Youth Section AustraliaNewsletter
This initiative meeting was focussed on the question "Why do I do what I do?" There were over 70 participants from Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, The Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Palestine, Lebannon, England and Nepal. Unlike other meetings, we had no keynote speaker to address us each morning. Rather, the speakers were individuals from the meeting, with their own initiatives, who had been pondering the question "Why do I do what I do?"
We heard from Rose and Reinoud, both working on the Youth Initiative Year in Jarna, Sweden; from Pablo, who is undertaking studies of animals with the Science Section in Dornach; from Natasha, a medical student who is collect information about students interested in studying Anthroposophical medicine; and from Katie, Gosia and John, who were recently involved in organising The Art of the Future conference in Perth, Australia.
The stories we heard from these individuals were as varied as the people themselves. Some were deeply personal and biographical, others focussed more on practical challenges in work and life, and how they have been met. All of the speakers were deeply passionate about what they do, and this was an inspiration to all of us.
Throughout the four days of the meeting, we had the opportunity to break into smaller groups to discuss and learn about each other's initiatives, or to form new ones. This was a wonderful way for us to see the way others are striving to make a difference in the world, and what inspires them to do it. Seeing the passion, enthusiasm and vision that was shown to each idea by the participants, and the joy with which everyone listened to each other was a truly amazing and heart warming experience.
In the evenings, the air was filled with music and poetry, as participants shared their own creative work, be it something they brought, or a spontaneous creation. The Night Cafe completed each day with a warm atmosphere in which both food and laughter were readily available.
I was joined, in Dornach, by fellow Australian YouthSection members, as well as some New Zealand YouthSection Members. We all met up over lunch one day with Elizabeth Wirsching to discuss the future of the YouthSection in Australia and New Zealand. With Gosia, Kate and John going overseas and Rose already working on the Youth Initiaive Program in Sweden, many of our core Australian group are currently out of Australia. Although it seems like the YouthSection in Australia is headed for a year or two of 'breathing in time', New Zealand is blossoming with conferences planned for January next year. It was a valuable check-in meeting for all of us, and a great opportunity for me to meet some of our friends from across the Tasman. We made a committment to work towards a conference and Initiative Meeting in 2010 when Elizabeth will once again be visiting our part of the world.
The week's meeting eventually drew to a close and while some people left, many more were arriving for festival.forum - a conference with a difference. About 200 people came to festival.forum and the conference's theme mirrored the theme of the initiative meeting.
Rather than be a conference with a traditional timetable and 'come and learn' mentality, festival.forum aimed to be a free meeting of individuals who participated in different ways to make up the conference. The timetable (except for the morning talks) was completely free. We were presented each day, with a notice board containing information on all the workshops and events happening that day. Where we went, and wether or not we stayed for the duration of the conference, was entirely up to us. Workshops were many and varied, taking in deep philosophy, economics, personal relationships and practical projects such as building a bench for the YouthSection building. The Art Caravan provided a place for people to participate in craft and artistic activities and to come and go as they pleased.
I participated in only one series of workshops during the conference. This was 'Associative Economics' with Jesse Osmer and Arthur Edwards. We had a group of about 13 people every day who came to hear about a new and exciting way of thinking about economic life. We discussed the way economics works in the world today, as well as how the accounting process itself can actually be a kind of 'active meditation' which can give a picture of both ourselves, and the other and the way we affect the world.
In the afternoons, I spent my time meeting new people, brainstorming about YouthSection projects and enjoying the beatiful weather. This was really the essence of the conference for me: that we were completely free to participate on a level we felt comfortable with. We were also free to branch out and form our own initiatives and workshops during the conference, and this happened on many occasions.
One highlight of my time in Dornach was seeing the Eurythmy Symphony perform in the Great Hall of the Goetheanum. The performance incorporated about 30 eurthymists and began with a performance of Dvorak's 3rd Symphony. In the interval we all went outside to watch a spectacular sunset. As the sun sank and it began to rain, we moved back inside to watch the moving and atmospheric 'Lamentate' by Avo Part. As the lights came up, and the thunder broke outside, a sole erythmist appeared centre stage, flanked by crouched figures hidden behind a gauze curtain. The effect was of mysterious figures emerging out of the fog. It was as though the whole environment around Dornach was involved in what was happening on stage. This was a truly stunning performance and something I'll always remember as a treasured experience from my time in Dornach.
I would like to express my thanks to the Society, The International YouthSection (particularly Elizabeth Wirsching and Rose Nekvapil) and the Ruth Ainsworth bequest for helping to make my presence at the meeting and conference, a possibility. At a time when the YouthSection in Australia is facing new challenges with many of it core group heading overseas to live and study, I feel reinvigorated to continue my work and the work of the YouthSection.
It was good for all of us present, to see the challenges which YouthSection members face around the work and courage, enthusiasm and love with which they carry out their work.
Evan Sanders - 4th August 2008
Back to top of page.To Members and Friends of the Anthroposophical Society
We are organising a conference for the dates: Thurs 22nd January to Monday 26th January
The theme of the conference is: Individual Evolution for World Evolution - personal action , World healing.
It is a theme that is enormous and can explore cosmological questions, questions of life, practical avenues of work (both inner and outer), the interweaving of science and spirituality - education, agriculture, medicine, environment and so on. In fact, it is a topic that all concerned people in the world are engaged in. Contributions are invited to be sent to the Organisation Committee in the form of a short description of the topic to be presented either as a talk, artistic work, or workshop. Offers of contributions can be emailed to:
or mailed to
Peter Glasby
PO Box 318
Mt Barker, SA, 5251
By the 1st October 2008
Contributions are not limited to members of the Anthroposophical Society. In fact we would welcome contributions from anyone who has an interest in the spiritual as well as the worldly aspects of the theme.
The conference will take place at Mt Barker at the above dates and there will be a variety of accomodation possibilities in and around Mt Barker, South Australia.
Registration details and a timetable are in the process of being prepared. This is an initial call for contributions so that the committee can prepare the timetable.
We will be having a special guest from Switzerland, Johannes Kuehl who is the leader of the Natural Science Section of the School for Spiritual Science, Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland.
We are exploring making a special excursion into the Flinders Ranges, prior to the conference. (leaving 19th January afternoon and returning Thursday 22 by midday). The Flinders trip is proposed either as a stand alone event or an entrée to the conference. It is an excursion to a unique part of South Australia with a world standard sedimentary sequence which spans a window of geological time encompassing ice ages, ages when the first oxygen producing organisms existed (their fossil remains make up significant ranges in the Flinders), a mighty impact event in the newly devised Ediacran age, the emergence of the first multicellular organisms - the Ediacaran 'open fauna' and the Cambrian, where the first protected fauna (shells, worms etc) appear in the fossil record.
The excursion will be by bus (size depending on numbers). We will most probably camp for 3 nights and we will spend time with the sedimentary sequence, ancient Aboriginal rock carvings, the stars, the animals and plants of the Flinders as well as the landscape, attempting to find a wholistic approach to understanding evolution that does justice to our whole human experience. Peter Glasby will lead the excursion and we will be accompanied by Johannes Kuehl(leader of the Natural Science Section at the Goetheanum). In the evening there will be time for discussion and talks to help with the task.
Details of numbers and costs will be made available as the idea takes shape. Interested people should contact Peter Glasby (email: pglasby@picknowl.com.au; mobile: 0431639095; tel: 08 83912410)
We look forward to hear from you,
Peter Glasby for the Organisational Committee
Lynette Doyle
Laurie Toogood
Renate Holland
Jeff Samuel
Basil Lazaros – Meyer
Maria Ziegler
Jenny Robertson
Jennifer West
Rosalind Kitchener