ThessalonikaPage

By early 1995, the group was large and well established enough to put on its first feast. The first Thessalonika gathering was held at Lake Cullullerane about an hour's drive out of town on the� 11th and 12th of� February 1995. Varangains came from all over Victoria. A fine feast was put on, featuring� a lamb carcass which, unbeknownst to the participants, had been carried to the site in the front seat of Egfroth's car. Battles both days of the weekend, and swimming in the lake. Sven Skildbiter took the opportunity to give the ladies of the group swimming lessons. The genesis of the idea of skinnydipping is unknown, but it was amazing to see the rotational battle lines as each side tried to face the lake as they fought. Sad to say, this saga was remembered years later among the good burghers of Mildura, when far more important things had long been forgotten.

The group's newsletter was named Demetrios, after the patron Saint of Thessalonika. The first issue came out� about June 1995. At an undetermined date, Musidora (Traci Mcleod) took over as editor. The newsletter changed dramatically. Much more racy, though a little wierd at times, and incorporating Naomi's amazing cartoons. Whatever you do, don't do anything to attract her attention, lest she turn her talents to portraying YOU. The output of Demetrios issues faltered and never seems to have recovered. Something to do with Musidora having another baby . . .?

Thessalonika Garrison is based in Mildura, an inland city in the north west corner of the state of Victoria, about 550 km from Melbourne� - it is nearer to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. Its main industry is cultivation of grapes and citrus, and it has a thriving trade in dried fruit and a small but good quality wine industry.

It is situated on the mighty Murray River, the water of which is used to irrigate the region, making possible the above industries. It also has a certain reputation for growing other substances, somewhat less legal. The name Thessalonika was chosen because Mildura had about the same geographical relationship to Melbourne as Thessaloniki in Greece has to Constantinople, and it's a port city (even if it's on a river, not the sea).

The garrison was founded by Egfroth, who� arrived in town in late 1993. A visit to the local role-playing group in full armour, and presentation of the opportunity to do for real what they'd previously only been doing in miniature, produced an initial roll-up of 27 people to the first training session in early Feb '94. This was down to 3 within 2 weeks, as the less committed people drifted off. But those three were pretty damn keen, and the group got off to a good start. Nothing much happened for the next 6 months, as Egfroth moved down to Melbourne to study, and all the gear belonged to him. Once he got back, training began on a weekly basis, costume, arms and armour started being made, and the membership slowly grew. Shifting to a more publicly accessible park for training made us better known and got us new members.

Not the most serious of Garrisons, when Vlachernai published a (very comprehensive) list of Standing Orders, Thessalonika followed suit. It had only one Standing Order, but it had the force of law - Never Run With Scissors. A photograph published in a back issue of� Demetrios shows the drastic results of forgetting that Standing Order.

Several attempts were made to expand the Guard into South Australia from late 1996, using Mildura as a base, but it never really got off the ground due to the distances involved. When a couple of members of the Companie of Knights Bachelor moved to Adelaide, they found a very fertile field for re-enactment waiting for them, and were able to take over what was almost a going concern. Pity, really. Once the group was up and running, it was invited to visit Thessalonika for a feast and fight at the end of August 1997. As far as I'm aware, not much really came of this get-together in terms of developing a relationship between the two groups.

A second Gathering in about March 1996 was somewhat less well attended - wimpy statements from CERTAIN Southern garrisons about "too hot" and "too far to drive" were heard. This was thought a bit rich by the tough Thessalonikans, who think nothing of driving 7 hours (5 for Andy!) down to events in Melbourne on a regular basis. Interesting, too that the guests who did turn up were from the furthest Victorian garrison, and one from Dyrrachium, on the other side of the continent!

I left Mildura in about 1998, and have since only met up with the Thessalonikans on an irregular basis, when we both attend events. I must say, Thessalonika was one of the strangest and most enjoyable garrisons I've been in. On the other hand, I thought of them when I was in Greece in 2000. I travelled through the city after which the garrison was named, but both times at night, and with no opportunity to get out and explore. But I discovered that it should be spelt Thessaloniki (!)

Egfroth, who had been founding member and pretty much unelected President up till this time resigned in April 1996 (perhaps narrowly missing being assassinated out of the position) to drop the burden of care and just get on with enjoying it all. In any case,� the group had clearly come of age, and didn't need anyone to lead it by the nose.

The Continued Hstory of Thessalonika Garrison, N.V.G.
by Jeremy Draper

I arrived in Mildura on the same weekend as Egfroth left for Melbourne, 30 August 1997. Since I joined Thessalonika, we have been a very active travelling garrison. Apart from the major events mentioned below,� members have frequently travelled to club feasts, joint trainings or just normal garrison training nights. In November 1998 five members travelled to the Southern Gathering at Mount Beckworth near Clunes in Victoria. The honour of Thessalonika was upheld admirably by Rick, who won the archery trophy.

Training continued in earnest and preparations began for the Tenth Australian Mediaeval Conference (XAMC) to be held at Easter in 1999.

In April 1999, eleven Thessalonikans attended the XAMC. Our preparations had paid dividends, with many great comments made regarding the intricate shield designs and the fantastic banners that Naomi had made. For quite a few of our members, this was the first major event they had attended. The extra effort in training paid off and the Thessalonikans acuitted themselves admirably on the battlefield.

In October of '99 four of us travelled across to Miklagard's Rusalia event in Sydney (a quick 1000 km).

In 1999, we again got in contact with the Companie of Knights Bachelor in Adelaide, who are in fact the closest mediaevalists to us. Since then we have feasted in Mildura twice, the Companie bringing about 15 members to Mildura on each occasion. Thessalonika have also joined the Companie at the Adelaide Mediaeval fair in April 2000 and 2001, putting on a large and very successful static display and doing some greatly appreciated fighting displays.

For Easter 2000 four of us made the long trek to the Amidale (northern New South Wales) Dark Ages event, a cool 1350 km drive and in June 2001 three of us made it across to the Winter Event in Corryong (Victoria). Thessalonika has also maintained its links with the local community, doing school displays and talks and some shows.

Thessalonika continue to be a travelling garrison and are constantly improving both the quality and range of gear within the garrison.