Transition-Hats Off dinner #3, Monday 28 July 08 at Bronwen’s in Munro Court, Castlemaine
Luke Bennett: Tafe teacher for private Ag training org. Diploma sustainable Ag. Lobbied head if school to teach it. Problematic because of brand issue. BRIT now advertising the Diploma but won’t hire a teacher until student interest is shown. L. would LOVE to be teaching this Diploma. Also interested in sustainable waste (recycling organic waste).
Eliza Tree: Forest/Wheeler St. development (13th August submissions to council) Trying to get letters of objection. - Printz Plumbing tank project ?organising a bulk buying group to get discounts on tanks and installation.
Joel: -Wesley Hill Car-share proposal ?households meeting tomorrow night to work out the logistics. Looking for a mix of people from different stages of life ?mixed uses. - Wesley Hill Goat share ?shared care, responsibility and resources at central location in Wesley hill. - Trees for mulch, fertiliser, animal feed, could be harvested & used- resources available for this locally.
Carolyn Neilsen: - Currently living in a sustainable cluster housing development ?individual freehold assets but shared facilities & resources (4 households) ? shared child raising, - Also passionate about composting/ recycling. - Also car share & walking/cycling bus for kids to school.
John Sanderson: - Wood gassifier ?gassifierjohn@gmail.com as at Ararat. Waste wood from recycling plant ?heating pool. ? Megawatts.
Ian Lillington: - National & international context for transition. Transition handbook to be reprinted in Australia w/in Australian context & with Australian stories. - 9 other regions/towns in Aust. Which are calling themselves Transition towns?- ? National network (Carol has drafted a response available for comment) - Significant enthusiasm w/in this group to write the Australian book.
Sarah Austin: - Such inertia & negativity around climate change. So good to be positive & pro- active about this stuff.
Tony & Nada: - Started 25+ yrs ago - ran a Permaculture & Biodynamic farm in Harcourt. Have had goats. Both involved in an intentional meditation group. A lot of work dedicated towards putting the spirit into the systems we are trying to create. - Original member of MASG. Undergoing significant changes- Public forum Aug. 6th 7pm, Anglican church hall,- any issues, concerns, suggestions, open & deep listening to enable MASG to go ahead into the future. - Lots of room for different groups to operate in the municipality MASG never wanted/intended a monopoly. The more the merrier- we can all work together well.
Lucy, Ian & Carol: Gave a brief snapshot of the Hats off & transition conversations to date. + 12 Transition steps.
Nada: Noted the Honour the elders stage of the 12 transition steps. Not all about action. Interested in exploring contribution to resilience in myself & my community that may or may not involve action. Andrew Harvey ?Sacred activism. Role with children is also part of my contribution to resilience. If we are spiritually fulfilled & living authentic grounded lives, the resilience grows out of that ?we don’t have to do it. connected with a number of groups exploring what opportunity we have on this planet to collectively fulfill our potential with deep love.
Mark - Studying Bachelor of Urban, Rural & Environmental planning (outside of mainstream planning). President of Northern Bendigo Landcare group. Next weekend (Sun. 3rd) sustainability landuse forum (strawbale carbon offsets). Sometimes there is a fear about other people coming together & being all talk?sometimes need to think & share before we act?
Jac Semmler: Castlemaine is a place which supports my own resilience? Background in Enviro- sustainability. That & other activities push boundaries around own sustainability. Passionate about food ?planting, growing, food systems. Interested in doing things in my community with younger people ?ideas, energy & enthusiasm for true change. Age bracket that other organisations aren’t catering for ?interested in 搉etting?people who will grow up in these changing times.
Bob Rees: blow-in??most expensive supermarket anywhere. Brought up during war in a totally self-sufficient community. We all produced more than we needed ?we wasted nothing. Anyone registered as a supplier could take contributions on strict basis of need and understanding that it wasn’t for re-sale, just own consumption. This central drop-off point was administered by Salvation army but could be run by community. All about people looking out for each other.
Joel: Missing link - people don’t know what to do with real food. 損eak-oil?is the opportunity for IT managers to learn how to weed?
Break for questions –
Nada: Teddy bear project- part of peace festival. It’s a vehicle for connecting schools of different faiths ?children take the teddy home for a week with a journal & record everything the teddy does. If children have an experience of difference that is easy & comfortable & enjoyable then there will be no fear of that difference. Writing the project up. Next Year- peace train ?bring children from Melbourne up on the train ?connect in with steam train to Maldon. What we share is greater than what divides us. Need to continue.
Luke B: Educational resources for youth to do with climate change. All badness currently which is dispiriting. (Joanna Macy - Despair and Empowerment?. Melbourne group? make positive action fun using dance and tree-planting ?yo0unger shoot-off, sprouts? for kids.
Jac: Idea more re. Asking kids/young people/youth what their ideas are. Just sometimes need some structure/support to go for it. Nada: School near B/rat ?kids have developed all the projects & program & the kids went out & sold it to other schools. _ St Michaels.
Ian: Gen Barlow story from 1st dinner. Research for television programs (Nicki) ?looking for a family to feature ?significant transitions for a family to feature ?significant transitions over the next 6-9 months. Someone: Learning to & committing to walking the talk.
Simon: Only just moved to CM - been here 2 wks. Life in transition. Comes from Adelaide. Working for dept. for environment & heritage - wrote ecological restoration management plans. big issues but not disjointed from my life & shouldn’t be. Wants to offer himself to the conversation and the community.
Carol: Physical limits. Spends a lot of time in meditation. Really resonates with the connection with spirituality and transition. Very taken by the power of one in the contribution into the whole. Works reactively - conference ?awards ?hats off book, etc. Interested in closed-water-systems for rural communities (a Conference on this is Oct. 12th ?Benalla) & Women抯 w/end ?divine futures.
Bron Machin: CVGA (Central Vic. Greenhouse Alliance) ?commentary on govt. processes and advocacy, partnering. Slow transport ?spent years as a sustainable transport campaigner ?good resource.
Ian: Slow transport story ?cycling up midland hwy passed old lady in her buggy, struck by the diversity of uses poss?
Joel: Anyone interested in sharing in a community mulcher?
Where to:
- Skilling?
- Film night?
- More on Transition concept
- education.
- Proposed working groups
An apology for any misquotes, mistakes or misspellings in these notes. Hope they make sense. Luke J
