@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky Shame, but the same could be said of many of our nude beaches. The ANF beach safety program was all about trying to reclaim our nude beaches by calling out bad behaviour and attempting to have naturist unify to keep eachother safe. But in truth the beach belongs to those with the greatest numbers present at any given time. Sadly naturist tend to avoid area known to have large numbers of those who wish to sexualise nudity.

@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky Yes, it’s not an unheard of occurance to be sure. As we were leaving, the entire group were having sex out in the open in one big outdoor orgy. My wife has become “scarred for life” (her words). I haven’t ever encountered that sort of behaviour in all my years. Canberra is different in many ways, but this was totally unexpected!

@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky My heart breaks to hear of your experience and more how it has hurt your wife! As the ANF rep I too was exposed to the knowledge of such behaviour and we were called in to try and help the local beach goers, but I fear little has or will ever change? This behaviour has uneasily coexisted with healthy naturism and is often the cause of the negative perception formed by the general public? It is the main reason Alison and I first joined naturist clubs.

@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky Yes indeed, it is the reason I started this Mastodon account, trying to educate people about what #Naturism truly is. Not the smut that is plastered all over the internet & found in our beautiful countryside. It is an unending battle that we are destined to lose I fear. (1/2)

@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky Well the ANF is meant to be #TheFaceOfNaturism. There would few on the present committee I would describe as a stalwart bastion for #naturism. Michael the VIC rep is the exception! Sadly as a ANF rep I learnt that the naturist community is generally very divided. I also fear not all who are on, or who were only very recently on, the ANF committee share our goal to promote non sexual social nudity. (1/2).

@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky Until we met, I was obliviously unaware of the divisions within the ANF. As I told you, I did attempt to become a member a few years back, & was granted full access to the members section of the website & accepted as a full member even without making a payment. That was only revoked after a full year as a “member”when I asked what had happened. Since that incident, I couldn’t see any point in being a “card carrying” #Naturist. I’ve just carried on doing what I do.

@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky I am
as you were. I can see the benefit of being a card carrying member of a group that is not only failing but has been corrupted by individuals who openly (on FB) promoted the concept of ‘free sex’, another who has shady pasts believed to have been engaging in group sex when at nude beaches and still others driven by a desire to force clubs to accept solo males as they are solo males! (1/2).

@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky The majority on the present committee are solo males with no club affiliations. As a result and due to other problems with the ANF, Rosco and I believe Kiata have both recently eased their affiliations with the ANF! It is not good. All these reasons are why I see a dark future for naturism in the years ahead??? (2/2).

@DavidM581 @laughing_kooky I can’t see a dark future for #Naturism - only one of happiness, friendship, community & shared environmentalism. #Naturism is not defined by the clubs & groups, or even the ANF. It’s defined by the people who are genuine to the practice. To those who carry the #Naturist torch & rekindle the flame in those whose flames have dimmed. I don’t need a federation or a club to be a #Naturist. I only need other #Naturists to share in my joy at being #OneWithNature.

@SydneyJim @laughing_kooky You have certainly rekindled by first love for naturism. I have been revitalised by your freedom to naked bush walk without a care what others might think or do. Practicing naturism naturally as if it is an everyday common experience! The ANF does little to revitalise anyone or anything. It is too caught up preaching to the converted than effectively making headway in the mainstream arenas?