Friday, June 18, 2010

world environment day video

there's heaps of pics on facebook, accessible even if you aren't on facebook.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

the madame mulch show


the first of the madame mulch waste education sessions was held yesterday at the warrill view state school.
what a lovely school with postive and interested students.
yesterday the madame mulch show focused on composting, and next week she will be presenting a recycling session.
thanks to the scenic rim regional council for funding this program.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

environmental celebration a huge success

The inaugural World Environment Day celebration held in Boonah on Saturday was a tremendous success on all accounts.

Sharon Murakami, president of the Boonah Organisation for a Sustainable Shire (BOSS) who hosted the celebration, says, “the event was a resounding success, with an overall highlight for BOSS being the crowd’s readiness to get involved and embrace the day’s activities.

“Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with everybody loving the interactive and hands on approach, and the diversity of interesting activities and displays to explore.

The BOSS low food mile slow food stall was a great hit with fresh home grown home made food served on compostable sugarcane plates and cups. “

The community certainly embraced the day, with even the mayor drawn into the rhythm of the day beating up a storm in the drumming tent.

There were many highlights including the moving Welcome to Country, the multitude of workshops and activities, Madame Mulch, the acapella ode to Sugarloaf, the poetry of Judith Wright, the recycled fashion parade, belly dancing featuring local alpaca felted costuming, stalls ranging from bamboo to goatsmilk soap to wild soapnuts to Ugandan wooden crafts, Christopher Trotter’s ‘Chook Racer’ recycled sculpture to young Cassidy Davies’ aluminium can ‘Candelier’, and other inspiring altered art creations produced on the day.

Post highlights are the comments already received since the event including “That was sooooo much fun at yesterday's festivities! Thanks for bringing all those lovely folk together and creating a really special day of awareness !! We all loved it and came home feeling energised and inspired. Such a great vibe !!; and "we had a great time and feel really motivated to get into sustainability stuff!!”

A steady flow of people streamed through the site throughout the day, with around 300 visitors taking in the earth friendly sounds, sights and tastes on offer at the Outlook.

The common response on the day was let’s do this again next year, and it’s clear that everyone is already looking forward to World Environment Day becoming an annual celebration which can only grow in its success.

World Environment Day is important because it provides a focal point for the community the opportunity to celebrate and come together in promoting and spreading the message of sustainable living. Our event is a wonderful example of how that can come together to provide the tools to understand that sustainability is achievable and not out of reach. We are fortunate in that rural communities are in a much better position to lead the way in sustainable living.

BOSS thanks everyone involved, from the Department of Environment and Resource Management, the Outlook, the Scenic Rim Regional Council, those who donated raffle prizes, local produce, plants and baked goods, and our wonderful band of volunteers, entertainers, stall holders and visitors, for their wonderful enthusiasm in embracing World Environment Day.

“It’s heartening to know that members of our community are aware and committed to sharing the ideals of working towards a more sustainable and greener place in which to live and achieving a sense of well being and caring for themselves, country and each other, “ says Sharon.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

mt barney lodge birdweek

Birdweek is held during National Threatened Species Week - 8-12 September 2010, and is the ideal time to reflect on and appreciate bird biodiversity.The threatened Glossy Black Cockatoo and endangered Eastern Bristlebird are both local inhabitants of the Mt Barney Area. Mt Barney Lodge has an onsite conservation project for the Glossy Black Cockatoo, is a partner of the Glossy Black Conservancy, and supports Eastern Bristlebird surveys in the area.

Birdweek “Conservation through Education” over one exciting week, Mount Barney Lodge will be hosting bird experts who will conduct guided tours, slideshows and structured workshops to extend your birding knowledge. This program is suitable for amateur or intermediate birders.

Birdweek Leader Barry Davies from Gondwana Guides (Winner of the 2005 and 2009 Australian Eco Guide of the Year) will be the lead guide for the field trips, and will conduct early morning, day and evening guided birdwalks. Barry also lives within the Scenic Rim, and is well known nationally and internationally for his birding expertise. Other leaders will also be on hand to ensure that the leader to participant ratio is personal.

Birdweek Packages - 2 day all inclusive packages (Wed-Fri or Thurs-Sun) start from $3954, and day (Wed-Sun) all inclusive packages start from $775.

A full Birdweek program is available upon request by phoning 07 5544 3233 or email Mt Barney Lodge or visit their website.


Image courtesy of Glossy Black Conservancy

Thursday, June 3, 2010

world environment day program


Free workshops all day, entertainment, great food, wine, stalls and displays focusing on the hand made, locally grown, sourced and created (or recreated) products - featuring low food miles.

Main Stage
9.30am Official Opening
9.40am Welcome to Country
11.00am Recycled Fashion Parade
12.00 – 3pm Live Music
1.30pm Earth Mama Belly Dance

Junk Orchestra Workshops
10am – 10.30am
11am – 11.30am

Sustainability Talks
10.30am – 11.00am
11.30 am – 12noon

Drumming Workshops
9.00am – 9.30am
10.15am – 10.45am
11.30am – 12noon

Altered Art Workshops
11.30am – 12.30pm
2.00pm – 3.00pm

Wildlife Presentations
10.30am – 11.00am
12.30pm – 1.00pm