Joined
in: 1987
Alias: Viking name Odd "the Squinter", from morning appearances on bright days.
Historical interests: Rus', Byzantium, early medieval material
life, especially costume.
Favourite activities: Researching and then reconstructing,
costuming, shoemaking, combat, ceramics, and jewellery making.
Dreams:
To make a Byzantine soldier's campaign kit, and organise a full-on
Byzantine dining set for the club by next Conference. To write
an 'I was there' type book about Byzantine armies.
Habits:
Museum junkie - bad company on holidays, prefers libraries to
scenery.
Homepage:
Medieval Outfitting and Supplies
"Your Viking Specialist"
Joined
in: 1989
Alias: Viking name Gudrun.
Historical interests: Rus', Byzantium, 10th-11th century
Finnish and Scandanavian Viking, and Julio-Claudian Roman (as
a sideline).
Favourite activities: Reconstructing costumes, testing
out recipes and holding feasts, archery, combat, tablet weaving
and calligraphy.
Dreams: To complete a full set of 10th century Viking costume
based on the reconstructions of Flemming Bau, Inga Hagg and Agnes
Geijer. To own a replica bone viking comb. To travel through Finland
and Russia and go down the Dnieper (well part of it) on a replica
Viking ship and to visit Istanbul again. Also to see the Byzantine
artefacts in the Met. and Cloisters Museums in New York. To visit
the ancient sites in Greece and see the "Varangian"
mosaic on Chios.
Habits: Loves visiting new places and quite likes museums,
though not as much as my junkie husband, but he is good company
on holidays, best tour guide ever. Currently chief general organiser
for the club and especially the Rusalia.
Homepage: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~chrisandpeter
Helen Gravina
Valerie Houghton Homepage: http://www.gryphon.org.au
Joined
in:1995
Alias: None
Historical interests:
10-11th
century Rus', Vikings, et al. in Byzantium. Also dabble in Roman Republican
era as well (218BC-100AD).
Favourite activities:
Reading and trying new (historical) recipies.
Current interest- the 'Book of Jewish Food' by Claudia Roden. Bellydancing
(when I get time to practise). Making modern and Byzantine style costumes
to wear.
.
Non favourite activities:
Meetings. Washing-up
(overrated).
Joined
in:Late 1992
Alias: Still trying to decide
Historical interests:
Turkish, Vikings, Rus' -
costume, art, artifacts, and prechristian belief
systems.
Favourite activities:
Creativity, making things, all kinds of things, exploring esoteric beliefs ancient and
modern.
.
Dreams:
To complete the aquisition and making of turkish armour
and weapons...... and THEN be able to stand without collapsing under
the weight of same! (any ability to wield weapons as well would be an added
bonus).
Habits:
Discovering /exploring anything 'new'(to me), be it
artistic mediums or techniques, scientific theories, philosophies,
historical information, or an episode of 'Monkey' I haven't seen
yet!!
CHRISTOPHER MORGAN
Joined
in: 1993
Alias: Pet name Quarf, Viking name Flosi, or in Byzantium
Christophoros Varangopoulos ('son of a Varangian': usually ends
up as "Varangopolis", 'city of the Varangians' - well
he is a big lad).
Historical interests: Middle Eastern Archery, Byzantium, steppe nomads. Any thing to do with big boots, curvey swords and long coats really.
Favourite activities: Fighting, feasting, footrubs, well anything starting with 'F' really...(Hmmm, I didn't write this, and I'm not going to touch it...)
Dreams: Putting a second storey on his bell tent. To have more gear than anybody else.
Habits: Keeper of the webpage. Wearing more armour than anyone else, not for protection, but because it looks good. Maker of Sabres, by the bucket load. (well, it seems that way anyway..)
Homepage:
GRAEME NOTT Homepage: The Wandering Varangian
Joined
in:Late 1987
Alias: Halfdan the Brown
Historical interests:
-10th cent Byzantine, Anglo-Scandinavian, 15th cent 'War
of the Roses' (no, really)
Favourite activities:
Researching stuff, particularily textiles related stuff. Dressing
up in silly clothes and beating each other around the head with various metal
objects, just the usual ;-)
.
Dreams:
To do a combat show in the snow (it's going to happen!!). To have my
natural talents as a maker of fine 'turnips and cheese' cuisine finally recognised
(this probably won't).
Habits:
I'm keen on the researching bit but not so much on the actual doing bit.
Roy Pickton
Joined
in:Late 1987
Alias: None (Roy is short for
Royal/King, so you can call me Sir orYour Majesty,ok - Just Roy Will
Do)
Historical interests:
Rus', Byzantium, Archery,
medieval materials.
Favourite activities:
Combat Archery
(shooting Sven in the head makes my day), Target Archery, Combat - Shield
walls are fun (watch out for the FLYING WEDGE we did it first). Just being
around friends on our Medieval weekends eating, drinking & Beating the
crap out of each other.
.
Dreams:
Getting a full set of
Byzantine Fighting & Feasting Costumes Together, to stop Quarf
From getting a Bigger Tent than me.
Habits:
Not to become NVG INC treasurer again (I did my bit)..
Homepage: Roy's Home Page
PETER RAFTOS
Joined
in: 1997
Alias: Nickname "RiffRaff", well so he says to
distinguish from other Peters in the
club, but will answer to Panayioti or Fatboy.
Historical interests:
Byzantium and its social history but especially the role Byzantium
played in the transmission of knowledge eg. diet, costume, literature,
metaphysics, science and technology to other cultures both East
and West and what in turn Byzantium learned from outside.
Favourite activities:
Researching aspects of everyday Byzantine life - weddings, funerals,
anything... Watching others eating paximadia.
Dreams:
To equip a Byzantine army field kitchen, cook in a klibanos, find
out what a thermospodium really is, and to learn Classical and
Modern Greek so I can actually read the primary source material.
Habits:
Is the club Treasurer. Prefers books to... just about anything
(err... but not account books that is).
GARTH RICHARDS
Joined
in: 1999
Alias: None that I have heard people call to my face!
Historical interests:
Cultural diversity of central Europe, within the timescale of
year 1000 to 1400 plus a bit. The formation of buffer states such
as the Khazars and Alans. Mostly a bit of a Rus Viking with a
recent Byzantium influence (baggy trousers for ever!). Recent
guest appearance as a Bishop is having an iconoclastic influence.
Favourite activities:
Archery with a not so traditional (spotted-gum, an australian
wood for those folk who have never heard of same) longbow, marveling
at hitting the target every now and again. Inflicting an ever
growing burden on my shoulders and back as my mail vest becomes
a shirt (and vowing never again to knit mail). Making silk banners
of ravens, dogs and dragons. Leatherwork.
Not so Favourite activities:
Being hit on the head all the time - NEMAS is a non-head blow
club and I still think that people will leave my noggin alone.
Dreams:
To build a small hut in the Pine Forest ( Nemasburg next Easter).To
hit a target more frequently. To not get hit on the head so often.
To learn how to cast metal. That learning to speak German fluently
will- (a) enable me to swear convincingly in mid fight and (b)
enable me to enter into the delights of cod-pieces, puff and slash
ala Landsknecht.
Habits:
Attempts to convince most folk that re-enactment is a sane &
healthy past-time (oops sorry about the pun), which is difficult
considering my line of work (psychiatric nurse educator).