​Find out more and keep up dated via the Strathbogie Sustainable Forest Group website and FB page.

​BSFG partners with Swanpool Landcare and the Gecko CLaN ​in running the annual Swanpool Environmental Film Festival at the Swanpool Cinema.

Concert at the 'Under the Sun' Cafe, Strathbogie ... 3 to 6 pm

Shaking the Tree directed by Bronwyn Calcutt plays songs by Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Hozier, Sting, Tim Minchin, The Cure, Pink Floyd and Leonard Cohen. The group is backed by accordion, guitars, mandolin, ukelele and percussion.

Milkwood play original music and re-crafted covers with cheeky story-telling lyrics, folk style roots and blissful harmonies.

Tom Yates, poet and folk singer

Plus local singer-songwriters Andy Guerin and Indigo

Tickets $20 through www.trybooking.com/VGOR
.

​​A new BSFG action group has recently been initiated by Kathryn McQualter who is a Dietitian at Benalla Health.  We welcome Kathryn as a new BSFG member and wish her well with the Benalla Local Food Network.

Background
 
The Benalla Food Security Network has been running since 2012. It was started to coordinate ways to improve access to healthy foods in Benalla. Due to declining attendance, a review was undertaken in 2017. The group  will now continue as an “Action Group” as part of the Benalla Sustainable Future Group!  
 
A Local Food Network is a group where local food growers, retailers, organisations and community members come together to supply the town with healthy food. 
 
It is envisioned that the Benalla Local Food Network action group will:

• Support community led local food activities e.g. sourcing grants, linking to other organisations
• Promote “Farm to Plate”, linking local producers to community and retail e.g. promote Benalla Food Coop, Open Food Network maps
• Advocate for local food (local government, state government, policies etc.).

The following draft document provides a starting point for development of the group:

​A new BSFG action group has recently been initiated by Kathryn McQualter who is a Dietitian at Benalla Health.  We welcome Kathryn as a new BSFG member and wish her well with the Benalla Local Food Network.

BSFG members and interested community members are invited to attend  a meeting to look at the future of the group.
 
When:           Tuesday 1st May 2018
Time:             5:15 -6 pm
Where:          Ray Sweeney Community Health Centre, 45 Coster St Benalla.
Snacks will be provided.
 
For more information on the work that the Benalla Food Security Network has completed (2012-2017) please visit http://www.benallahealth.org.au/CommunityHealth/HealthPromotion-479/BenallaFoodSecurityNetwork-481/
 

Kathryn McQualter
Food Security Action Group ​

Two information sessions held in April brought approximately 150 residents and business owners to BPACC keen to find out more about the Renewable Energy Benalla and Mondo Power battery ready solar bulk buy offer.   The sessions were most informative, there were many thought provoking questions from the floor and some misconceptions cleared up - for example, to be part of a microgrid, it's not necessary to be in a grid organised by/with/for neighbours', a micro grid can apply to diverse participants located in Benalla and surrounds.  

REB's partnership with Mondo Power to provide a battery ready solar bulk buy offer for residents and businesses is now open.  With a closing date of July 31st there is still time to consider the options and express your interest. A good starting point is  Mondo Power's 'Benalla Community Energy Project' webpage.   You might find this video - 'TRY & the Yack Mini Grid' helpful, as it describes a similar project.  

Our next General Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 26 April in the Meeting Room, Benalla Uniting Church, opposite the Coles car park.

The guest speaker for our April General Meeting is Wangaratta resident Andy Kimber.  Andy will be talking about the work of three Timor-Leste Friendship Groups from Indi. Many of their projects have been about sustainability. They have been involved in helping the Alternative Technology Association install a large number of small solar systems in very isolated villages. They have also helped to finance a big model community garden and school gardens using permaculture principles.

A light supper will be served after Andy’s presentation.

Peter Maddock
Secretary
0418 135 330

BSFG members may be  be interested in this information about a battery storage workshop to be held at Beechworth on Saturday 21st April.

Presenters include:

• Prof Kate Auty – Kate will speak from her experience with rural communities in the changing energy sector; celebrate achievement and community as a driver for change 
• Damien Moyse, (Alternative Technology Association (ATA – and Renew Magazine), presenting on Battery Basics and alternative storage options. 
• Tom Brown (Sustainability Victoria) talking about Community Power Hubs 
• Matt Charles Jones - Totally Renewable Yackandandah – local community mini grid pilot projects 
• Local grid and off grid residential case studies.

A Drop In Marketplace will also be held at the event showcasing; Industry professional, local energy advocates, literature, Mondo Power projects, EV’s, E bikes  for example. 

A reminder to those who could not get to the Mondo Bulk Buy presentation last week - the second information session will be held this Sunday, 22nd, at BPACC, starting at 2:30pm.

John Lloyd
​BSFG President