Wow! What a birthday festival I have just enjoyed - thanks for all who contributed :-) and apologies to anyone who missed out :-( There is always another time to meetup and celebrate our lives together!
I really wanted to plant trees on this significant birthday, and could not believe my luck when Janne and Lindy Ryan decided to host their Tree Rites Ceremony in Dungog on my birthday weekend - and were happy to extend an invitation to join them. Some things are meant to be… While making it hard for people to join in, this was a lovely way to mark this time and prepare for my “Year in Dungog” in 2023!
I would particularly like to thank:
John McInerney for helping me get this together and putting up with my stressing over it :-) and allowed his record player and discs to be played in our extended party
Janne and Lindy Ryan who extended their Tree Rites ceremony to include birthday celebrations for Anna Shepherd and I
Barbara Schafer who has created Tree Rites with Planet Ark, the most beautiful way to mark significant life events
Anna Shepherd for her contributions to this, including the yellow 'candles', her beautiful acknowledgement and zest for the whole event
Chris Pidcock (cousin) for his exquisite cello playing - the Saturday afternoon concert at the Royal, at the farm for Tree Rites and back at the Royal to set off the party
David Iacono for recording this with his photography
Meg Garnham for the rejuvenating food on the farm
Josh Gilbert - for his beautiful acknowledgement of Country at Tree Rites and informative and generous 'Listening to Indigenous Voices - Land and Farming' at the James Theatre
Sarah Crawford for her help with everything in general and working with Jane Richen from the Paterson Allyn Williams Science & Ideas Hub to organise this event
Howard Glenn and Andrew Leiboff for their hosting of the concert and party at the Royal, and the many people who stayed there
Maureen McInerney, Louise Prichard and David Iacono for coming early and helping with many details in the lead up
Maryanne Pidcock (sister) who MCd the event with great aplomb and mistressy
Chris Pidcock (brother), Lisa Barker and Susan Morrison for the personal poems they crafted and shared
Russell McFarland, Amanda Sturgeon, Hayden Rorke, Michael Pain, Sarah Crawford, Prue Murdoch, David Pidcock, Mary Lynne Pidcock for reciting beautiful prose and/or speaking or playing accordion, Dom Hes and Bettina Pidcock who sent poems read by Maryanne, Andrea Pidcock for talking and singing, Denis Pidcock for playing piano, and everyone for your company and energy.
I am honoured to have so many wonderful people in my life - those who came and many more who did not.
Following are some photos from the weekend, giving a sense of its joy!
