Newcomers Information

Welcome to the Barony of River Haven!

The SCA welcomes people from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter what you do in the mundane world, how old or young you are, how much you know about the medieval world, or whether you can sew, fight, dance, sing or discuss academia – everyone is welcome! The group’s focus is very diverse as we study a period of over a 1000 years. We don’t limit ourselves to one culture or particular event in history.

If you are interested in coming along to our regular meetings, or want to know a little bit more about what we do, read on!

About the SCA

  • What is the SCA?
    A brief introduction to what the SCA is, how we started, and what we expect of our members.
  • Who’s Who in the SCA
    What are the baronial officers and what do they do? For the actual people and their contact details visit the Contacts page
  • Geography – also called Regnum – SCA groups in QLD
  • Regular Events: Weekly meetings, arts and sciences, archery, fencing & heavy fighting practice

 So I want to play… what now?

Then you can…

Who are you in the SCA, and what do you have to do to get involved?

  • Who are you in the SCA? (SCA Name and Personas – Your interest in a specific Period, Culture, and Country)
  • What is your device/blazon? Design the emblem that represents you and your possessions. Your banners may be flagging in the wind at an event soon.
  • Clothing & Garb: What you wear to an event. (We wear ordinary clothes to weekly meetings).
    Don’t worry.. you can borrow clothes from the Hospitaller, to get you started.
  • Tourneys, Feasts and Events: What you need to bring, what happens there, why they are fun!
  • How will you defend the Barony? Choose a martial art to develop and practice in Archery, Heavy combat, Rapier, diplomacy and/or in combination, such as combat archery.

You can visit The SCA Newcomer’s resource page for more information.
This page is aimed at helping newcomers to the Society for Creative Anachronism get started.

SCA Newcomer’s Portal. Following that link will open you to a new interactive website designed to give you a heap of information about the SCA and some great starting out tips.

Membership:

Membership in the Society for Creative Anachronism is required in order to participate in society events. A $5 event membership is available at the sign in table for those experiencing the Society for the first time.

Memberships can be obtained online at https://www.lochac.sca.org/registry/

Membership benefits:

  • Discounted entry to official events and gatherings
  • Reduced paperwork for attending SCA functions
  • Subscription to the Kingdom’s “Pegasus” and Barony’s “River Haven Rag” Newsletters.
  • The right to vote in Society matters, and
  • Membership is mandatory to be an officer or run events.
  • A Most Amazing Feeling of Good-Will and Inner Glow of Contentment.

Membership helps the SCA as it is the only source of income to pay for both the public liability insurance and the costs of running the incorporated body that regulates all the mundane matters of the Society.

Now, you may consider…

There is much to get involved in. Here are a few deeper suggestions:

  • Most Officers are always looking for Deputies to fulfil roles. Heraldry requires Heralds to make announcements at events. Marshals are required to guide the conflicts. The Chronicler appreciates reporters at Tourneys for The Rag. And many more…
  • Do you have hidden artistic talents? The Arts and Sciences Officer organises weekly workshops to share skills. Perhaps it’s time to spread your creative passions. Enjoy sharing the skills of brewing, embroidery, singing, leatherwork, blacksmithing, illustration, jewellery making, fletching, cooking, herbalism, dancing and more.
  • Visit other Shires and Baronies. There are an array of events happening during the week around the local neighbourhood of the Kingdom. Great Northern War is a brilliant, long-weekend camping event, held annually by the Baronies of the Northern reaches (Samford). Rowany Festival is the largest, annual, Lochac (Australian) encampment, a pleasant drive from Sydney or Newcastle. Coronation events are celebrated around the Kingdom.
  • Attempt speaking forsoothly. At garbed (costumed) events, the atmosphere and depth of enjoying the current middle ages can be enhanced by speaking ‘in period’ terms. Leaving behind conversations about your mundane life can invigorate rewarding discussions of the subtleties of life.
  • Read The Known World Handbook. You can find a copy in the River Haven library. It has a massive collection of articles for every aspect of the SCA.