A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Saturday 17 May 2008

Who We Are & What We Do.


New England Colonial Living History Group.

Period of interest: 1700-1760AD in the North Eastern parts of the New World. Our clothing and most of our equipment reflects this period, but some items of equipment can date back into the 17th century.

Activities: Our main activity is historical trekking and the skills, and research associated with historical trekking. We can however accommodate those who don’t wish to participate in historical trekking and just wish to learn some period skills and crafts and experience a little of the colonial lifestyle.

Historical Trekking.
Historical trekking is trekking and camping in a historical style, using only period clothing and equipment. We trek all year round, but do most of our trekking in winter. Winter poses more of a challenge in regard to skills, and clothing and equipment choices, but it is also more pleasant in regard to the lack of biting insects and snakes.
We place a lot of emphasis on the period living skills and wilderness survival skills and these skills are practiced as part of our normal trekking activities.

Common Trekking Skills.
Common skills used on treks are: Flint and steel fire lighting, tinder production using only wild plant fibres, wet weather fire lighting and fireplace construction, primitive shelter construction and using natural shelters, primitive survival trap construction and use, cordage and rope making, tomahawk throwing, open fire cooking methods, wild edible plant and tinder plant identification, stalking and tracking, firelock fire lighting, flintlock muzzle-loading and or archery, and more.

Other Skills.
Other skills that can be learnt and practiced are: Helve and stail making, hornsmithing, spinning and loom weaving, finger weaving, leatherworking, tanning, fire-bow fire lighting, reading glass fire lighting, period fishing, moccasin construction, and more.

Where and When: Most of our activities including trekking and camping are performed in Wychwood Forest. We have regular meetings on the first Sunday of each month. Meetings are usually held at Elm Cottage. Members are welcome to attend on the Friday or Saturday and camp over. Regular meetings start between 9 and 10am. Organised treks can be on any day, but usually over a weekend.

Costs and Fees: Membership is free, but members are required to pay an insurance fee of $16 per annum to the Australian Living History Federation.
We help keep expenses down by advising on the most inexpensive clothing and equipment options and by encouraging and helping members to make their own clothing and equipment. Items can also be purchased or traded for if members wish.

Rules and Regulations: We have strict safety rules and regulations. We are a volunteer based organization and as such all members are protected from any liability (duty of care) claims by the Government’s Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility) Bill 2002. We are also covered by the ALHF insurance policy.

We set no time limit on members to become fully clothed and equipped in period style, so long as we can see some effort is being made in that regard.
We hope you find this information of some use; you will find more information on the group blog site listed below. Please feel free to post comments and questions on this blog. should you need any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Regards,


Keith H. Burgess Esq.
Email: historicaltrekker@gmail.com
Blog: http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/
Group Page At: http://skirmishmagazine.ning.com/ Post: Keith H. Burgess, Wychwood Forest, MSF 2007, Armidale 2350.

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