BSFG members and supporters - we are asking you to support the presentation of our Climate Emergency Petition to the Planning and Development Committee meeting of Council on Wednesday 29th September. 

Due to COVID-19 Restrictions the Planning and Development Committee meeting will be held electronically commencing at the completion of the 6pm Council Meeting and will be broadcast live at www.benalla.vic.gov.au  

BSFG and other community leaders will address the Planning and Development Committee via zoom regarding the Climate Emergency Petition. The petition will be item 4 on the agenda of the Planning and Development Committee meeting. You could help by logging in to the livestream (6pm) even if you just keep an eye out and watch the Climate Emergency petition presentation. To log in to the meeting, go to www.benalla.vic.gov.au and on the home page scroll down to “Live stream Council Meetings”.

This will be the culmination of over 18 months of efforts to bring this discussion to a point of definitive action by our community leaders, and your support by  “attending” the meeting online will be very important.

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary, BSFG

​"BREAKING NEWS: The Swanpool Environmental Film Festival has been CANCELLED.  The uncertainty with COVID 19 restrictions has forced the organisers to this disappointing decision. Hopefully next year sometime"  Swanpool Cinema Website, accessed 24 September, 2021.

The Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2021, already rescheduled from June to October 23, is, for the second year, a casualty of the Pandemic.  Postponed to next year 2022, possibly at the usual time in June, the Festival Program was to feature Professor Michael-Shaun Fletcher 'Indigenous Knowledge and the Shackles of Wilderness' and film 'Beyond Burning', Dr Kerryn Higgs 'Collision Course:  The Growth Delusion' (2021 update) and films 'Fairytales of Growth' and 'Once You Know; and will culminate in  a  panel discussion 'State of the Nation' and film 'Wild Things'. 

Hopefully this program will be able to go ahead next year, with the Swanpool Catering Team volunteers once again sustaining Festival audiences during breaks providing opportunities for audience members to network and catch up with friends.

We would like to invite members to attend our BSFG General Meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday 23rd September at the Benalla Uniting Church.

Adam Saddler, the newly appointed manager for economic development and sustainability at Benalla Rural City will be speaking. It will be an opportunity for BSFG to put forward our ideas for opportunities to transition Benalla into renewable/sustainable industries.

Current covid protocols will be followed. For indoor public gatherings, masks and social distance are needed. 

A light supper will be served at the conclusion of the evening if regulations at the time permit. 

Please RSVP your attendance for Covid numbers to  [email protected]

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary BSFG