OBOD Southern Hemisphere Assemblies
The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids
The 21st Southern Hemisphere OBOD Assembly
Friday 10th November - Monday 13th November 2023
The Wollemi Seed Group and The Blue Mountains Seed Group are proud to host this Southern Hemisphere OBOD Assembly at the Glenrock Scout Camp in Awabakal Country of the Newcastle area. The Assembly will be held over four days, and will include opportunities for initiation into the OBOD grades of Bard, Ovate and Druid, meditations and rituals, an eisteddfod with the opportunity for our Bards to share their skills and talents, and a number of workshops for you to share and explore your Druidry practice further. The Glenrock Scout Camp is in an area of wonderful natural beauty that we can explore and enjoy together. This is an event for the OBOD community.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Southern Hemisphere OBOD Assembly acknowledges that this event is being held on Awabakal Country. Land that was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and to any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people who might join us for the event. We also pay our respects to the long history and strong continuity of the stories, songs, dances, ceremonies and cultural traditions of the Awabakal people and this place.
Check in and Check out. We may arrive at the camp from 3pm on Friday 10th November, and must vacate the premises by no later than 12:00pm on Monday 13th November.
Bookings close on the Saturday 30th September 2023 or when we reach 50 people.
Saturday 30th September 2023 is also the final date for requesting an initiation.
Payment in Full must also be received by Saturday 30th September 2023.
Hosted By - The Wollemi Seed Group with support from The Blue Mountains Seed Group
Essential Requirements
Attendees of the Southern Hemisphere 2023 Assembly need to be members of OBOD (The Order of Bard, Ovates and Druids). Membership is granted with application for the Bardic Grade of study. It is recommended that you complete at least the first ten gwersi (lessons) before attending. Those wanting a Bardic initiation will also need to have completed the self initiation ritual before attending. Find out more about OBOD at www.druidry.org
Family Non-OBOD family members can come to this event, however as the main focus of the event is the initiations, we would like to give preference to OBOD members. Our numbers are very limited so this may not be a possibility. Thank you for your understanding.
The Venue
Glenrock Scout Camp
It will be in Newcastle, Awabakal Country, NSW:
Glenrock Scout Camp, 157 Scout Camp Rd,
Whitebridge NSW 2290
How To Get There
Glenrock Scout Camp is within the Glenrock State Conservation Area
Coming from far away?
If you are coming from overseas or interstate and need help getting bedding, let us know and we may be able to help find some you can borrow locally.
Driving Directions from Sydney - approx. 2 hours
- Take the M1 North
- Take the exit towards Palmers Rd/Toronto 0.6 km
- Turn right onto Palmers Rd 0.5 km
- Turn left onto Wakefield Rd 7.6 km
- Turn right onto Rhondda Rd 3.2 km
- Turn left onto Railway St 0.8 km
- Turn right towards William St 0.1 km
- Continue onto William St0 .6 km
- Turn left onto Anzac Parade 0.5 km
- Turn left onto Five Islands Rd/B53 1.3 km
- At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto The Esplanade/B57 3.2 km
- Turn left onto Fairfax Rd/B57Continue to follow B57 1.0 km
- At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Medcalf St/B57 0.6 km
- At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Hillsborough Rd/B57 2.7 km
- At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Hillsborough Rd/B57Go through 1 roundabout 1.9 km
- Turn left onto Pacific Hwy/A43 2.9 km
- Turn right onto Fernleigh Loop 0.1 km
- Slight left onto Gun Club Rd (Restricted-usage road)
Driving Directions from Brisbane - 8 Hours 4mins
- Head South on A1 to M1
- Keep right to stay on M18 2.8 km
- Continue onto Pacific Hwy/A11 29 km
- Keep right to stay on Pacific Hwy/A13 2.9 km
- Keep right to stay on Pacific Hwy/A1 3.6 km
- At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Pacific Hwy/A1 18.6 km
- Keep right to stay on Pacific Hwy/A1 20.4 km
- Keep right to stay on Pacific Hwy/A1Parts of this road may be closed at certain times or on certain days 317 km
- At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Pacific Hwy/A1 7.2 km
- Turn left onto Maitland Rd/Pacific Hwy/A43 4.9 km
- Slight right onto Newcastle Inner City Bypass/A37 4.9 km
- Slight left towards Newcastle Rd/A15/A37 0.1 km
- Turn left onto Newcastle Rd/A15/A37Continue to follow A15 3.2 km
- Turn right onto Turton Rd/B63Continue to follow B63 2.6 km
- At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Bridges Rd/B63 Continue to follow B63 2.0 km
- Turn left onto City Rd/Pacific Hwy/A43 0.7 km
- Turn right onto Fernleigh Loop 0.1 km
- Slight left onto Gun Club Rd - Restricted-usage road
Nearest Airport - Newcastle: https://www.newcastleairport.com.au/, Flights To/From this airport:
- Cairns
- Whitsunday Coast
- Sunshine Coast
- Brisbane
- Gold Coast
- Ballina/Byron Bay
- Lord Howe Island
- Auckland
- Sydney
- Canberra
- Melbourne
- Adelaide
- Cobar
Accommodation
There are Cabins that accommodate of 6, 8 and 12 people in Double bunk (there are no single rooms) and there is Electricity in all cabins. We will attempt accommodate by using lower bunks only. There is also off-site accommodation but unfortunately we cannot offer a ticket discount if you choose to make your own arrangements as the venue price is the same for accommodation as it is for site access.
Costs
The cost to attend the Assembly is still to be determined. It will be a single fee that will cover all food and accommodation.
Catering
Catering This event is fully catered at a flat rate. We will be providing good meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks and drinks available through the day. There are no facilities for self-catering, however you may bring your own snacks. There are no refrigerators for attendee use.
Activities
Workshops to be announced
What To Bring
Please bring your own bed linen, blanket, towels, pillow or sleeping bags.
Comfortable clothing, ritual clothing, musical instruments, notebook and pen
Swimmers if you would like to swim at the nearby beaches
Torch for getting around the venue at night
The Fine Print
What NOT to bring
This is an alcohol free venue. Please respect the venue rules so that we might be able to use the venue again in the future. Perhaps consider it a spiritual fasting? Recreational drugs are also not allowed. Thank you for your understanding.
Need More Information?
Contact Us
If you would like more information about the The 21st Southern Hemisphere OBOD Assembly , please submit the form below.
* * *
Keep Me Updated
Join Our Mailing List
If you would like to keep up to date with information about the The 21st Southern Hemisphere OBOD Assembly , sign up here.
* *