[Pil-pc-oceania] APC9 Dress Code and All

[Janet Millington]

Hi Permies,
Back from APC9 in Sydney and what a lovely time was had by all.
Permaculture North did an excellent job keeping us in the lap of permie
luxury....a natural setting, organic food and plenty of it, wonderful
meeting places, a flexible framework that kept everyone happy, the most
exceptional of speakers and outcomes for the movement to use as tools for
the future.

The 30 year birthday was the most special time with so much love and
healing....it was just amazing.

And no Steve Hart which was a pity as I was so excited to see if he was
going to go for the tux or the tartan.  And no sense of a corporate affair
either.  Just a group of 80 humble people providing a comfortable space for
400 people to connect and learn and become re-energised for the next two
years.

I think too that for the man who has given us so much it was a fitting way
for him to say goodbye to his mates and to actually see the people and the
projects he influenced.  Bill was in top form and for someone who had had a
stroke  just days before he was simply amazing in the way he was able to
move around and speak and there was good colour and life in his face.  He
and Vries were clearly the elders and were shown love and respect which was
met with humility and grace.  I don't know how Permaculture North did it but
I think the intent and the integrity of the individuals and the group that
worked so hard must have created a space where all things could happen as
they should.  There was a sense of putting things right, getting things
right and moving on together.

I think perhaps that there is much more for us to do coming maybe sooner
than we thought, and more need for us to be whole and functioning at our
best in the near future.

Although tired today, I go forward with renewed vitality.
Oh yes and the dress....everyone was just perfect and I saved a special
rainbow number for the convergence.  After bending to arrange input cards I
realized that those behind  me must have been dazzled by the very wide arc
of my rear....rainbow.  We had a giggle and then continued with the design
of the possibilities for our future actions as a national body.  The sublime
and the ridiculous, the laughter and the tears, the activity and the sitting
still the listening and the speaking.....it was just wonderful and so glad I
could get there.  We will have to work on ways to ensure we can include more
of our number next time.
Love to everyone,
Janet