“ I was born in Denmark where the Vikings originated. My Dad is also Danish so that’s why we got into this in the first place. We moved to Australia about 6 years ago. I’m 13 now. We live in Toowoomba but we have come here to Lismore the last 3 years to the Viking Festival.
There are different groups within the Viking community. There are groups who do fighting, groups who do weaving. My Mum is a weaver, I cook and I help my Mum with weaving. Dad is a Trader. I cook flat breads, roasts, bread and really good pancakes.
There are around 10 to 12 Viking festivals. Some are yearly and some are every 2nd year. I love that it’s an escape from reality and I love the expressions on peoples faces when they discover that life can be awesome without technology. They can be introduced to a whole new society and how people lived all these many years ago. We do have technology and I do have it at home but when we come here I escape from all of that. There’s so many pressures on people like having to keep up with the latest Snapchat and what’s happening on line. I found when you are here you can just calm your mind. There’s a few things that you need to focus on. It’s very simple living and it’s very important to me.
There’s also the attraction for people to rediscover arts and crafts that may not necessarily have been carried on, for example, making a bucket. Not everyone can do that and that form is now dying out. It’s really good to teach children and the general public a little bit about these skills. Even the way our socks are made. They are not knitted with knitting needles. They are made with one needle and they are bound together. If we didn’t get together and share these skills they would just fade away and that would be a shame.
I have a brother Morgan who is over with the Blacksmith at the moment. He’s 9 and he’s learning that trade. He also does Archery. It’s not like your age ever stops you from doing anything. There’s no age limit on anything, it’s what you are interested in and what you are devoted to learning. If people are interested in this you can just contact your nearest local group.”