In the twelve months since I last gave an annual report on the Benalla food Co-op, there have been some considerable changes and events take place.
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We had our first open day on 3rd May in 2011, having arrived at exactly ten years of operation. 
 
In 2011, when we had our first open day with twelve members and 28 products on offer, we did not envisage the successful outcome we now experience. Apart from the aims of the co-operative that you will be familiar with, I believe a huge contributing factor is an underlying appreciation at the food coop for the friendly atmosphere when shopping, and the empowerment of an independent group running it. It has enabled friendships to develop and provides an opportunity for like minded people to share company and commitment. 
We now stock 120 food items determined by request, quality of the product, availability, from where that product is sourced, and of course, popularity.  
 
Membership sits at around 70. This fluctuates over any given year, but importantly there is a large group of regular shoppers requiring us to open once per week.
Over the years, I have particularly enjoyed researching products and discovering new suppliers.  There has always been opportunity to introduce new products and discontinue others not so popular. In all we have twelve product suppliers.  We are proud to support many valued local and regional producers in our district such as King Valley Walnuts, Florence Court Olive Oil from Benalla, Lima East honey, nuts and seeds from the Pumpkin Seed Company, and our latest addition, Apple Cider Vinegar from Stanley.

There are a huge number of tasks required with running the food co-op. Duty managers, duty assistants, computer operators, taking delivery of products, unpacking products, paying the bills and the list goes on. It was always my belief that by spreading these tasks amongst the members, we are in the true sense a 'co-operative',  run by the members. This has enabled us to keep the prices affordable whilst offering high quality products, benefitting all who participate. 

Drastic changes to our operational procedures required to comply with COVID restrictions in 2020, became a serious focal point. We were no less busy than usual with a large number of community members joining the food co-op throughout the early part of COVID restrictions.  In recent times we have been able to relax many of those procedures whilst continuing to maintain a COVID safe environment.                                           
Ten years is good reason for some celebratory events, the first being, and a lucky door prize for the tenth customer, who shopped on the 3rd May 2021. Then on the 4th June, food co-op members are invited to attend a dinner to celebrate 10 years of operation along with my retirement.
 
After ten years as coordinator, I felt it was time that I hand over to someone else. Susanne Bennett came to mind and after some thought, she agreed to take on the position for which we can all be grateful.  We can look forward to a committed member who will bring leadership and a lovely presence to the forefront. I wish Susanne all the best, lots of fun and with the knowledge that you have the support of all the committee with you.

Christine Holmes

"It's not that many months since we had our previous AGM by Zoom in September, but there seems to have been a steady stream of activity on the environmental and sustainability front since then.

I do believe that the tide is finally turning with respect to worldwide action on climate change - sadly, not so much in Australia, because of the inability of the major political parties to comprehend the urgency of the problem. We can only hope that businesses will continue to modify their enterprises towards low carbon models, and that this will drag Australia in the right direction.
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Climate scientists have been telling us for some time that this is the critical decade in tackling climate change, so BSFG needs to ensure that this message is heard by our community and its leaders. To this end, we organised the Climate Science talks in late February, with Dr Leanne Webb (CSIRO), Dr Lynette Bettio (BOM), Dr Helen Haines (Independent MHR, Indi), and Cr Jenny O'Connor (Mayor of Indigo Shire) as guest speakers. Approximately 130 people attended, including Benalla Mayor, Danny Claridge and Councillors O'Brien and Gunaratne, as well as the Benalla P-12 College student leaders. These student leaders have subsequently participated in the BSFG presentation to Benalla Council in March, as well as leading last Friday's Student Climate Action rally at the Ceramic Mural, with approximately 80 people taking part. This has been really encouraging for me personally, that finally there has been some engagement with our youth, and a real willingness on their part to become informed and take action.  I have requested a meeting with the P-12 College Administration to discuss the level of school engagement on the issues of climate change and sustainability. The other aspect of this engagement, I believe, is that the student's involvement has possibly influenced a shift in attitude of our local Councillors towards climate change - we will know more in the coming weeks when Council deliberates on whether to declare a climate emergency - an action that would require Council to focus its planning more acutely on sustainability issues.

Since resuming our meeting schedule after Covid, in November we screened the movie "Kiss the Ground", highlighting land restoration projects from around the world, and in March, we watched the Bob Brown Foundation documentary, "Forest Defenders", followed by a talk from Bert Lobert, giving us an update on the Strathbogie State Forest situation.

Renewable Energy Benalla continues to work towards its goal of making Benalla into a net zero carbon emissions town. It has reverted to being an action group of BSFG again, but as convenor, John Lloyd says in his report, they need more people to come on board to help in their endeavours. I urge all BSFG members and supporters to consider being involved in this work, as transforming our energy systems and becoming more energy efficient, are the major ways in which we can reduce our emissions and help avert the worst effects of climate change. Congratulations to REB for securing the funding to complete their first project of solar panels at Munro Ave Kindergarten.
I am extremely proud of Christine Holmes' work over the past ten years in planning, setting up, and coordinating the operations of the Benalla Food Co-operative. Christine, along with the people who have helped in the planning and operation of the Co-op, have through countless hours of volunteer time, established an organisation that has provided the community with choice, an opportunity to meet new friends, and of course to reduce food packaging and food miles, and support local producers where possible. Having successfully negotiated their way through the Covid problems of 2020, the Co-op can now look forward to expanding its membership base, and help spread the message of sustainable use of our resources more widely in the community. I wish Susanne Bennett all the best as she takes over Christine's role as coordinator.

I would also like to commend Larissa Montgomery for the many years she spent as the Environmental Officer of Benalla Rural City and thank her for the support and advice she gave to BSFG over that time. In recent times, Larissa worked extensively with REB to help them formulate their vision and action plans. We wish her well in her new position with DELWP.

Finally, I again wish to thank, and congratulate a number of members who have contributed greatly to the work of BSFG this past year. Thankyou to all committee members for your open and frank discussions in organising events, formulating submissions, and in keeping records, handling finances, sending out messages. Thanks to Ian Herbert for again editing and publishing our newsletter (and to all who have contributed articles), and we also thank Ian for his efforts in putting together the program for the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival (Sat 19th June) which we all eagerly anticipate, after the disruption of 2020.

In this era, no organisation could successfully reach out to its community without the assistance of technology, and we owe a great deal of gratitude over the past 6 years to Bev Lee and Peter Maddock especially, and more recently to Heath Whiley, Kim Lukey and Karen Nankervis, for the marvellous BSFG and REB websites, where events are publicised, interesting articles are posted and reports archived."
 
Peter Holmes
​Thursday 27 May 2021

A reminder that the Benalla Student Climate Rally takes place tomorrow, Friday 21st May at the Benalla Ceramic Mural from 4-5pm.

It would be great for many of us to be there and show strong support for the students, and bring a placard with the theme of "Fund Our Future - Not Gas". 

This just became even more relevant in the light of Wednesday’s announcement of $600 million going to build a gas power station at Kurri Kurri. It is critical that we send a strong message that this is just not acceptable, especially when the energy sector itself is questioning why????

Hope to see you there,

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary, BSFG.

Coming out of COVID, will we return to ‘business as usual’
or will Australia embark upon a linear path towards zero emissions? 

SWANPOOL ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021

Feature films, documentaries, guest speakers!
Three sessions with breaks for afternoon tea and an evening meal:

Session One: Ass Prof Michael-Shawn Fletcher and film ‘Beyond the Burning’

Session Two: Film 'Fairytales of Growth', Dr Kerryn Higgs, and film ‘Once You Know’
 
Session Three: Panel Discussion and Short Films, and film “Wild Things’

Booking essential on TryBooking.
Phone 0498 007 988 for enquiries.

Afternoon tea and dinner included.
Catering by Swanpool Catering Team.

Dear BSFG Members and Supporters,

We would like to invite you to attend our AGM, with guest speaker Dr Lisa Farnsworth, Winton Wetlands Restoration Ecologist.

The meeting is at 7:30pm Thursday 27th May in the Benalla Uniting Church Fellowship Room. Supper will be served at the conclusion of the evening.

For any of our supporters considering joining BSFG, please come along; you can join up at the meeting and would be most welcome. 

BSFG financial members are encouraged to consider nominating to join the committee. If you would like more information about joining the committee, either as a committee member or in any of the executive roles, please contact the current president, Peter Holmes on 0438 625 638.

Nomination forms (attached) can be scanned and emailed to [email protected], or contact Peter and bring a hard copy to the AGM.

We hope to see you there.


Judy Schwarzman
Secretary BSFG 

What is happening in Benalla? 

Food policy Advocacy 

• The North East Local Food Strategy 2018-2022:  A guide for all local governments to include sustainable food systems in their next 4 year plans https://gatewayhealth.org.au/images/brochures/NE_Local_Food_Strategy_2018_2022.pdf
• Open Food Network; Open Road Project: Launched a media release  'Australia Post Decision Opens the Way for a New Food Delivery Projectt. OFN will be running a project as a delivery service around North East Victoria to enable local producers to act independently. A Hume Highway loop is being established with food hubs in Strathbogie, Wangaratta Farmers Market, Beechworth Food Coop. EOI are open for any local producers, coops and retailers. Email [email protected]

 
Support Local Food Activities

• Benalla Food Coop see website for upcoming dates Benalla Food Co-operative (bsfg.org.au)
• Grow Free food swap cart (was at Benalla Health) has just been moved to Cecily Court with the Tomorrow Today Foundation!  A great way to share excess produce with the community!
• Benalla Central Community Garden have applied for a Vic Health grant to host after school kitchen/garden sessions with children in Grade 5-8 at the community garden.
• Benalla Central Community Garden hosting garden open days https://www.facebook.com/Benalla-Central-Community-Garden-106810107405039/
• Benalla Health and St Vincent de Paul Society have applied for more grants to continue to build wicking garden beds for vulnerable community members. Rather than using apple crates (issues with leaking, unable to move, labour to build) we are looking at portable, smaller ones e.g. raised on wheels. If successful Benalla Men’s Shed will be constructing these. We are open to ideas on how to build these portable garden beds!
• Waminda Neighbourhood House have set up a drop in food pick up, in partnership with Second Bite. Running On Thursday mornings.
• Waminda Neighbourhood House has been granted funding to construct public garden beds for the community at the front of the house (Ballintine st). 
• Delivery of fruit and veg boxes- Fruits N Fare, Good Vibes Wholefoods Store- Balaji and Karthika
• Online platforms available to share excess food. Ripe Near me- an online platform to sell/give away free food. Web based platform https://www.ripenear.me/

 
Ideas for the future

• Beechworth Food Coop hosted a Patch to Patch event (18th April 2021) where people could visit open gardens and orchards. This is a day of backyard garden inspirations. Perhaps we could run one similar to this in Benalla in 2021/2022? Could involve Waminda, Benalla Central Community Garden. Benalla Community Health staff garden, Waller St Garden and other private gardens around Benalla?  PATCH TO PATCH - Beechworth Food Co-op (beechworthfoodcoop.org.au)
• Buy from North East Victoria (Buy From Benalla) online platform for small and medium local businesses has been given more grant money to continue to build online markets. https://www.buyfrombenalla.com.au
• NEW: Acres and Acres is a community market garden that has started in Corryong. https://acresandacres.com.au/ The mission is to create a network of  Market Gardens across the Upper Murray and North East Victoria, to build resilience through the production of fresh produce across the local area.

Kathryn McQualter
Convenor - Benalla Local Food Network Action Group

Links:
Benalla Local Food Network - Minutes of Meeting held May 5 2021
​Australia Post Decision Opens the Way to a New Food Delivery Model