PAGANS A 'WORRY'
Pine Rivers Mayor Yvonne Chapman has labelled the Pagan 98 conference as savage, barbaric and heathen.
"It's a great worry and it should not happen in this shire," Councillor Chapman said. "This is a Christian area. It's not the sort of thing the people need.
"I can't understand how the YMCA, which stands for Young Men's Christian Association, could allow pagans to operate."
Cr Chapman said she believed the Pagans had something to hide because they made the camp booking under the name Earthwise.
"It's like being in the middle of a war zone and asking your enemies to tea and them bringing their bombs," she said.
"They're satanists, devil worshippers."
Cr Chapman made the comments after several Christian churches attacked the conference last week. More than 150 people are expected to attend Pagan 98 at camp Warrawee from August 7-9. Even coordinator Professor Quenten Walker said the conference would include workshops to learn how to charge crystals and make amulets.
By Susan Schwartz
Pine Rivers Press
Wednesday, July 22, 1998