BSFG's Action Group Renewable Energy Benalla is conducting a series of free workshops on how to reduce energy bills and increase the thermal comfort of your home.
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August 5   Understanding energy bills and getting the best rate
Electricity contracts, understanding your usage, comparing retail rates.  Bring your electricity bills to discuss
 
August 19  Draught Proofing & Insulation
Locating and fixing draughts. Insulation to improve thermal performance.
 
September 2   Lighting & Windows
Energy efficient lighting; solutions to poorly performing windows

September 16  Efficient Hot Water Systems, Heating and Cooling
Water heating is a major energy user while heating accounts for 30% of energy bills. Learn about efficient options.
 
September 30  Appliances & Cooking; Transitioning from Gas
Appliances & cooking account for 30% of energy bills.
 
October 14     Energy Monitoring, Solar Power & Batteries
Monitoring real time energy consumption.
Advantages of solar power & batteries.

These free workshops will be conducted in the meeting rooms at the Uniting Church in Carrier Street, Benalla, (opposite the Coles car park), from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.
 
While attending all the workshops would provide the major benefit, some people may wish to only attend some of the sessions.
 
It is important to register to attend these workshops by emailing [email protected],  indicating the workshops you wish to attend or phone/SMS  Peter on 0418 135 330.
 
Please register by Wednesday 31st July 
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BSFG's  Newsletter #24 July 2019 is now available to the public!

Thank you to Ian Herbert for assembling the articles and getting the Newsletter completed, and for contributing some interesting articles on Adani and the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival.

We had intended to have a June Newsletter but time constraints meant we had to make it the July Newsletter.  To some extent we were also short of contributions from members for a June deadline, however the July extension has resulted in a most readable and informative newsletter.

The deadline for the September Newsletter is Sunday 25th August so contributions are most welcome.

A reminder that membership renewals are due for 2019-20.   One-year membership is $25 per household or $20 if already a member of the Bulk Food Co-operative.   A three-year membership is $60.  We now have a $5 membership for full time students 18 years and under.

Peter Maddock
0418 135 330

The next General Meeting of the Benalla Sustainable Future Group will be held on Thursday July 25th, 7.30pm until 9.30pm at the Benalla Uniting Church, Carrier Street Benalla, opposite the Coles Car Park. 
Our Guest speaker is Bruce Walker who will be presenting information on Queensland Fruit Fly. 
Fruit flies are a significant threat to Victoria’s horticulture industry, affecting production and disrupting trade worldwide.  Species such as Queensland fruit fly, are present in Victoria and need effective management to reduce the impact on production and trade opportunities.  If we grow fruit and vegetables susceptible to fruit fly we can all play a part in controlling fruit fly.
Topics Bruce will cover include;
Why manage QFF?
* Area wide approach
* Know your enemy
* Options for home gardeners
* Traps in detail
* Orchard and garden hygiene
Bruce is immediate past President of Benalla Rotary. He previously was an agricultural scientist at Rutherglen Research Institute for many years.

We are also hoping to find and screen a suitable short film on food waste.

The meeting will finish with supper, providing an opportunity for further discussion.

Peter Maddock
Secretary
0418 135 330

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The Swanpool Environmental Film Festival which took place on Saturday 15th June was a great success. We were fortunate to have three guest speakers of international repute who excelled at delivering their knowledge to the audience. Over 200 attended and we had to put up the ‘full house’ sign.

​The three subjects covered were the three major problems confronting the world today - nuclear weapons, climate change and how to feed a growing populace. Thanks to Dr Tilman Ruff, Prof Samantha Hepburn and Prof Tim Reeves respectively for coming to Swanpool.

Congratulations were extended to Tilman for being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday honours the week before the SEFF. Tilman already had an AM (Member of Australia) and now has the higher honour of an AO (Member of the Order of Australia) for service to the promotion of peace and to public health. Since 2012, he has been Co-President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) – an organisation that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985. He was founding Australian and International Chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) – awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. He brought the medal with him for those who wanted to view it. Tilman and his wife Charlotte are landholders in the Lima East valley near Swanpool.

Prof Tim Reeves' talk was titled ‘Food and Nutritional Security - a Grand Challenge for Humankind’. Tim is Professor in Residence at Dookie agricultural campus and was a pioneer of no-till and sustainable agriculture at the Rutherglen Research Institute. He too has worked with many international institutions.

​Prof Samantha Hepburn’s talk addressed many of the Australian legal issues around climate change and the Adani mine going ahead.

This year we changed the format a little and had a short film session mid-afternoon. As well as selected
short films it included news reels and a series of slides telling the story of preserving Strathbogie Forest this past year. That’s a good news story because the designated logging coupes in the most precious part of the forest, around Mt Strathbogie and Golden Mount, have now been withdrawn from the Timber Release Plan. The TRP lists the designated coupes which VicForests can log. The next step is to have permanent protection for the forest, preferably by declaring it a Conservation Park giving it the  samestatus as Mt Samaria Park.

The film ‘2040’ which concluded the evening was very well received. It looks into the future asking the question how could the planet be if we do the right thing. When taking about sustainable agriculture it gave good coverage of the works of Colin Seiss who was referred to by Tim Reeves in his talk and who has worked closely with the Gecko CLaN and landholders in this region for many years.

​Many thanks to all who volunteered to make this day a success, particularly Peter Maddock for all his work getting all the video together. The SEFF is run by the Swanpool Landcare group in partnership with Benalla Sustainable Future group and with support from the Gecko CLaN, GBCMA, Granite Creeks and Benalla Permaculture. We are particularly thankful for the catering provided by the Swanpool Catering Team who excelled themselves once again.

Ian Herbert