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Gavin Andrew
What is PAN Inc?
The Pagan Awareness Network Incorporated (PAN Inc) is a not-for-profit educational association with members Australia-wide. It is run by a management committee whose members are dr...view moreWhat is PAN Inc?
The Pagan Awareness Network Incorporated (PAN Inc) is a not-for-profit educational association with members Australia-wide. It is run by a management committee whose members are drawn from a broad cross-section of the Pagan community. The Association is incorporated in the state of New South Wales, with sub-committees in other states of Australia. It has no formal ties with any religious body, but works in a proactive fashion, both within the Pagan community and as a point of contact for the public, including government and media organisations.
PAN Inc aims to continue as the Australian Pagan communitys most effective networking and educational body.
Our Mission
The Pagan Awareness Network Inc (PAN Inc) aims to:
Correct misinformation, raise awareness and educate the general public about Paganism and associated beliefs and practises in order to achieve religious tolerance
Foster the growth of the Pagan community through service
Brief History
The Pagan Awareness Network began in January 1997 when the Witches League for Public Awareness (Salem Mass. USA) withdrew their regional controllers. David Garland was the Australian representative and with the support of the coven he worked with, had already embarked upon the task of making the WLPA a registered organisation here in Australia when this happened. Rather than waste all the work that had already been done David decided to start a new group here in Australia and so came up with the Pagan Awareness Network (PAN).
It was around the same time that it was decided to register a Church (SOTEG) and to make PAN the educational arm of that Church, to save both time and money. PAN started out with a web site and information pamphlets that aimed to get the truth out there about what Pagans are and what they really do.
March the 23rd 1997 was the first Public Full Moon Circle PAN held and was very successful. These still continue every month in Seven Hills.
In the June of the same year, as part of SOTEG, the first public Sabbat was held, a Yule. This was a huge success and almost 200 people turned up as well as Channel 9.
On the 30th of September the Pagan Awareness Network split with SOTEG Inc and became an entity in its own right, incorporating on the 15th of October 1997 and officially becoming the Pagan Awareness Network Inc.
We have responded to many issues in the press and had most of our responses published. Hopefully we will continue to attract more of the positive media coverage that we received throughout 2003. We have an ongoing relationship with many reporters to keep the correct information about Paganism in the public arena.
2003 was a positively huge year in relation to media involvement and the general increase in the awareness of organisations like PAN; our membership base increased dramatically. It seemed that throughout 2003, not a month passed by without PAN Inc contributing to a news item, whether radio or print journalism, on a local, regional or national level. PAN Inc was involved with resovlving a religious vilification issue in Casey (south east Melbourne) and David Garland appeared on "A Current Affair" Ch 9 to make comment on the 'Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001Victoria'.
We have continued to maintain our political involvement; liasing with State and Federal Governments regarding issues that affect Pagans and to support and promote religious tolerance. In the past we have made submissions to State Attorney Generals on proposed legislation and changes to laws including the Witchcraft laws in VIC and Knife legislation and Religious Discrimination Laws in SA.
We will continue to lobby the State and Federal Governments to ensure the basic rights of Pagans in Australia are protected and or become recognised.
We have run many social events, an annual picnic, social BBQs and Ghost Tours. PAN successfully backed Pagan 98 in Queensland and 2002 saw us launch the first Pagan Pride Day in Sydney.
2003 saw us host our first of many winter gatherings: Hollyfrost which continues to be a resounding success. Aimed specifically at families wanting to celebrate the solstice together we made merry and feasted under the Yule tree in Western Sydney.
In 2004 PAN Inc took over the running of Magick Happens and we have run it since keeping to the tradition and the fantastic community spirit that Rowan started with this event.
Our Sydney Full Moon Circles have run continuously since March 1997 never missing one, rain hail or shine and we now have several other circles running regularly around the country. In 2005 we also began running a training program to help support our Full Moon circles.
The association also has a number of subcommittees that run events, workshops and gatherings to ensure the diverse nature of the Pagan community is catered for.
We have continued to grow over the years to the point where we publish our own monthly bi-newsletter called The Small Tapestry and an annual called The Tapestry in house including printing.
The future promises to be exciting for PAN Inc and the wider Pagan community. With our members support, we will continue to deliver and grow as an association.view less