From: Free Beach Action <freebeach@gangart.com>
Date: Monday, 23 January 2006 2:41 PM
Subject: Free Beach Letters VII

To the Free Beach Action Group

I spent both days of the last weekend at Little Congwong Beach, as the weather was so beautiful. I have been frequenting this beach for five years now, with my partner, who is an avid naturist and who will not have it any other way. It was at his suggestion that I one day dared to free myself of textiles and went "au naturel" in a little secluded beach up on the north coast. I have embraced this practice with gusto ever since. 

It was with delight that I noticed on the weekend Little Congwong's increase in popularity, especially amongst women. Yesterday in particular the beach was exceptionally crowded and, to my surprise, the ratio of naked men to women was about 50/50. This, I happily observe, is a move against tradition, where gay men predominated. 

I hope the trend continues and that Randwick City Council will reverse its recent decision to ban Little Congwong as a clothes optional beach. After all, naturists have frequented this beach for over 30 years! But I do not see the naturists particularly preoccupied with Randwick City Council's new laws. Quite the contrary, from the increase in popularity with nude bathing, I can only assume that, legally or not, Little Congwong will remain a clothes optional beach regardless of bureaucracy or prejudices.

Maria Lopes
Waterloo