extend a special welcome to Sun Club members to join us for a unique experience.

For more details, phone Bill and Fern at 09 832 0544 or John at 04 589 0906 (week days), 04 589 5461 (nights/weekends)

Wellington Beach Days

 

Breaker Bay is the popular meeting place for Wellington members, and north Peka Peka Beach for those on the Kapiti coast. Breaker Bay is close to the City and there are nudist there most days, and on Saturdays you might find a barbecue in progress.

Peka Peka on the Kapiti Coast offers a vast expanse of sandy beach suitable for volley ball, cricket, and swimming in warm water (warmer than many other NZ beaches).

The Wellington Calendar features other activities and interesting beaches. If in doubt, contact one of the members listed on the bottom of the Calendar.

Christchurch Activities

From Joyce to Everyone...

Greetings and thanks to FBG friends for your kind messages and the gift of flowers which helped to keep me happy during my recent stay in hospital. No one is indispensable, they say - as re-iterated by Jim Bolger in pre-election "Leaders' debates" - and I hope this is the case in our FBG community and that other people from the South Island will become more active as I am less so.

For starters, Julie Greer has invited us - you, that is - to meet at her home for a get-together and pot-luck barbecue on Saturday 23 November around lunch time. Her address is Flat 6, no.5 Kipling Street, Christchurch (corner of Bealey Ave.) Ph. 377-9510. All are welcome, especially wives/partners as we're aiming to give strength to the group by increasing the number of women and family members.

COMING EVENTS TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR; The South Canterbury Sun Club have generously invited us to join in with some of their activities:- Jan. 18-19: Social weekend March 1-2: "Silly Sports" weekend. Details in next newsletter.

CLOTHES-OPTIONAL GETAWAY AT MAPUA LEISURE PARK. We of the Mainland live in hope of meeting North-Islanders.

We see each others' names in print: when are we going to see you in the flesh? What better place is there for a leisurely holiday together than Mapua? I don't need to spell it out; everyone has heard of Mapua, but I have some brochures if needed. Several of us have already booked tent sites for the period 5-12 February, 1997, which includes Waitangi Day, so why don't you?

One of the virtues of this arrangement is that it requires no organising: people can make their own bookings around these dates but we can help with transport to some extent. Tent sites are available in February without booking: $9.50 per adult per night. A whole range of other accommodation is available (booking advisable) at prices ranging from small cabins @ $15 per night per adult to flash Tourist Flats at $65 per night for 2 persons.

CAMP AT MISTLETOE BAY: This D.O.C. camp in the Marlborough Sounds has been suggested as a possible holiday resort for FBG but we are too late to book for this summer. Steve has recently done a reconnaissance trip to check it out and has come up with a favourable report, so I'll leave it to him to tell us all about it. "Sounds" like a good idea for next year, eh what?

IN THE MEANTIME - see you at Julie's on the 23rd.

Joyce

Tauranga Activities

Ted has arranged a visit to Katikati Naturist Park on Sunday 17 November, from 11am to 6pm. Bring a picnic or BBQ lunch and enjoy the facilities of this new naturist park, including a swimming pool, spa and sauna. Entry is $6 per adult, children under l5yrs free. Refer to map on the Katikati Naturist Park brochure included with this newsletter.

Beach Day, Sunday 1 December: bring your picnic lunch and join Ted. See map for directions, or phone Ted Lidgard for more details at 07 542 2344.