Association of Eisteddfod Societies Australia president Tony Kemper of Wollongong said many eisteddfod committees have been working with the same committee and volunteers for many years and it was important to give them support with sessions such as this.

“Many people have gone away so enthusiastic that they now have some guidance and feel they have support on major issues such as copyright, child protection, how to schedule age group sections and other issues,” he said.

Association secretary Maxine Chalinor of Mount Gambier said some smaller eisteddfods which come under the banner of the association don’t even use computers.

It is therefore important they have information such as the recently distributed plain english copyright rules.

Mr Kemper said most eisteddfod societies have the same challenges of high cost of venues, and public liability insurance.

“But getting enough volunteers is a real problem and many of the volunteers are getting older, some in their 70s and 80s,” he said.

“With the new rules some have said it is all too hard and have just walked away.”

However Pam Johnson of the City of Orange Eisteddfod Society said there is always a good response from the people of Orange to volunteer.

Mrs Johnson said the child protection laws in NSW differ from Victoria and South Australia, where every volunteer is subject to a police check.

“We just ask people to make a declaration,” she said.

Representatives discussed issues including how to deal with aggressive parents or teachers who don’t believe their student has been adequately recognised.

“Ever since we introduced a fee to file a complaint it has been much easier,” City of Orange Eisteddfod vice president Alison Dutton said.

“There’s no discussion entered into and it gives people time to go away and have another think about their complaint.

“If it is upheld their lodgement fee is returned,”

Mrs Chalinor says eisteddfod officials are encouraged to speak with adjudicators if they feel children, particularly in dance sections, are too scantily clad or inappropriately dressed for their age group, or inappropriate language is used in the speech and drama sections.

“That way it comes from the adjudicator and the message really gets across,” Mrs Chalinor said.