Kingdom of Lochac

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The Kingdom of Lochac is the term for the Society for Creative Anachronism's (SCA) Australasian branch.

Contents

[edit] General

The group has around 2000 members[1] , and is one of Australia's oldest Living History groups, having started in the early 1980's. The Australasian Branch includes Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica[2]

[edit] History

The group was originally formed in Sydney around 1981 from living history people already active that joined the US based group, it having been in existence since 1966. Other cities in Australia formed groups, and the society grew to the point where it initially formed as a Crown Principality and later a Principality. The skills to make equipment were developed, and the group flourished in many of its activities. The group eventually became independent from the original sponsoring Kingdom in the United States, West Kingdom and became a Kingdom level group in its own right. More recently, the New Zealand based SCA group joined.

The first fighter was authorised in 1982, and early fighters lacked equipment in Australia, so made do with whatever was available.

The group has grown significantly in size, and levels of sophistication, and many quality artisans and craftspeople now conduct their crafts and produce authentic durables that make the Society more authentic now, than it has been in the past.

[edit] Activities

Arts and Sciences

As a living history group, the Australasian branch of the SCA activities include , costuming, illumination, calligraphy, heraldry, needlework, dancing and cooking. [3] Different groups will hold small arts based nights, or martial based nights (fighter practices).

Martial activities

Martial arts currently comprise Target Archery, Combat Archery, Tournament Combat (Heavy Combat), Siege engine, Rapier and Boffor. In all case except Boffor, strict training, authorisation and armour safety standards are mandatory. Combat archery, heavy combat and siege engine often combine to resolve various theatrical disputes in war combat.

The Kingdom gets its name, Lochac, from a Dutch term for Australia dating from 1630 [4].

The society has groups in many Universities in Australia, particularly where history is taught as a subject, including University of Melbourne, Sydney University and Monash University

[edit] Local Groups

The different branches of the group are known within the group by their SCA names, for instance Liverpool in Sydney is known as Agaricus, the Blue Mountains is known as the Shire of Dismal Fogs[5], greater Sydney itself is the Barony of Rowany[6] .

Other groups include:

[edit] Awards

The society has a number of awards that are given to group members to encourage their skills in Historical based arts. Examples of these include the

  • Shining Helm - for armour
  • Order of the Pelican - for exceptional service and organisational skills
  • Order of the Chivalry - for martial prowess and chivalry
  • Order of the Laurel - Exceptional skill as an artisan, in a specialised area

[edit] Events

[edit] Rowany Festival

The group's largest event is the Rowany Festival, a week long Medieval festival that features classes, tournaments, competitions and general revelry. It is held Easter every year, near Sydney. The Festival has been running since 1983 and has grown to its current size at which 1000 people may attend. It is the largest SCA event in Australia.

Some SCA members are involved in the Crossroads Medieval Village near Yass, in NSW, and in the past the Rowany Festival has been held there.

As it is held over Easter, Christians generally get together in a discreet place to hold a scheduled Easter Sunday mass. And if Pesach falls at the same time of year, there is often people cooking in accordance with the very special customs that relate to that.

Del's Pie Shop sells pies of various sorts -- the chicken and mushroom pies and the pyes of pares are kosher for passover.

Traditionally large battles are fought at Rowany Festival that may include up to 300 combatants. Much mead and cider is drunk. Markets are also held, and many things are bought and sold by merry folk.

Rowany Festival has had four different locations - Fairholme Park in Wilton, Tara Girl Guide camp in Silverdale in Western Sydney, and Crossroads . In 2008 it has moved to the Glenworth Valley Horse Riding centre at Peats Ridge, New South Wales.

[edit] References

  1. ^ McIntosh, Deborah. "Sunday". The Sun Herald 28 Jun 1998.p 6
  2. ^ Taylor, Andrew. "Forsooth, A Fair Damsel, Mate". The Sun Herald, 12 August p 34
  3. ^ Willis, Robyn. "Back to the age of Chivalry". The Sun Herald, 14 October, 1990. P 155
  4. ^ "Day Turns to knight in the battle of Northbridge". , The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 May 1995.p2
  5. ^ Willis, Robyn. "Back to the age of Chivalry". The Sun Herald, 14 October, 1990. P 155
  6. ^ Taylor, Andrew. "Forsooth, A Fair Damsel, Mate". The Sun Herald, 12 August p 34
  • (1) McIntosh, Deborah. "Sunday". The Sun Herald 28 Jun 1998.p 6
  • (2) Taylor, Andrew. "Forsooth, A Fair Damsel, Mate". The Sun Herald, 12 Sugust p 34
  • (3) Willis, Robyn. "Back to the age of Chivalry". The Sun Herald, 14 October, 1990. P 155,
  • (4) Willis, Robyn. "Back to the age of Chivalry". The Sun Herald, 14 October, 1990. P 155,
  • (5) Taylor, Andrew. "Forsooth, A Fair Damsel, Mate". The Sun Herald, 12 Sugust p 34
  • (6) "Day Turns to knight in the battle of Northbridge". , The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 May 1995.p2
  • (7) http://www.sca.org.au/lochac/groups/groups.php SCA Lochac Site

[edit] Bibliography

  • Crowe, Sara. "Knight-Games". The Sun Herald. 14 April 1996
  • Watson, Chad. "Ready for Battle". Newcastle Herald. 28 Sep 2001
  • Taffel, Jacquie. "Lance Australia Fair". The Sydney Morning Herald 2 Jan 2004.
  • Wilson, David. "Armed and Odorous". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 Jan 2007.
  • McIntosh, Deborah. "Sunday". The Sun Herald 28 Jun 1998.p 6
  • Taylor, Andrew. "Forsooth, A Fair Damsel, Mate". The Sun Herald, 12 Sugust p 34
  • Willis, Robyn. "Back to the age of Chivalry". The Sun Herald, 14 October, 1990. P 155,

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