On Saturday June 15 2024, another successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival was held at Swanpool Cinema from 1pm-9pm. The full details of the program for SEFF 2024 can be viewed here, including the menu provided by the Swanpool Catering Team.

Since its first screening in 2013, Ian Herbert has been the festival coordinator and MC. This year Ian had to step back from his role due to ill health, although he is now feeling well enough and able to assist at the festival. 

David Blore, the recently elected President of BSFG, took on the MC role for this year's festival.

While the attendance at this year's festival was down on previous years, the program was well received. 

Immediately before the 1 pm start of the festival our local XR Flash Mob performed Stayin’ Alive, their signature dance to their own music track and lyrics of the Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive. The flash mob also included some members of the Hot House Quartet, who later provided music over the dinner break.

Listen to Staying Alive below along with some of the lyrics, watch the video recording by Margot Nash below and scroll down to view the video of the Flash Mob's Stayin' Alive video in a Canberra mall and on the streets.

Robert McLean recorded Mark's presentation on audio.  Robert is from Shepparton and produces the podcast Climate Conversations www.anchor.fm/robert-mclean.  Thank you Robert for sharing your audio recordings. Robert McLean's audio recording of Mark's presentation can be listened to here.
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There were many questions from the audience about Mark's presentation.

​The film following Mark was The New Corporation, the Unfortunately Necessary Sequel, https://thenewcorporation.movie/about-the-film/. The film can now be watched on SBS On Demand, https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/the-new-corporation-the-unfortunately-necessary-se/2264088643615.

During Afternoon Tea we screened a short video, 'Love Changes Everything Part 1', from local artist Anna White, who has contributed at a number of our festivals.  Anna's Artist Statement and video follow:

Following afternoon tea Steven Hail, Associate Professor at Torrens University and Economist at Modern Money Lab, https://modernmoneylab.org.au/ introduced the film Finding the Money which follows economist Stephanie Kelton on her journey to flip our views on money and the myths we have about federal budget deficits, https://findingmoneyfilm.com/, Stephanie Kelton is the Author of The Deficit Myth, https://stephaniekelton.com/book/.
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Neither a deficit hawk nor deficit dove Stephanie Kelton calls herself a ‘deficit owl’ because owls have the ability to rotate their heads nearly 360 degrees for better perspectives and are associated with wisdom (P76 The Deficit Myth).

Finding the Money has now been released on some streaming platforms, hopefully available soon in Australia. Thanks to film maker Maren Poitras for listing SEFF 2024 on where to watch, https://findingmoneyfilm.com/where-to-watch/. The Film Press kit is also available with many details about the story of the Finding The Money film.

Steven answered many questions from the audience about Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) following the film. Below is a Zoom meeting video from Steven at Modern Money Lab on January 2024 on The Importance of "Finding the Money".

During Dinner, the Hot House Quartet from Canberra provided lively entertainment with some well known favourite tunes, albeit with lyrics exploring environmental themes.

​Robert McLean's podcast also includes a recording of the Hot House band during the dinner break, concluding with The Carnival Is Over!  Listen here, ​

We also saw the video of a large XR Flash Mob performing Staying Alive in Canberra. Video below featuring local Hot House lead singer Warwick.

After Dinner, Margot Nash introduced her short film 'Undercurrents: Meditations on Power, A cautionary poem or 'song' for the dark times' (trailer below).  Made from reimagined/recycled images and sounds from the filmmaker’s archive and other found materials, https://www.margotnash.com/undercurrents.  

Lou and Amy of the Community and Partnerships team (DEECA), are coordinating a webinar about how to reduce energy bills through low cost changes to your home, and accessing Government rebate programs. This webinar will live stream at Benalla Library and online.
 
If you are financially impacted by energy prices, or are interested in lowering your energy bills, this webinar may assist you.
 
About the webinar
Is your home icy cold in winter and are your energy bills sky high? Join this FREE webinar on reducing your energy costs! It will include low cost hot tips on how to create a cozy winter home, without emptying your wallet.
 
When: Wednesday 19 June 5:45pm – 6:45pm
Where: Live stream at Benalla Library and online
How to sign up: Take Control of your Energy Bills | Humanitix
 
Please see the Poster below to join.
For more information, email Amy or Lou or [email protected]

Judy Schwarzman
Benalla Sustainable Future Group

Rather than reflect on just the past 12 months, I would like to comment on the five years during which I have been President.

Over the 31 years I have lived in Benalla and Lima East, I have been President or Chairperson of many and varied organisations and committees, but when I somewhat apprehensively became President of BSFG in May 2019, I felt that this role carried with it an enormous responsibility – not just for the BSFG membership, but to the wider community, and especially for the future generations of residents of Benalla and district.

​That is why I have tried to promote important events and information sessions through our local secondary schools, print and social media, and other organisations which may be related to the particular events. With this approach, I have been so grateful to the people who have served as either committee members, or organisers of events, or produced newsletters, because their enthusiasm and expertise has been amazing, and has helped alleviate my initial level of apprehension. Within our organisation, there is such a diverse range of interests and concerns for the future sustainability of the planet, such that it is impossible for any one person to grasp all the concepts involved. That is why BSFG has Action Groups that allow people to work within their spheres of interests and abilities to make a difference within our community, and as the years have passed, I believe that each of the Action Groups have contributed to better outcomes, and greater awareness of the issues, for residents of Benalla and district.

In the recent newsletter, I mentioned in my President’s comment that urgent action on climate change mitigation was “my thing” during my time as President. I sincerely hope that our Benalla Councillors present tonight will take back to their fellow Councillors and Council officers the sense of urgency that we in BSFG have felt for a very long time. We, as individuals can only achieve small steps by modifying our own lifestyles, but each level of governance that we have in Australia can make contributions, either through actions or legislation, that will make large differences to the future wellbeing of our communities. I hope that tonight’s presentation and discussion will open our eyes, not just to the threats climate change imposes, but to the possible actions that can be taken to address and mitigate these threats. This is not an easy or simple task, but it is one that cannot, and must not, be continually placed on the “to do” list. We in BSFG, are ready and willing to work alongside Council to tackle this task, so would like to be able to contribute more directly to the relevant discussions and planning centred on climate change mitigation. Without pre-empting tonight’s discussion too much, it is already evident within Australia, that a number of communities have become unsustainable due to climate related events, and this number will continue to grow, not just due to their location in low lying coastal areas, but for other reasons such as economic or health related issues.

Finally, again I want to thank all those who have contributed to the work of BSFG over the years, to acknowledge the support I have received from all the committee members and others over the past five years, and also to thank David for accepting the role of President for the near future, and the members who have agreed to continue on the committee. I look forward to another year of informative, interesting, and progressive events.

​ 
Peter Holmes
​Friday 24 May 2024

The Financial Report produced by Treasurer Wendy Baker was also presented to the AGM:

President's Report - Peter Holmes

Financial Report - Wendy Baker
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Benalla Food Cooperative Report - Susanne Bennett
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Ecologically Sustainable Development Report - Peter Maddock

Greening and Cooling Benalla Report to AGM 2024 - Judy Schwartzman

Renewable Energy Benalla Report - Kevin Smith

WasteWise Benalla Annual Report to AGM - Kaye Blore

Website Report - Peter Maddock and Bev Lee

NERSA Report - Kevin Smith
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Judy Schwarzman
Secretary

​The Benalla Food Co-op is in its 13th year of operation and currently has a membership of 68 households with over forty of them shopping regularly.
 
Our main activity has been general ongoing operational issues. Our efforts to remain vermin free have been mostly successful with minimal stock loss. Our ability to improve storage is hampered by lack of spacespace. Initially we planned to purchase an extra cupboard, however that idea changed and have bought extra shelving. A safety step is on the shopping list.

Our product list had a few changes with instant coffee becoming unavailable. We are currently trialling dried mushrooms from Markwood Mushroom and buckwheat kernels.

Our vacuum caused a few difficulties and thank you to Robyn Kelly, who kindly donated a Dyson vacuum.

​The Co-op continues to open earlier on Monday afternoons during winter due to shorter daylight hours and colder weather. This commenced in May. Our markup remains at 20%
 
Thank you Wendy Baker for the overall accounting matters (see Wendy’s financial year report).
 
Thank you Christine for continuing to coordinate the roster, and Peter for ongoing management of the day-to-day accounts as well as the biannual stock take. The Holmes duo have been tireless in their Co-op volunteering and are life members.
 
Thank you Rhona for years of email update news. I will miss our pre-news texts and chats as we collate our narration each week.
Thank you Graeme Greed for ongoing equipment maintenance.
 
Thank you Maren for ordering the spices and Julienne who helps to package the herbs. Thank you Sonia for continuing to allow her front porch to be used for deliveries.
 
Thank you Kay Blore, Karen Nankervis and Judy Schwarzman who promote recycling and empty our recycle containers.
 
Thank you to our 11 duty managers and 13 iPad operators. Jenny Monger has retired from being an iPad operator and Julie McPherson has moved from being a Duty Manager to iPad Operator. Thank you Jenny for years and years of volunteering.
 
Thank you Beverly Lee and Peter Maddock for maintaining our social media and BSFG website presence. Thank you Karen and Graham who regularly ask if there are orders to collect from Melbourne or Myrtleford and happily do so if required.
 
Thank you to my husband Richard who has unloaded the pallets of produce each month for the past 3 years and stacked it all into the cupboards.
 
In closing I would like to say how much I’ve appreciate your friendship and assistance over the last 3 years. Without your help, there would be no Co-op. I applaud Claire as she steps forward to take on the extra load and warmly wish her the very best as I step down.
 
Co-op Committee: Susanne (retiring coordinator), Claire (new coordinator), Christine (rosters), Peter (finance), Rhona (weekly up-dates), Karen (recycling), Judy (BSFG secretary), Sonia (porch for deliveries) and Julie McPherson (moving to iPad operator), Tanya and Rosalie.
 
Duty managers: Graham, Sonia, Tanya, Rosalie, Christine, Rhona, Joy, Robyn, Eleanor, Susanne (retiring) and Claire (stepping up).
 
iPad Operators: Peter, Karen, Glenys, Simon, Stacy, Deanne, Jenny, Julienne, Maren, Marlies, Sally and Robert.
 
Enquiries/feedback welcome via the BSFG website or the Co-op email [email protected]

​Both Kevin and David have been attending Community Energy Network bi-monthly meetings - these are an excellent information source on this fast moving topic.
 
One of our main interests is Community Batteries.  While the engineering need is straight forward, sadly the politics of our totally privatised system make it impossible for Community Batteries to actually benefit the Community - they are, of course very beneficial to the likes of Ausnet! There is much movement to change the rules and tariff structures to enable a fairer system - strongly opposed by those benefitting from the current system!
 
REB organised an electric vehicle for Benalla drivers to have access to an extended driving experience which was enthusiastically taken up. We know of at least one local EV recently purchased. Benalla will need more EV charging points.
 
We have also been looking at ways to encourage more and better use of PV and Batteries. We hope to expand a current pilot trial to Benalla for more economical use of Heat Pump hot water and PV.
 
There is currently strong pressure to start subsidising behind the meter Batteries (perhaps drop the PV subsidy seeing they are now so cheap), which would be very beneficial to everyone.
 
There is a proposal to extend our revolving fund (kindergartens) PV installation to the new Men’s Shed complex if we can sort out the metering complexity.

Kevin Smith

BSFG members have again been represented at the bi-monthly meetings of NERSA during the year. Kevin has been joined by David and Kay this year.
 
NERSA, an alliance of numerous groups throughout the North East, is a forum that enables everyone to keep up with all the sustainability-related going-ons within the region. While BSFG finds it difficult to get traction with Benalla Rural City Council, it is really encouraging to hear just how much is going with other groups, Councils and Authorities. NERSA co-ordinators Jenny and Rowan produce an amazing set of minutes (about 14 pages!) with all the links and contacts. I distribute these minutes to interested BSFG members.
 
Since Kay has been attending, the Region response to Wastewise has been very enthusiastic and many other groups are participating (see Wastewise Report).