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January/February 2025 Newsletter

“Nature doesn’t care about our economic siloes, short-term cycles and measurement frameworks. What matters in the end is generating tangible systemic change that realigns our economy with the truth that we. are. nature.”

(Kaj Lofgren, CEO of Regen Melbourne, spoken at the  Global Nature Positive Summit 2024)

Welcome to the late January/February 2025 edition of Localising Leanganook ‘s e-newsletter. Enjoy our feature article on Degrowth, prepared by Castlemaine’s Anitra Nelson, convenor of Degrowth Central Victoria.   The newsletter also includes regular updates on upcoming local events for late January and the month of February, 2025,  plus activities, reading material and podcasts that contribute towards localisation.  We hope you enjoy it.

Cheers, Nikki, Keppel, and Laurel

Note to Contributors and Readers

Localising Leanganook’s e-news continues to grow from strength to strength, reaching more than 700 subscribers. The monthly newsletter  includes an ever expanding range of localising events, programs and creative initiatives  in  our central Victorian region.  If you’ve got items for inclusion in future editions, let our editing team know – nikki.marshall@mmnet.com.au. To help our editing team, please email through your information in the following format: program/project/event name plus date, time and location if relevant; summary of event/issue/program, in word format; accompanying photo as a JPEG or PNG only.

  1. Feature Article: ‘Degrowth‘ by Anitra Nelson 
  2. Arts and Culture
  3. Food Growing, Farming and Food Security
  4. Ecology and Environment
  5. First Nations
  6. Sustainable Living Resources
  7. Building Community
  8. The Spirit and the Sacred
  9. Local Government News
  10. Workshops and Courses
  11. Letters
  12. Food for Thought

Feature Article: ‘Degrowth’ by Anitra Nelson 

Degrowth is a movement for living the good life – without it costing Earth or on the back of other people. The two great challenges people all around the globe and Earth face today are various unsustainabilities – out of control carbon emissions are just the tip of the iceberg – and massive inequalities, including inadequate food to eat and homelessness.

No wonder there is so much conflict. People in the majority world face exploitation of Earth and themselves but those of us in the minority world feel helpless against the commercial and political interests deciding our futures. It is hard not to be overwhelmed. This is where a ‘small is beautiful’ (EF Schumacher) approach is useful. Degrowth is about (re)localisation, us working collectively, with conviviality and through commoning. What does that mean in practice?

In central Victoria we already have many activities characterising degrowth. Collective self-provisioning in food, foods grown organically, shared with one another (including through food pantries), prepared simply and enjoyed by eating together (pot luck dinners). Repair cafés, and (re)learning all the skills we need to make, renew and extend the life of clothes, headwear, footwear, household furniture and garden tools. People building or renovating modestly sized homes using long lasting natural second hand materials are practising degrowth, whether they know it or not.

Degrowth shares many aims of other sustainability and environmental campaigns and movements. But it has an anti-growth focus. Kate Raworth created a sustainable doughnut model – an image of planetary limits and social thresholds – indicating ranges for sustainable livelihoods. Degrowth advocates have revised this model to integrate more degrowth characteristics in a special degrowth doughnut. Similarly degrowth activists argue for a special kind of circular economy that emphasises reducing and doing things collectively. Tool libraries offer ways for all people to share the use of equipment and appliances. The Brisbane Tool library was started in 2017 by degrowth activists. Here they explain how they weave together (re)localisation, working collectively, with commoning.

“The Brisbane Tool Library goal is to enable, co-build and accelerate a transition towards a more socially just and ecologically sustainable society. It contributes to a larger degrowth movement that aims at an equitable downscaling of production and consumption that increases human well-being and enhances ecological conditions at the local and global level, in the short and long term. By bringing people together to share resources and skills, the Brisbane Tool Library aims at modelling a circular economy based on the commons. Commons are defined as resources that are taken care of by a community who do not individually own the items but who have the right to use them. The commons involve sharing the items, and by sharing the aim is to reduce demand of energy and resources, so that society could move beyond consumerism and productivism.

By prioritising access over ownership the Brisbane Tool Library contributes in reducing the ecological footprint of the community, reducing inequalities, saving money and space in people’s homes. Most importantly, the community-driven circular economy implemented challenges the unsustainable growth-driven system and becomes a way to build a web of social relations fostering different ways of valuing and sharing the world around us. The commons represent ways to produce sustainable human livelihoods.” (From – ‘Our mission’ at the ‘Who Are We? And What We Do…’ page of the Brisbane tool library site – https://www.brisbanetoollibrary.org/about-us/who-we-are)

Here are two upcoming degrowth events/sessions in February 2025- more information below in the Sustainable Living Resources section:

  1.  Degrowth advocate Tammi Jonas (from Jonai Farm in Blampied, Central Victoria) will speak at the Castlemaine Free University, on 3rd February at 6pm at Northern Arts Hotel, about food sovereignty and pig farming the degrowth way.
  2. Castlemaine Community House is running a free short course on degrowth 5 February–5 March, see details and book here – https://cch.org.au/courses/degrowth-course/

Arts and Culture

Newstead Live Folk Festival

When:  Friday January 24 – Monday 27 2025

What and where: Australian folk-roots music festival in the historic country town of Newstead on Dja Dja Wurrung country.  Offering a range of diverse and highly regarded international and national artists performing across various venues. Immerse yourself in the full festival experience!  Beyond the live performances, dive into interactive workshops, splash at the family-friendly pool party, and browse unique treasures at the market stalls.  Food vendors and a wine bar onsite, and spacious camping available, be sure to book a site.

For more information: https://www.newsteadlive.com/

Newstead Arts Hub

Small Sculpture Prize entries NOW OPEN- Entries close 22 Jan 2025. Exhibition Dates, 7-30 March 2025. Humanitix link to enter! Cost to enter – $30 or $15 for the Youth prize (21 & under). Win over $1000 in prizes.

PopUp-ShowUp exhibition & Members’ sign-up- Sat 1 Feb 4pm- This exhibition showcases the diverse talents and interests of Newstead Arts Hub members.Come along, bring a creation of your own – stitched, painted, woven, grown, drawn, carved, knitted … your choice. You don’t need to be an artist. This will form the exhibition open to the public Sun 2, and 8 & 9 Feb, 10am-4pm.  Annual membership is $30 or $15 concession.

Art Hang –Every Wednesday from 11am -2pm. Starting 15 Jan. Come along to hang out with other artists. Bring something you are working on and your lunch. This is a free, informal way of sharing space with others, creating connections and having a set time to get your art going! Art Hang is open to all, whether a hobbyist or full time artist.

Newstead Writers: Shut Up and Write Newstead Writers welcome writers to Shut Up and Write sessions at the Newstead Arts Hub, the fourth Friday of the month, 1-5pm and  evening sessions 5.30-8pm. We are starting up again Friday 28 February 2025, 1-5pm. Please call Leni 0466612972 with any questions.

Making great writing: Young writers’ workshops.  The second of two workshops for young writers with award-winning local writer Cate Kennedy is on Saturday February 15 at the Hub. Six young writers, aged 15-18 years, joined the first workshop in December and have been working with Cate on their holiday writing projects since.The workshop is already booked out but  if you’re keen to explore your writing creativity, let us know by emailing Leni Shilton at leni.shilton@me.com or calling 0466612972.

Newstead Arts Hub – Home

Yandoit Cultural- Open Mic

When: Saturday February 15th, 4.00pm

Where: Yandoit Cultural, the old church in the bush, Uniting Church Rd , off High St, Yandoit.  

Come, share and listen to others as we tell stories, poems, sing songs, play musical pieces, tell local history and more. Everyone can have their  5-10 minutes, creating a rich mosaic and giving a taste of local talent, knowledge and creativity.

Entry by donation. Contact Nikki via email (nikki.marshall@mmnet.com.au) or phone (0432 232 073) with your Open Mic offers. Or just turn up on the day.

Radius Arts- Dimnesional You with Gav Barbey

https://www.radiusart.com.au/

Castlemaine’s Mechanics Lane

An outdoor space that runs live music, performances and community events. Local musicians and artists are taking over the public space in the warmer months with live music, performances and DJs, a dance class, sound healing, and more.

For more information contact Sam Thomas, Creative Programs Officer,

03 5471 1700 or s.thomas@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Northern Arts Hotel

THE COOLROOM DIARY [Click on links for event details] MUSIC GIGS  [Usually at 7.30pm, Sunday at 6pm]
Sat 25 Jan – Sat 22 Feb | Summer of 2025; Coolroom Jazz
Sat 25 January | The Anticlinal Fold Summer Concert
Sat 1 February | Jack Pantazis Trio
Fri 31 Jan – Sun 2 Feb | Castlemaine Guitar Weekend
Geoff Achison Concert & Blues Guitar Workshop
Jack Pantakis Concert & Jazz Guitar Workshop
Eric McCusker Concert & Songwriting Workshop

Fri 7 Feb | Fringe Fundraiser: Damon Smith Trio & The Vintage Vixens
Sat 8 Feb, 7.30pm & Sun 9 Feb, 2.30pm | Greta Garbo’s ‘The Kiss’
with live music composed & performed by Maggie Jackson NY Jazz Trio

Sat 15 February | Swing That Music: Celebrating Louis Armstrong
Sat 22 February | Greta Williams Jazz Quartet
Friday 7 March | Peter O’Mara: Prime Time

FILM
Sunday 12 January 2.30pm | Sunday Secret Movie Matinee
Sat 18 Jan 2.30pm + 7.30pm Sun 19 Jan 6pm | To Thank The Room
Sunday 19 January 2.30pm | Sunday Secret Movie Matinee
SPOKEN WORD & REGULAR GROUPS
Thursday 16 January, 7.30pm | Guildford Folk Club 
Friday 24 January, 6pm | Ross Donlon: 20 years of Poetry in Castlemaine.
Monday 3 February, 6pm | CFU:Agroecology & Food Sovereignty
NORTHERN ARTS HOTEL
21 Mar- 6 Apr 2025 | MPG | Maine Perfectly Playable Public Pianos
Ongoing | Ethiopia, Hudad Plateau: A Self Portrait Series
Every Tuesday | Potluck Dinner from 7.30pm
Nightly Dusk to Dawn | Wimble St Wall Nightly

Public Art Forum

Join local experts Gretchen Hillhouse, Laura Jade and Dan Mitchell at a free forum to learn what’s involved in planning and commissioning local public art. The presenters will discuss what is currently happening in public art in Mt Alexander shire, recent projects, the possibilities of public art, the commissioning process including First Nations considerations, and more. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the forum where audience members can ask questions of public art experts.

When: Wednesday 5 February, 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Where: Castlemaine Art Museum
Cost: Free  Book: events.humanitix.com/behind-the-scenes-of-public-art

Food Growing, Farming and Food Security

Orchard Keepers

Locally grown Organic stone fruit is available from :

Castlemaine Farmers Market– Wednesday Weekly Market – 2:30-5:30 , Camp Reserve, Forest Street Castlemaine (near the Railway Line) and Sunday Monthly Market – first Sunday of the month, 9am to 1 pm Western Reserve, Forest Street, Castlemaine. We have plenty of fruit ripening over the coming few weeks and we are once again able to offer fruit boxes and specials. You can order them through our page on the Open Food Network and pick them up from the Wednesday market if ordered by 10 am on Wednesday, or from our on-farm shop (see details below).  Sunday Market pick up will also be available if ordered by 1 pm the Thursday before.

And also from the Farm Shop: If you can’t make it to market, we prefer if you can pick up your fruit from the farm on Wednesday arvo or Thursday, but pick up can be done other days if you need to. If you’ve ordered a box it will be in the black fridges (inside the door to the left) with your name on it. PLEASE NOTE: THE FARM SHOP IS NOT STAFFED, THIS OPTION IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO PICK-UP PRE-ORDERED BOXES. https://theorchardkeepers.com.au/

Glenlucian Fields- at Wesley Hill Market

Every Saturday morning at Wesley Hill market

Sourcing Fresh Cert. Organic and Biodynamic Produce along with Local Chemical-Free, sold at competitive prices.

Expanding Bulk Dry-Goods range continues this week with Beautiful Demeter Certified, Biodynamic Spelt Grain and Flour. Whole-grains Milled Fresh this week and straight to the market thanks to Mallee Farmer Damien.

https://www.facebook.com/profile

Two Fold Bakehouse

Local bread for the local community- Community Supported Bakery 

By ordering Thursday bread you are joining our bread family of farmers, millers and bakers who work to regenerate the land and value small scale, local food systems. Your support means we can bake to order, with no bread going to waste. Thursday bread, ordered online weekly as a one off, or monthly as a subscription with pick up each Thursday from Daylesford, Yandoit or Kyneton hubs.

Also available at Daylesford Sunday Railway Market – every second weekend and Hepburn Wholefoods Collective Fresh bread every Thursday from 3:30pm

Read our story

Mt Franklin Organics

A small, stand alone solar powered, certified organic produce farm growing a range of heirloom herbs & vegetables for Daylesford and surrounds. Florian grows a variety of Fresh produce on volcanic soil around Lalgambuk (Mt Franklin) including tomatoes, berries , stone fruit, greens garlic , herbs , fruit tress and seeds.
Produce available at Daylesford’s Sunday market or at the farm gate on Saturday afternoons. You will need  to pre-order for Saturday farm gate by Friday night. Pickup Address is 180 church Rd, Mt Franklin, come down the driveway and park at the shed, if you get lost ring 0412 517 013.

Local abattoir closes to small scale regenerative meat farmers

Small scale regenerative meat farmers in central Victoria are significantly affected by the recent decision of Hardwick’s abattoir, in Kyneton, to close their books to small scale farmers, after sale to a foreign owned company.  This means that local small scale farmers, producing organically grown meat,  can no longer get their meat to the butcher and are unable to legally sell their meat. Other abattoirs licensed to process organic animals are several hours’ drive away and transporting animals longer distances risks stressing them.
If you want to help rally towards local food production  sign the petition:

Castlemaine Farmers Market- Weekly and Monthly

WEEKLY – WEDNESDAY 2:30PM TO 5:30PM
CAMP RESERVE – FOOTBALL OVAL, FOREST STREET – CASTLEMAINE
Monthly: First Sunday of each month, 9am to 1pm

Ecology and Environment

Water in our landscape is shrinking

Geoff Park’s recetnly posted in his Natural Newstead blog that “Little more than 12 months ago the landscape was supercharged with water – the Loddon River and its contributing streams flowing steadily, the major wetlands of the Moolort Plains looking terrific after a wet 2022 and Cairn Curran close to capacity (89% same time last year). While 2023 rainfall (532mm) was close to the long-term average (538mm) we are now well and truly in a drying phase and the ‘pool’ of water in the landscape is shrinking fast. Interestingly Joyce’s Creek, just 5km west of Newstead, reported only 438mm in 2024, well below the long-term average of 503mm.

When this happens there are three fundamental effects on birds that associate with water and riparian habitats:

  1. They depart in search of water elsewhere – birds such as crakes and Black-tailed Native-hens, that appeared in large numbers in 2022 on local wetlands and depend on water for breeding, are nomadic and will ‘pack and go’ when conditions are no longer suitable.
  2. They find refuge in the remaining areas of suitable habitat – in riparian areas along major waterways, around pools and fringing habitat like reed beds and sedge lands.
  3. They perish, with many younger birds and weaker individuals unable to withstand the lack of food and shelter.
Photo: Brown quail in Muckleford creek           https://geoffpark.wordpress.com/

Women’s Climate Congress

When and Where:  Friday 28th to 30th March, Castlemaine Town Hall

The stage is set for an unparalleled gathering of visionary leaders, changemakers, and advocates at the Victorian Congress 2025, taking place from 28–30 March 2025 at the iconic Castlemaine Town Hall. This event is a beacon for women, in all diversity, and women’s organisations committed to driving meaningful action for climate sustainability, women’s leadership and community empowerment.The Congress will feature a dynamic program of keynotes, workshops, and panel discussions that delve into critical issues facing Australia and beyond, from climate resilience, innovative governance and business practices,to cultural inclusivity and women’s leadership. With its theme of “Building women’s empowerment in the climate crisis”, the event offers a unique platform for collaboration, learning, and action.

https://womensclimatecongress.com/vic-congress-2025-program

Group Coaching Forum, Climate Coaching Alliance

What: An online forum hosted by Newstead’s Laurel Freeland along with Claire Harvey Alan Taylor
When :  February 13, 2025, 4.30pm – 6.00pm (AEDT) Online

We are exploring the question of how do we best support our clients to generate eco and climate awareness in action?
This will be an interactive session to discover what is most needed at this time, what you can hold as a coach, the skills and attributes you want to hone, the questions to ask, the topics to explore. Come if you want to share with colleagues about where our individual and collective focus will be best served in 2025.
How do we work with our clients and each other to raise eco and climate awareness in action? We would like to create a monthly agenda that each of us can lead if there is interest.  Click the registration button on the CCA site: https://lnkd.in/g6CGm_U3

Newstead Natives- Seeding Our Future

When and Where: Saturday 22 February 2025, 9.00am -1.00pm, at Newstead Natives Nursery, 4 Palmerston Street Newstead VIC

The second Seeding Our Future workshop is coming up on 22 February 2025: Propagation Workshop with Newstead Natives. This workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to learn from expert nursery person Frances Cincotta who will demonstrate various propagation techniques for some of our local indigenous plants. The workshop will include:

  • Seed sowing
  • Propagating from Cuttings
  • Propagating through the division of plants

The workshop will also include a short presentation from Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA).

Cost: $20   Morning tea and lunch will be provided.   For bookings – click here For more information: Hadley Cole at Connecting Country www.connectingcountry.org.au 

Plant Selector Guide- Grow your native garden

Plant Selector is a tool to help you choose indigenous plants that will thrive in your garden and support local wildlife. It will enable you to confidently select indigenous plants that will thrive in your garden and create habitat for local wildlife, by putting local plant knowledge at your fingertips for 100 species found in Mt Alexander shire and surrounds. Use this tool before you purchase plants to identify the right plant for you, your garden and for the environmental conditions of your site. Simply filter the list of 100 plants to find the plant you need, based on criteria that include plant height, tolerance to drought and waterlogging, horticultural uses and the wildlife that you want to attract and support through habitat creation. By growing local plants in local gardens, you can help create win-win landscapes that support both the wellbeing of people and biodiversity in our shire.

This tool was created by Dr Cassia Read who, over many years, collected ecological and horticultural information about local species suitable for gardens. She recorded this information in a database, accompanied by a large collection of photos. All plants included on this website are found growing naturally across Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country). We acknowledge the work of Dja Dja Wurrung in caring for Djandak over millennia and we hope this website will support the essential work of healing this upside down Country.

Try Plant Selector

Bird of the Month- Wedge-tailed Eagle

Connecting Country’s Bird of the month is the Wedge-tailed Eagle. ‘Wedgies’ as they are often known, can be seen all over the Mount Alexander region, usually soaring on thermals at great heights, identifiable by their characteristic wedge shape tail and broad up-swept wings. Recently a pair cruised over the Campbells Creek bush, just high enough to clear the ridges, sending some of the local birds into a panic of alarm calls. Interestingly, wedgies don’t always illicit alarm calls from other bird species. My best guess is that potential prey bird species know if a Wedgie is on the hunt or not, and therefore if they are in danger of becoming a meal. Australia’s largest bird of prey and one of the largest eagles in the world, it is more common across the inland plains and it tends to avoid human habitation when building a nest. Wedge-tailed Eagles are quite adaptable when breeding with nesting sites ranging from large trees on hillsides, low trees in desert areas, on cliffs, in rain forests and even on the ground on islands. Density of bird territories varies widely. In years of abundant rabbit populations pairs may nest within 700m of each other. In more difficult years a territory may be several square kilometres and some pairs will not breed. Nest are seemingly enormous heaps of messy sticks.

Diet is varied with rabbits composing a significant proportion when available, but the eagles are known to take a variety of carrion and road-kill when available as well as wood duck, ibis, raven, galah, cockatoo and even other raptors. They are also known to harass other predators such as other raptors and even foxes to steal food. The colour of their plumage varies – very dark birds are often older adults, but this is not always the case, with some lighter coloured birds recorded breeding. At times, fledglings can even be darker than their parents. 

https://connectingcountry.org.au/category/birds/

Rabbit Control field day

Throughout 2024/25 Connecting Country is running a Partnerships Against Pests project in partnership with local Landcare groups and other organisations. In February 2025 we will be teaming up with Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) to host a Rabbit Control Workshop which will focus on a number of different control methods.
Pest animals pose devastating threats to biodiversity. They compete with native wildlife for food and habitat, prey on wildlife and stock, intensify grazing pressure on pastures, crops and native plants, spread weeds, and cause significant erosion and waterway damage. Rabbits are a particularly successful pest animals with a rabbit pair capable of birthing up to 180 rabbits in just under 18 months if conditions are ideal.  You will learn integrated management techniques for controlling rabbits and will include an introduction to various control methods, demonstrations on how to use a bait layer or set up a bait station and a look at the impacts of rabbit harbour and burrowing systems and how to manage them. For more information and bookings – click here
When and Where: Saturday 15 February 9:30am – 1:30pm at  Harcourt ANA Hall, Harcourt and demonstration site in Harcourt (TBC)

Wombat Forestcare-  Newsletter

Cortinarius sinapicolor © Alison Pouliot

Wombat Forestcare is a community group dedicated to protecting and enhancing the natural ecosystems of the Wombat Forest and surrounding areas.The Wombat Forest contains a diverse range of native plants and animals, including a number that are listed as rare or threatened, such as Powerful Owl and the Wombat Bush Pea. As well as these natural values, the Wombat is a significant water catchment area, giving rise to six rivers.

Wombat Forestcare engages in a range of activities. These have a strong focus on community involvement and education, and include undertaking flora and fauna surveys. We also enjoy the social aspect of a forest group, with picnics and bushwalks for people who love being in the bush.

Here’s a link to Wombat Forestcare’s newsletters: https://www.wombatforestcare.org.au/index.php?page=Newsletters

Elphinstone Land Management Association & Taradale Landcare pollinator planting

In 2023 Connecting Country received funding through the Victorian Landcare Grants for a pollinator corridor project; The Bee Line project. The project has involved working with five Landcare groups in the Mount Alexander region to coordinate the planting of 1600 pollinator attracting plants with the aim of further expanding pollinator corridors. Research demonstrates a serious global decline in pollinators due to habitat loss, a lack of connectivity between isolated pockets of habitat and climate change. By ensuring restoration efforts include pollinator attracting plant species and are connected to existing bushland or restoration sites, we can help to build resilience across ecosystems at the landscape scale. Pollinators form the backbone of the natural environment and by increasing connected habitat for a diverse range of their life forms, we are encouraging populations to thrive which will have a flow on affect to all flora and fauna across the Mount Alexander Shire.

The plantings aim to increase connectivity through corridors from Elphinstone to the Taradale Cemetery, through to Taradale township. These strategic plantings aim to allow pollinators to move through the landscape and hopefully lead to an increase in populations of local pollinators by providing additional food and habitat resources.Project funded by North Central Catchment Management Authority through the 2023 Victorian Landcare Grants.

Photo:   Planting site on  roadside in the Elphinstone township- Lynette Hills.

Guildford and Upper Loddon Landcare – Revival Meeting

When and Where: Guildford hall, opposite the pub, at 7.30pm on Tuesday evening February 11th 2025.

We are hoping to discover some new folk who might re-energise the Group.  Our weeds whisperer has reliable reports of four foot rabbits… wasps are gathering at the borders and weird weeds are sending out runners willy nilly! African Feather grass, Chilean Needle grass, Mexican Alligator grass! Where are the dung beetles when you need them?  Fictitous grasses aside, we are looking for peoples passion and ideas for what to focus on and where.
Interested? Send an email to guildfordlandcare@gmail.com advising or updating our files with your name /phone number /email address /residential address.

First Nations

Survival Day Community Event

When: Sunday 26 January, 10.00am to 2.00pm
Where: Victory Park, Castlemaine
Cost: Free  Online: You can also watch the live stream on our YouTube channel

Join a free, family-friendly community event to celebrate and acknowledge Australia Day – Survival Day in Mount Alexander Shire on Sunday January 26th. The day will include: Welcome to Country; Citizenship and awards ceremony; Survival Day concert’ Free catering by local businesses; Two Auslan interpreters. The concert features live music programmed by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson, who will also MC. It begins at 11.30am, and will include performances by Uncle Kutcha Edwards and Friends, and more.

Sustainable Living Resources

Castlermaine Free University- Agroecology and Food Sovereignty

Short Degrowth Course in Castlemaine- free

BOOK NOW HEREhttps://cch.org.au/courses/degrowth-course/

Repair Cafes for January and February

Daylesford

Sunday February 16th, 1-4pm at Victoria Park Pavillion, Ballan Rd Daylesford.

Includes Workshop on knife and tool sharpening

Castlemaine

Sunday January 26th, 10am -1pm, at castlemaine Community House, Templeton St

Sunday February 23rd, 10am -1pm, at castlemaine Community House, Templeton St

Creswick

Sunday Sunday February 16th, 1-4pm at Creswick Neighbourhood Centre

Time and Date: 6.30pm-8.30pm,  Tuesdays, 11 February to 18 March
Where: Castlemaine Community House  Instructor: Ell
Learn practical sewing skills and how to combine them with your creativity to freshen up your wardrobe, having fun and learning with others. We will collectively learn specific skills needed for each person’s chosen project.Ell learned sewing at the feet, then knees, then waist of her mother, a professional seamstress, along with a rich variety of Croatian expressions.Bookings close Thursday 6 February 2025  BOOK NOW

Cost: $97.50 (Full) / $92.50 (Early Bird Discount – available until 3 February) / $82.50 (Concession)

Local Futures

Feminine Futures Webinar Series

When: 5 February – 30 April 2025

Our new webinar series “Feminine Futures” takes us through the spiritual, psychological, and ecological benefits of localization: bringing our economies home and rebuilding our connections to one another and the natural world.  We will see how localization works as a solution-multiplier and draw on lessons from indigenous knowledge systems. Importantly, Feminine Futures is not about gender.  It’s about giving more space to the caring, nurturing, and life-giving within society itself.

In this FREE 7 part series, we will: Rethink progress and the global economy from a feminine living-world perspective; Draw on lessons from indigenous knowledge systems and practices; Learn about localization as a solution-multiplier; Explore key actions and strategies for systemic change; Look at practices that can help to keep us sane in times of crisis; Share about the growing grassroots movement that is unfolding worldwide.

Our first event is on 5 February, featuring Helena Norberg-Hodge speaking on “Resisting Globally, Renewing Locally”Find out more 

Here’s some other Local Futures resources:

Three new Planet Local Voices episodes,

Three new blogposts,

Our most recent animation, Trade Gone Mad,

Our catalogue of award-winning films, books,

And an invitation to anyone based in Australia who might wish to partake in an online research group and workshop about the localization/new economy movement on this continent (set to take place in the new year)

Rob Hopkins Podcast: Rob Hopkins is an author and the co-founder of Transition Network. In this interview, Rob inspires with the story of how the Transition Movement has for years been practically demonstrating a more resilient, healthy, and beautiful future in communities around the world. He also explains how this movement represents an urgently needed break with the (neo-)colonial globalized economy, and emphasizes the need to boost the radical collective imagination of what is possible as an antidote to despair and hopelessness. Listen to the podcast

Michael Shuman Podcast: A Stanford-trained lawyer and economist, Michael Shuman is the world’s pre-eminent expert on local finance, sharing practical tools to reclaim wealth from Wall Street for the benefit of communities. In this interview, Michael contends with the prevailing globalist strategies for economic development and thoroughly debunks them, beating conventional economists at their own game. With a robust research base, he sketches alternate strategies for economic development that focus on supporting small-scale enterprises and local economies, promising cascading benefits for society, community prosperity and the planet.    Listen to the podcast

Morag Gamble Podcast: Morag Gamble is an award-winning permaculture teacher and designer and the founder of the Permaculture Education Institute. In this interview, Morag elucidates the deep, mutually reinforcing ties between permaculture and the localization movement. As Morag puts it in the interview, permaculture “shows the deep possibilities of what a more local way of being can do in terms of nourishing our souls, nourishing our stomachs, nourishing our communities, and nourishing life itself.”  Listen to the podcast

https://www.localfutures.org/

T͏rentham Fashion Swap and Learn to Sew

Trentham Fashion Swap is offering our first Learn to Sew class over 4 Tuesdays in Feb & March, at the Mechanics Hall in Trentham. You’ll learn the basics of using a sewing machine, altering, repairing and upcycling clothes. Cost is $20 and it’s totally for beginners, everyone welcome.

‌Here are 2025 dates for clothes swapping events: Summer Swap – 23 Feb 1-3pm; Autumn Swap – 25 May 1-3pm; Spring / Family Swap – 26 Oct 1-3pm. All are Sunday afternoons and at the Mechanics hall , Trentham. For our Family swap we include Men’s and Kids clothing.

­ ͏https://www.facebook.com/people/Trentham-Fashion-Swap/61550297377352/

‌    ­Yimby Community Composting

Yimby aims to reduce methane emissions by diverting organics from landfill and using localised transport; to close the loop on (re)cycling food organics in our local community and to grow the availability of good soil, with compost; and to build community resilience by connecting people in neighbourhoods and building skills. YIMBY exists because we value community-led solutions to global problems and trust that, with support, communities are more adaptive and responsive when we work together.

YIMBY is a community-run backyard composting project based in Castlemaine. YIMBY is a dedicated group of volunteers, and partially paid employees of The Hub Foundation, who coordinate the program. To our knowledge there is no other program like this in Australia.

If you are a residents of Mount Alexander Shire in Victoria, register your interest to have your food scraps collected by one of our ‘Community Composters’: https://www.yimbycompost.com/

Compost Conversations:  The good manure

Note: All YIMBY Compost Conversation articles are available on our website under our new Resource Hub

Hepburn Energy- Community Battery Project

Hepburn Energy partnering with grassroots charity, Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia (CORENA), on our community battery project. We are the first-ever community energy project that they are crowdfunding for. CORENA is a national charity that provides interest-free loans and technical advice for charities, non-profit, community and social-enterprise organisations to enable projects to reduce their carbon emissions and energy usage, including solar, energy efficiency upgrades and electrification.

CORENA is currently fundraising $145,000 to fund their two latest projects including a minimum $100,000 to part-fund our community battery. Community members who want to get behind CORENA while helping Hepburn Energy can make a tax-deductible donation. Currently, you can also have your donation doubled! – a generous donor is currently matching all donations, up to a total of $5,000.

Make a donation and in the “Name you want us to show on Honour role” enter “Gift for [name or initials or nickname].

Circular Economy Guides

Sustainability Victoria recently released a new 3-year strategic plan (2024-2027), which signals a shift to place circular economy at the centre of our focus. This builds on work from the past four years, including the delivery of significant funding and projects via the Circular Economy Communities Fund and Circular Economy Councils Fund. In the interests of sharing the learnings from these programs with the wider community, Sustainability Victoria recently published the Community Circular Economy Guides. These guides exist as a knowledge bank, providing step-by-step guidance on the set up and operation of community circular economy initiatives, including: Repair hubs and cafes; Bicycle repair and recyclers; Food rescue and distribution; Food waste organics / composting; Hard waste recovery; Textile waste; Hard to recycle items.

For more information email: tim.mcintosh-hannah@sustainability.vic.gov.au

Hepburn Shire Circular Organics study

Hepburn Shire has received a Circular Economy Organics Council Fund grant from the Victorian Government through Sustainability Victoria for our ‘Optimising compost quality for beneficial application’ project. The study will look at how we can use the compost, made from food and garden organics collected kerbside, to improve our local soils and tree health. We are trying to make the best possible compost to bring life to our soils, so please help us by keeping your food and garden organics bin clean.

Read more about the project in our recent media release and visit our circular organics page to find out more on the project progress.

Building Community

Daylesford Museum/Historical Society- Waterfalls Exhibition

Featuring images and promotional materials designed to encourage residents and tourists to visit these magical waterfalls. Always popular with artists, learn about Eugene Von Guerard being here in 1864 and his sketch and painting of the waterfalls at Glenlyon.
 
When: The exhibition opens SAT 18th JAN till SAT 22nd FEB  11am – 3pm 
Where: Daylesford Museum/Historical Society- Vincent St, Daylesford 

Castlemaine Community Cooperative- Update on Hub purchase

At the AGM at the end of 2024, the Board then gave an update on plans to purchase the Hub and put it in the hands of the community. The Co-op:

  • has now 170 members and was able to fundraise $20k towards legal checks and due diligence for the Hub purchase.
  • has received the building inspection report for the Hub and overall, the building is in good condition for its age, partly because of the substantial renovations made by the current owners to improve sustainability.
  • will soon undertake the final due diligence steps – an independent property valuation and a legal due diligence check (after we receive documents from the vendor).
  • has designed a funding mechanism we plan to use for the Hub – a type of fixed term loan with a modest return on investment. The funding mechanism has been checked by local lawyers and is currently being finalised. Unfortunately, the Co-operatives National Law prevents us from publishing more details before it is officially approved, but we will as soon as we are able to.

Members voted to  Simplify the Co-op’s Rules: there is now a single membership category, no longer a requirement to attend a minimum number of events, and it’s possible for organisations (such as trusts, companies, self-managed super funds, etc) to become members and support our activities. All members, regardless of type, still only have 1 vote per membership. And also to Appoint a Board of six: Paul van der Wal, Jeanette Pope, Cath Jolly, Angus Gratton, Warwick Smith, and Gwen Hanna.

The Spirit and the Sacred

Yandoit Sacred

The next Yandoit Sacred gathering will be held on  Saturday February 22nd at 2.30pm, at Yandoit Cultural- the old Church in the bush.

 Yandoit Sacred is a sanctuary, a place for stillness and silence, a place for ceremony, prayer, song and ritual. It is a place beyond religious and philosophical divisions where we foster curiosity about how to live in a world with love and joy and wisdom as we face the challenges and big questions for humanity, the Earth and all her species at this time.

Yandoit Sacred meets every six weeks. For more information: http://yandoitcultural.org/yandoit-sacred/ or contact Nikki on 0432 232 073

Sipwell Faith Community

The faith community of Sipwell is made up of people who wish to explore pathways of faith and spirituality outside the usual parameters of the traditional church. Our gatherings are an open invitation, a place for people to come as they are, with all levels of faith or doubt or wondering. Our intention is to be a ‘free and fearless space” to listen for God, and give room for Spirit to move and speak within and among us.

A prayer time at the end of each gathering enables us to voice our thankfulness and concerns to God both as individuals and a group.

What’s in the name? A Sipwell is a hollowed out rock where water gathers. First Nations Australians hollowed out small rock wells to sip from and quench their thirst as they travelled across the land. At our monthly gatherings we also pause, rest, reflect on what’s important in our life journey and be refreshed to continue.

Sipwell is part of the Castlemaine District Uniting Church Parish. Most gatherings are held in the Chapel space at the rear of the main church building at 8-12 Lyttleton St Castlemaine, but sometimes the group gathers outdoors somewhere on country. We meet from 5 until 7pm on the third Saturday of each month, and usually stay after the reflection and prayer time for a shared meal.

Local Government News

Chamber of Peoples- The Peoples’ Priorities for Hepburn

When: Sunday February 23rd: 12.30pm-2.00pm for a pot luck lunch with other locals- (bring a plate to share);  followed by an All Voices Forum from 2.00pm to 6.00pm

Where: Jonai Farm, 129 Morgantis Rd, Eganstown 

The Chamber of Peoples calls all residents living in Hepburn Shire to gather and develop the Peoples’ Priorities for Hepburn. This recently formed community group, (emerging out of  Community Voice- Democratic Renewal in Hepburn Shire), will host an All Voices Forum where key themes can be developed and fleshed out. The Peoples’ Priorities will be offered to Hepburn Shire Council towards the next 4 year plan.

More details and information will be available soon. Contact https://chamberofpeoples.org/ to be added to the contact list and receive additional information about the All Voices Forum and the Chamber of Peoples. 

Mt Alexander Shire-  community input to the budget

The draft budget is a significant document for our community and Council. Councillors must give significant consideration to how and where public funds are spent. The budget sets out the capital works program, the funds and resources required to deliver a wide range of community services, as well as fees and charges for the following year. We’re lucky to have a knowledgeable and passionate community. We use your valuable feedback to inform our projects and general decision-making.

Have your say on the 2025/2026 Budget  You can also submit a project for consideration by using the ‘spend your rates’ tool and provide general input on what you’d like to see included in the 2025/2026 Budget and suggest projects for funding. Feedback until 7 February 2025

Keep an eye on Shape Mount Alexander to be involved in Council decision-making, find a listening post close to you, and stay in the loop on projects and initiatives. Visit Shape Mount Alexander for details

Really Local

We’re a small group of locals interested in connecting community and government in Mount Alexander Shire. We believe that open, respectful dialogue between community, elected representatives, and people working in government is key to bettering communities for its people. (More about us)

Signup for updates: https://www.reallylocal.au/

Positive Ageing in Hepburn Shire

Hepburn Shire’s Positive Ageing Strategy-No Barriers– has 8 focus areas: Communication and information; Community support and health services; Housing; Outdoor spaces and buildings; Transportation; Social participation; Civic participation and employment; Respect and social inclusion.

2021 Census data indicates that the median age of residents in Hepburn Shire is 52 years, with population percentages of older people well above the state average.  Forty six percent (46%) of Hepburn Shire residents are over the age of 55 as compared to twenty eight percent (28%) being the state average. The strategy aims to present a way forward for Council to take action to improve outcomes and address the barriers faced by older people in the community.  https://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Residents/People/Older-people

Workshops and Courses

Transition Workshop- Effective Collaboration for Social Change

Time: Begin:   Your local time: 2025-02-05 03:00. End:   Your local time: 2025-02-05 04:30

Join us for an engaging webinar exploring how groups evolve through the Four Stages of Development—forming, storming, norming, and beyond. Groups have a life of their own, and nurturing this life is essential for a healthy, thriving dynamic. We’ll dive into practical tools for addressing key moments in your group’s journey, from beginnings to endings. Experience hands-on exercises, including the “5 Things” practice, and collaborate in breakout sessions to explore how these approaches can apply to your group. Discover strategies to support your group at every stage and leave with actionable insights!

Check your local timezone here   You will find more details on the Practising Transition website.

Letters

No letters for this edition. We welcome letters for future editions.

Food for Thought

Robyn Wall Kimmerer- Emergence Magazine:
Castlemaine Free University
Download recently released Quit Nukes report Risky Business: An Update on Super Funds and Nuclear Weapons by Rosemary Kelly and Margie Beavis, speakers at the September CFU meeting – https://quitnukes.org/2024-report/ – In 2023, major superannuation funds invested at least $3.4 billion in companies that produce the worst weapons of mass destruction!

Gross National Happiness

https://www.smallgiants.com.au/labs/gross-national-happiness-centre-aus

Local Futures

https://mailchi.mp/c20a18dd9494/meet-the-worldwide-movement-10338503?e=e446f809db

DemystifySci Podcast: It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way with Helena Norberg-Hodge

Helena speaks with the DemystifySci podcast team about finding a brighter future through challenging inherited narratives about progress and assumptions regarding global trade, urbanization, and modern education. The discussion advances to what it means to foster resilience, community connection, and a balanced relationship with the natural world, including our very bodies, in the grips of increasingly powerful global managers.  Catch the episode here.

Wise Older Women radio series with Helena Norberg-Hodge

Helena was featured in a 6-part community radio series that was aired on BayFM, Byron Bay Australia, hosted by Sister Rasela. This series acknowledges the value of older women and their crucial role in society as wisdom holders. Catch Helena’s episode here, and the full series link here.

Social Solidarity Economy

Ruby van der Wekken is a member of RIPESS, a network committed to promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy, as well as Oma Maa, a Finnish food co-operative based on community-supported agriculture (CSA) and ecologically and socially sustainable food production methods. In this interview, Ruby describes the work of Oma Maa and how it exemplifies both solidarity economy and commons principles for fairer, more just and sustainable economies. She also emphasizes the importance of local ownership of the economy, and the need for supportive laws and genuinely democratic governance to enable such alternatives to flourish and spread.  Listen to the podcast

Unborn and Undying- Sufi teacher Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee (from Emergence Magazine)

The mystic knows the expansiveness of time. When in meditation, when dreaming, or when witnessing the quiet beauty of life—the majesty of a mountain range; the morning dew on a spider’s web—one can experience a taste of timelessness.

In this essay Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee shows us how the sacred dimension of time, where the linear is absent, can lead us inwards to silence and emptiness; and outwards, towards an unmediated awareness of the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the Earth. He shares how these inner and outer landscapes are not separate but seamlessly joined by what is unborn and undying—the presence of love in all things. Llewellyn calls us to bring the love we feel in moments of timelessness into our engagement with a dying world. If we’re able to see a reality beyond the confines of the clock, he says, we can begin to remember how our lives connect to the deeper patterns of creation around us.  Read Essay

Biolinks

2024 Monthly Webinar Series

View all webinar recordings here

The Critical Role of Pollinators In Protecting Biodiversity

Climate Proofing Our Forests From The Ground Up

Rewilding Central Victoria Webinars – Part 1 and Part 2 : https://mailchi.mp/2167a013bb78/rewilding-central-victoria-symposium-presentation-recordings?e=9d74c89e7f

Permaculture reads from Milkwood:

https://mailchi.mp/milkwood/permaculture-holiday-reads-for-2024-and-happy-lunistice?e=76c8609995

Why the economic news is always so depressing- The School of Life

It’s little wonder that so many of us switch off whenever the news turns to the economy. Standard economic news is mostly a story of pain, teaching us a lot of very complicated but presumably sound reasons why a great many nice things aren’t possible: why we can’t wave a magic wand and make poor countries rich; why the wealthy can’t be proportionately taxed; why we can’t afford too intense a concern for making the world beautiful and clean. But even if we don’t understand much, sometimes we still wonder whether things are arranged as they should be. Why is there still so much suffering all around? Why do some have so much and others so little? Couldn’t we experiment with bold new ideas in order to create a freer, less anxious, happier world? Read More

 

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