Thursday, July 26, 2012

boonah's anti-fracking day of action

It's world anti-fracking day on Saturday July 28 and we’re marking it in Boonah.

As people gather across the world for Anti-Fracking Day, Boonah’s holding an event with live music and lots of information to raise awareness of the impacts of coal and coal seam gas mining, and of course fracking.

Organised by the Boonah Organisation for a Sustainable Shire (BOSS) with subcommittee Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic, secretary Julie Jackson invites members of the community to come along and participate in this peaceful day of action in the Council Forecourt in Boonah’s High Street.

“There’s lots happening in our region and Saturday morning provides a good opportunity to show your support and find out about upcoming events and activities.”


“People can learn about how to get involved in our planned Coal and CSG Free Community Declarations, Linda Weston’s 100km Walk against Coal and Gas and find out more about the potential Croftby open cut coal mine.”

“Live music will feature our talented local musicians performing original enviro pop and folk songs such as Pound of Plastic, The Value of Money, and Clean Air by Eat them Like Apples, and Save our Scenic Rim by Linda Weston and Cameron Mitchell.”

“It’s our way of recognising Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon’s recently launched Artists against Fracking, an initiative of musicians, actors and other celebrities to build awareness of the destructive effects of fracking.”

Coal Seam Gas company Arrow Energy has already used the controversial 'hydraulic fracture' or fracking process near Beaudesert and within 100m of the Logan River – the Beaudesert region’s town water supply and a supply which will soon be linked to the main South East Queensland water grid - so that's the drinking water for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and many built-up areas in between.

Fracking - a process used to help release difficult to extract coal seam gas - is controversial because of the chemicals used in the process, as well as its potential to contaminate underground water supplies. Worldwide, many countries have banned or put on hold the fracking process until it can be shown to be safe.

“Our objectives are the same: let's put the science first and safeguard our precious water supplies.”









sunday's community tree planting

Boonah is celebrating National Tree Day with a community tree planting at the Helen Houghton Reserve on Sunday July 29, starting at 9am.

Arranged by the Boonah Organisation for a Sustainable Shire (BOSS) together with Bob and the Houghton family, BOSS secretary Julie Jackson invites members of the community to participate.

“Everyone’s welcome to get involved and plant a tree. It will be a lovely day to get outside and enjoy the winter sunshine in our environment. We’ll be extending on the plantings which so many people were involved in at last year’s official opening. People are also welcome to donate trees as long as they are native, hardy and frost tolerant.”

“After the work is done, we’ll be providing a delicious morning tea to thank participants and allow them to relax and catch up with friends. The morning tea will be over the road at the Organic Shed which will be open and selling organic produce.”

“We thank the Scenic Rim Regional Council who are providing some of the trees, and would also like to recognize the support of Joe Wild and Greening Australia.”

Last year, BOSS was instrumental in working with Council on behalf of the community to have the site named in Helen’s honour.

 “It’s a fitting tribute to Helen’s commitment to the environment and a way to preserve her memory into the future.”

The official opening was celebrated with a naming ceremony, community planting and morning tea on National Tree Day.

Helen was a staunch environmentalist, keen bushwalker, teacher, active member of many community groups and contributor to many community endeavours. In 2008 Helen was diagnosed with cancer and after a brave struggle, passed away in 2009. 

For many years, Helen was involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme in clearing weeds and planting trees at the site, which is situated just outside Boonah on the southern side of the Dugandan Bridge

Every year BOSS conducts a community planting day with the intention to offset carbon emissions created in other activities during the year. These community planting days are now held annually on National Tree Day.

Friday, July 20, 2012

boonah's anti-fracking day of action

It's world anti-fracking day on Saturday July 28 and we’re marking it in Boonah.

As people gather across the world for Anti-Fracking Day, Boonah’s holding an event with live music and lots of information to raise awareness of the impacts of coal and coal seam gas mining, and of course fracking.

Organised by the Boonah Organisation for a Sustainable Shire (BOSS) with subcommittee Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic, secretary Julie Jackson invites members of the community to come along and participate in this peaceful day of action in the Council Forecourt in Boonah’s High Street.

“There’s lots happening in our region and Saturday morning provides a good opportunity to show your support and find out about upcoming events and activities.”

“People can learn about how to get involved in our planned Coal and CSG Free Community Declarations, Linda Weston’s 100km Walk against Coal and Gas and find out more about the potential Croftby open cut coal mine.”

“Live music will feature our talented local musicians performing original enviro pop and folk songs such as Pound of Plastic, The Value of Money, and Clean Air by Eat them Like Apples, and Save our Scenic Rim by Linda Weston and Cameron Mitchell.

“It’s our way of recognising Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon’s recently launched Artists against Fracking, an initiative of musicians, actors and other celebrities to build awareness of the destructive effects of fracking.”

Coal Seam Gas company Arrow Energy has already used the controversial 'hydraulic fracture' or fracking process near Beaudesert and within 100m of the Logan River - Beaudesert's town water supply and a supply which will soon be linked to the main South East Queensland water grid - so that's the drinking water for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and many built-up areas in between.

Fracking - a process used to help release difficult to extract coal seam gas - is controversial because of the chemicals used in the process, as well as its potential to contaminate underground water supplies. Worldwide, many countries have banned or put on hold the fracking process until it can be shown to be safe.

“Our objectives are the same: let's put the science first and safeguard our precious water supplies.”



Thursday, July 12, 2012

national tree day

we are celebrating National Tree Day with a community tree planting at the Helen Houghton Reserve on Sunday July 29, and everyone's invited.

trees will be supplied by the Scenic Rim Regional Council with support from Greening Australia.

arranged by the Boonah Organisation for a Sustainable Shire, the annual community planting days work to offset carbon emissions created in other activities.

the day officially starts at 9am, but some keen workers will be there earlier to do a bit of planting and clearing. everyone is more than welcome to join us. Feel free to bring along any trees you'd like to offer to the site - as long as they are native and reasonably frost hardy. it would be great if you could also bring along implements to help.

to thank everyone for their contributions, there’ll be a free morning tea over the road at the Organic Shed which will be open and selling their great organic produce.

here's our
event details from the planet ark national tree day site, and pictures from previous community planting days at helen's reserve and the fassifern reserve.

Friday, July 6, 2012

watercolours for everyone

Saturday 14th July 2012 9am - 4pm

This inspiring workshop will equip participants with the foundations to paint  in situ with this wonderful medium. You will learn to put the right mark in the right place and produce great watercolours!

Terry’s workshops both in Australia and overseas always fill quickly.

Terry travels extensively tutoring in the Greek Islands, Tuscany, Finland, France and Croatia. He was commissioned by the RSL to trek and produce exhibitions on the Kokoda Track in New Guinea.


Cost is $50 per person, and places are limited. The workshop will be held at the picturesque Lake Moogerah CafĂ© area.


Contact Julie Maddocks on 0408 158 356 for further information and to register.