Issue 2 June 2012 Transition Margaret River

Building resilience and happiness in Margaret River and the Capes

Welcome to the second issue of our newsletter, bringing you news about what’s happening to make your community more sustainable and hopeful and how you can be a part of it.

People making a difference organic gardens, to Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades, Landcare, Sea Search and Rescue, Our active community animal rescue, farmers’ and home-made Margaret River Organic Garden markets, local progress and special interest Holiday-makers in the Capes region are often volunteers Robin Trouchet (L) groups. The many groups include Friends of impressed by the surf, scenery, fine wines and and Lyn Hellier hard at work the Cape to Cape Track,, Environment Centre, preparing a south-west native food, galleries and artisans that mark a Climate Action Group, Cape Leeuwin Conser- garden creative community. vation Centre, Weed Action Group, Slow Foods,

Minutes of the TMR meeting on Mamabake, Margaret River Organic Garden Less visible are the folks who contribute to 22 May available on http:// and the Cape to Cape Catchment Group. making this a compassionate community that meetinghouse.tingrith.com.au/ sustain-margaret-river/ cares about its people and environment. Many Others contribute through business activities transition-mr-minutes-may- hundreds of people give their time and skills to or sponsorship. 2012 make this a better place to live.

Their activities are many and varied but all They range from volunteers in organisations News in this issue help to make this a healthier and more like the Lions, Rotary, Red Cross and help sustainable community. centres, to school communities creating Continued on page 2 People making a 1 difference Connecting the dots on Connecting the dots 1 climate change on climate change The fire-ravaged dunes at Prevelly formed an arresting backdrop to the LETS in Margaret 2 Margaret River Climate Action Group’s River gathering on international Climate News from our 2 Impacts Day, 5 May. network

Diary dates 2 Linking with similar actions in 188 countries, the group connected the dots between climate change and extreme weather events – in this case the predicted increased frequency of wildfires. The

Next issue global day of action was coordinated by 350.org, a grassroots movement working to highlight the climate problem. The resulting slideshow on www.climatedots.org/ tells a graphic story of

Celebrating communities at risk. MRCAG spokesperson Dr Bill Castleden says it’s time to listen to the climate Transition scientists, get prepared and support action on climate change. Find out more at www.350.org.

‘People tell us that as a result of being involved in their local "transition initiative", they're happier, their community feels more robust and they have made a lot of new friends.’ www.transitionnetwork.org

People making a difference Continued from p 1 Contact us How can a Transition Network help? Felicity Haynes [email protected] Transition is about grassroots networks of individuals and groups who are looking for positive, Sally Wylie [email protected] solution-oriented ways to create a better society. ‘Transition communities have started up Jodie Lane [email protected] projects in areas of food, transport, energy, education, housing, waste, arts etc. as small-scale Cynda Miles [email protected] Lyn Hellier [email protected] local responses to the global challenges of climate change, economic hardship and shrinking supplies of cheap energy.’ www.transitionnetwork.org/ To join our email network or provide news or diary dates, please email Many of our local initiatives are already moving in this direction. Having a Transition Network Karen Majer will help these individual coals to become a fire. It will also offer everyone the opportunity to [email protected] be involved in creating our own unique vision of how we want this special Capes region to be in Your email address will not be made the future and to generate ideas and actions to get there. If we work together to make best public. You can unsubscribe at any time. use of our resources, we can overcome some of the challenges ahead. And the great thing is Create a more robust community that sustainable living is simply a better, more supportive, happier way to live right now! and make new friends. LETS in Margaret River There are moves afoot to set up a Local Energy Transfer System (LETS) in Margaret River again (one operated successfully here in the eighties). LETS (sometimes called Local Exchange Trading System) operate throughout the world. They are not-for-profit community enterprises which are a means of formalising non-monetary trading of goods and services at the local level. An agreed LETS ‘Credit’ takes the place of money changing hands. People can offer goods Can you imagine a better or services. For example I might sell my editing skills to proof read a brochure, then use those future for the Margaret credits to hire someone’s trailer and that person buys eggs. The credits go round in the River region? community and a central record system keeps track. Join the conversation on Facebook at Margaret River LETS Local Energy Transfer System Film and community www.facebook.com groups/289164921164712/ gathering We’ll keep you informed about how to get involved as the scheme gets up and running.

See the Transition Towns News from our networks Diary dates movie, find out what’s happening locally and share Fair Harvest 14 July 10am – 12 noon your ideas over a drink. The Fair Harvest venue is nearly complete and has been used for a Permablitz get together and plant two-week permaculture course. Margaret River seed savers is pickup for burnt gardens 20 June 6.45 for 7pm meeting regularly in the Fair Harvest Barn and a number of courses www.fairharvest.com.au Margaret River District Club, relating to sustainability are being offered in the coming months. 21 July (all day) Tunbridge Street Environment Centre Sustainable Orchard Management with Cost $5 at the door, bar open Peter Coppin www.fairharvest.com.au Plans are progressing for a resource centre, meeting space and

community garden, Watch this space! Margaret River Climate Action Group Transition Margaret River Speaker Nick Taylor, Australian Youth Transition Margaret River is joining transition groups internationally Climate Coalition www.aycc.org.au , in celebrating the Festival of Transition to coincide with the first day Date to be advised. For information

of the Earth Summit in Rio. (See panel left) contact Tarna, [email protected]'