Organiser Joanne Cause said the stone “lit up beautifully” at the dawn service, attended by around 40 people including Glen Innes Severn mayor Steve Toms and his wife Judi.

“It’s a privilege to be in the largest array of standing stones in the southern hemisphere at the winter solstice, but moreso this year, because it’s only fine enough weather about every five years and was raining last year,” she said.

Later that day, just before sunset, festivities continued, about 60 people heard Ms Cause give an outline of the importance of the solstices; watched a demonstration of archery from Greg James from Cabarita, Queensland, and listened to a talk by astrologer Leonie Price about the importance of the solstice and equinoxes.

Mrs Price, who with her husband recently moved to Glen Innes after purchasing Mackenzie House in West Avenue, gave a display of ‘dowsing’ lines of energy - an act similar to water divining - in the western half of the stone circle.

“In most stone circles the energy leys (lines) are at their most powerful at the solstice and equinoxes, and this has been shown here. The stone circle helps to fix the energy grid,” Mrs Price said.

According to Celtic tradition, the yule log - a remnant of last year’s winter solstice bonfire- was then lit and used by the ‘Oak King’ (Steve Funnell) to ignite a large bonfire, under which were five 44-gallon drums containing about a dozen pottery works to be fired, made by local artists. The Oak King and the Holly King then did battle reflecting the change of the seasons.

“The lighting of the fire with a log from the past reflects the continuity of the flame of life,” Mrs Cause said.

The works were removed from their ‘kiln’ on Sunday afternoon, as part of more activities including a talk by author and district resident John Pathlander on how communities can save the world using natural energy, and a sausage sizzle hosted by Clan Donald.

“It was a great success. We may not have had a lot more people than in past years but we still attracted international visitors who came just for the weekend. There will be a new team organising it next year and I am sure it will only grow,” Mrs Cause said.