Are you concerned about climate change, peak oil, etc?
Join a dynamic, creative community group focused on education and action. Geelong Sustainability Group's vision is an environmentally and economically sustainable, spiritually fullfilling and socially just human presence on the planet.
Climate change is an emergency for our community, our nation and our planet : we bring together Geelong residents and organisations who want to create solutions. Simple definition of sustainability "Enough for all, forever!"
Our next gathering will be early next year. Details will be posted as they become available
We'd love to read your thoughts so please add to the discussion forum. Check out the myriad sustainability Events around Geelong.
For events outside the Geelong region check out the Victorian Climate Action Calendar (The VCAC 17 Sept - 27 Oct 2011[2].doc) Remember to check the whole calendar; events are often added AFTER the posted date on the previous calendar.
Also please spread the word about the site and encourage others to join us as a friend or member.
_____________________________________________________________________August Sept News - Sustainable House Day
Local sponsors and partners
Transition East Geelong
Sunday was a great success despite the odd weather.
In the last 2 years numbers of visits were approx 1170 and this year the estimate is around 1450. Some houses received 300 - 400 visitors and all were careful. This number also didn't include children/teenagers.
Three homeowners who've opened their homes in the last 2 years also said they saw a lot of new faces and my guess after asking people how they found out about the day is that this was due to the extra publicity we got via the CoGG City News and Community Update and the fantastic coverage in the Geelong Advertiser.
Voluntary hours from homeowners who put in 2-3 days work and volunteers about 10hrs = approx 590 hours of voluntary time. Add to that Sustainable Architect Glen Rodgers assisting me with selecting homes, the photographer Phil Hines who donated his time and expertise and committee members of GOG, GSG, Transition town's hours which was around 85 = Total of 675 hours.
There were 45 volunteers mostly members of Geelong Sustainability Group. Here are some comments from homeowners and volunteers.
"Our day went well with a constant stream of polite & interested visitors – about 75 people in total" - Vicki Perrett, Owner of 189 The Esplanade, Indented Head
" About 20 people from Corio came because I work with them in that area. They said they wouldn't have come otherwise but after visiting my place went on to see most of the other homes and had a great time"- Katie Gillet, Owner of 3 Dundas St, Herne Hill
"Hi Monica. Well done hugely successful day I think. Numbers and feedback were excellent considering the weather" - Glen Rodgers, Zero C Pty Ltd,
ESD Architects Sustainability Consultants Energy Ratings Section J Assessments
" I volunteered at both the 2009 and 2010 Geelong Sustainable House Days.
It was very well organised and there were a variety of houses with different sustainability designs and ideas to share in the community. Information leaflets were available, and as volunteers we had a lot of fun!
I was involved with two places: a retrofitted older weatherboard house in 2009, then a creative outdoor design and edible garden in 2010.
I noticed how excited people became when they visited the houses. They gained ideas, asked questions and planned things for their own homes or communities. The interactions between people who came to the houses was very important in addition to the skills of the people who had generously opened their homes.
As a result of this event I have transformed my own life. I did The Gordon 'Diploma of Sustainability' with another GSG member who I met on the SHD. Then I retrofitted my home and attended an introduction to Permaculture course which has meant that my garden combines food and native plants alongside my ceramics.
I entered my home in the SHD in 2011............About 100 people/families came. Lots of fun." - Vicky Grosser, Owner 58 Wimmera Ave, Manifold Heights
Great day! I did about 11 tours with 15-30 people each and Glen, Phil, Scott and Kim did lots of tours too. Rachel started many off. About 400 people came" - Gavin and Rachel Brown, Owners 264 Kilgour St, East Geelong
"Helping on Sustainable House Day was a pleasure Monica – I was a bit more useful than I thought I might be, and I had fun too! I skipped Ingrid’s early (with her, Tim and Marg’s permission) because I’d heard great things about the East Geelong places"- Margot Busch - Volunteer at SHD, Green Educator, Social Inclusion Unit, St Laurence Community Services
"I think Monica did a great job locking in volunteers with clear communication. The website was very helpful. I liked that even though I couldn't make the volunteer meeting/s I could still be involved on the day. Time (and additional travel into Geelong) is a major limiting factor for me.
The info table worked really well as did the flow of visitors through the home. Signage (including balloonage) was very effective and the assistance from owners and the architect was invaluable."- Jess Connor, Volunteer for SHD, Facilitator Trainer, Festival of PD for Facilitators http://mcdonaghdesign.eventbrite.com
Thanks for your great organisation of SHD on the weekend
You did a great job organising all the pamphlets for setting up at Katies, flags, balloons, etc. It was very well organised.
I also popped by another place on my way home and it was very interesting!
I think that the day went very well with so many visitors very interested in not only
making changes themselves, but developing a sense of community, which is even more positive!
It was a wonderful day for all and I can't wait to go next year and see what other interesting sustainable projects people have achieved!
Thanks for letting me be a part of it!"
Kind Regards, Dr. Belinda Fridey (volunteer at SHD)
Thank you all the volunteers and the staff at City of Greater Geelong and Barwon Water for assistance with making this event successful and creating the possibility for 100's of people to make their homes sustainable.
Energy / Solar
Carbon price cost of living calculator : Consumer advocate CHOICE, the Australian Council of Social Service and The Climate Institute have teamed up to look at the cost of living impacts of the carbon price. With the carbon price now law you can go to the website - yourcarbonprice.com.au - and use the online calculator to weigh up your own costs, the financial support you will receive from the government and the potential savings you can make from energy efficiency measures.
The State Government has released its policy on the location of wind farms and it is more restrictive than we had feared. It is now easier to find a location for a coal-fired power station than for a wind farm in Victoria. To see more details click on our Victoria - coal and more page.
Environment Victoria is challenging HRL's proposal to build a new coal fired power station in Victoria. Unfortunately HRL is challenging their right to even appear in court. To read more click on our Victoria - coal and more page.
100% Renewable Energy Campaign
- GSG is joining with over 50 other community groups in every state and territory as part of the 100% renewable energy campaign. For more details on the campaign across Australia go to www.100percent.org.au .
GSG has recently signed on to a campaign for Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) in Victoria. CDL is a scheme whereby a 10 cent returnable deposit is given to all drink bottles, cans and cartons. Victorian’s consume almost one million tonnes of packaging per year. Of this, approximately 103 kilograms of packaging waste per person is land-filled each year. Drink containers represent 30% of all packaging, but only half of used containers are recycled. Plastic soft drink containers are the most littered item by volume in Victoria.
In Victoria, there is little recycling available for food and drink containers consumed away from home. Kerbside recycling services run by local councils are now overstretched and costs have increased at an average rate of 13.8% over past 3 years.
Refunds on drink containers can bring about a 12 to 15% reduction in litter. In South Australia which has had Container Deposit Legislation since 1977, there is a drink container recovery rate of 80%. Community organisations, in South Australia, such as scouts can earn approximately $9 million per year from operation of collection depots.
Community Change
Phil Baulch and Monica Winston are facilitating Changing the Dream Symposium events. It is a powerful way to be empowered or empower others to take inspiring actions to transform our world. Contact us to organise one in your area/workplace/school/home.
For people between 12 and 28yrs, you can connect with Geelong Youth for Climate Action (a sub group of GSG) contact Tara Watts on tlwa@deakin.edu.au and the newly formed Geelong Students Environment Network.
- Geelong Student Environment Netork (GSEN) http://www.gsenviro.net is a network, an opportunity for students from all schools, public and private in the Geelong region to meet, collaborate, exchange ideas and encourage each other.
- The aim of this network is to allow us, the future generation to build a sustainable future within our schools and within our communities.
- This will give us the right to say to future generations “We are doing everything in our power to sustain our environment”.
- GSEN page On Facebook
Geelong LETS (L.ocal E.nergy T.ransfer System) and Surf Coast LETS have started up. These are community-based trading system that allows you to trade without using your hard-earned Dollars. You 'pay' for what you receive by offering back to the community goods and services that you can provide.To find out more, click here (see sidebar)
Transition Towns is the most exciting work assisting communities to transition to a low energy future and create community resilience. Check out the web pages on this site and "Events" for exciting and informative ways to meet like minded people and build solutions from the ground up. A number GSG members have been particularly active in establishing and running these ie Andrew Lucas, Goshen Watts, Janet Massey, Doug Rolfe, Joh Donkers and Cheryl Almond.
Andrew Lucas who has been the Eco Living Manager of 9 community houses in the Surfcoast and Colac Otway Shires and is now a Transition Consultant to 1/4 of Victoria's councils in a program he created called "Councils and Communities in Transition (CACIT)
South Barwon Community Centre has partnered with Transition South Barwon to auspice a City of Greater Geelong councillor community grant to run 10 edible garden blitz's in 3216 area in 2010 and 2011.
Sustainable food / permaculture / Biodiversity
Geelong Organic Gardeners are a fantastic group to join full of laughter, great books, knowledge to share, seeds and an incredible newsletter. www.gog.org.au
Kylie and Lars organise an organic vegie box. If interested see purchasing organic
Monica Winston is running more Permaculture education courses in 2011 including Eat Your Garden and Edible Garden Blitz's (modelled on Permablitz) Email Monica on goldenalight@yahoo.com.au if interested.
Current discounts for members
Buxton Baby (www.buxtonbaby.com.au) is Geelong owned and operated by a midwife and mother of two young children. As new parents we found it difficult to find the quality and range of sustainable products that we now stock, including toys, natural remedies, cloth nappies, baby carriers and so much more.
Buxton Baby would like to offer a standing discount Members of Geelong Sustainability Group
Enter the code ‘GSG’ at checkout to receive 10% off.
Solar Whiz removes hot air from your roof space using free energy from the sun. Also energy monitors, differencial thermostats, Solar Venti's etc
Contact Phil Baulch for information, sales and installation 0417 554 791
Bike Power in Belmont (corner of Corio and Belmont Streets - just east of the PO) run by members of GSG are offering 10% discount ongoingly. We need to confirm this with the new owners.
Yoga Dojo - www.yoga-dojo.com.au
In appreciation of all the fabbo work and commitment to our precious environment provided by members of Geelong Sustainability Group, I'd like to provide a 10% discount on all yoga classes and courses at Yoga Dojo. To get the discount, members will just need to let me know they are members of GSG when they are paying for their class / course.
Namaste, Adrienne Stephens, Director, YOGA DOJO
3/34 Malop Street, Geelong, 3220
P: 03 5229 1910 M: 0450 959 191
Envirogroup (www.enviroshop.com.au) run an on-line and physical shop for Sustainability products. We are currently investigating options for them to expand locally. If you are a business owner who may be willing to help with this then Contact Us
Solar installers
Local residents Christian and Emma Pritchett from City to Surf Solar (http://citytosurfsolar.com.au) (formerly Pritchett Electrical) have been long-standing supporters of Geelong Sustainability Group. If you contact them they are willing to guide you through the process of installing solar panels (at a reduced rate for GSG members). They can be contacted on 1300 348 847 / 0424 466 857
Geelong Solar Energy Pty Ltd (http://www.geelongsolarenergy.com.au)
Steve Moriarty
7-9 Hill St Clifton Springs VICTORIA 3222
Phone: 03 525 33 429, Mobile: 0409 883 891
We have parents, educators, gardeners, artists, social workers, builders, architects, business people, local govt employees, scientists, leaders, health professionals etc in this group.
There are many many talented, educated and skilled people who have joined this network and it's wonderful to be connected.
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