The next meeting of the Benalla Local Food Network Action Group is at 5.15pm, Wednesday November 6th at The Farmers Basket Cafe, Nun Street Benalla. 
More details Kathryn McQualter 03 5761 4500.
Linking local food to local people.
Download November Flyer

There are few events coming on our calendar which you may be interested in attending and possibly assist us with.

1. Next Friday November 1st Bob Brown will be launching the Convoy Film and Book Tour in Albury.  Details about this event here, https://www.facebook.com/events/547486569413548/.  It may be possible that a later event can be organised at Benalla/Swanpool however this would not be attended by Bob Brown.

2. The Benalla Festival Day in the Gardens is on Sunday November 10 from 9am-3pm.  We have booked our stall for this event and would like some assistance on the stall.  If you have some time to spare please reply to this email and let me know a time you would be available to assist us.

3. Our final General Meeting for 2019 is on Thursday November 28.  The committee have decided to have a more social ending to the year by having a Food and Film night.  The film we are going to screen is Point Of No Return, http://pointofnoreturndoc.com/ which promises to be an inspiring film about “the perseverance and courage it takes to make difficult decisions when everything is on the line.  When we look at the daunting challenge of the global climate crisis, this story of innovation and collaboration offers hope”, Quinn Kanaly, Director.  More details to follow.

A reminder about the final session of Renewable Energy Benalla’s 2019 Energy Efficiency workshops which is on tomorrow night, Monday 14 October, at the Benalla Uniting Church, opposite the Coles car park from 7.30pm until 9.30pm.

This workshop on Energy Monitoring, Solar Power & Batteries will be presented by Kevin Smith.  We didn’t get to cover this topic last year so I am also including some people who attended our workshops in 2018.

We will also be mentioning an Energy Efficient Hot Water Bulk Buy.  Renewable Energy Benalla and Indigo Power are partnering to offer two best price energy efficient hot water systems.

Reclaim Energy CO2 Heat Pump – 315 litre
Standard installation with rebates - $2000 - $2200
Normal price fully installed approx. $4700            
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Apricus Evacuated Tube Solar Hot Water – 315 litre
Standard installation with rebates – $3000
Normal price fully installed approx. $5600
 
For more information, contact Peter Maddock  0418 135 330

BSFG President Peter Holmes recently emailed The Honourable Michael Gunner Chief Minister of the Northern Territory about Proposed Fracking in the Northern Territory.  Peter was inspired to write this letter after hearing a young girl speak at Katherine in the students Strike for Climate Action while he and Christine were travelling in the Territory.
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From: Christine and Peter Holmes
Sent: Thursday, 3 October 2019 10:35 PM
To: 'chief.minister@nt.gov.au'
Subject: Proposed Fracking in the Northern Territory
 
The Honourable Michael Gunner
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
 
Dear Sir
 
On Friday 20th September, my wife and I were privileged to participate with students from Katherine Secondary schools in the students Strike for Climate Action. We were passing through Katherine on our return journey to Victoria.
 
One of the student speakers at the rally was an incredibly erudite 15 year old girl (unfortunately, I do not recall her name), who spoke with the clarity of message and urgency one would expect of someone many years her senior. She spoke of her concerns for the future of the Northern Territory in particular, and of course the Earth in general, if your Government were to proceed with proposals to open up the Territory to gas exploration and fracking.
 
Chief Minister, you need to heed the concerns of your young (and older) citizens, as well as the scientists, who are all telling us that we have very few years left to take urgent action to combat the worst effects of climate change. If you were to approve fracking in the Territory, your Government would be complicit in contributing to an impending global disaster. Fracking has been found to have extremely adverse effects on subterranean water supplies, not only because of the huge volumes of water required in each drilling operation, but because of the chemical contamination of groundwater. It has caused many serious human and animal health issues in communities close to fracking operations, and also releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At this point in history, we need to be drastically reducing our reliance on fossil fuels – not approving projects which condemn our young people to a bleak future.
 
I write, as President, on behalf of all the members and supporters of Benalla Sustainable Future Group, urging you to refrain from approving fracking in the Northern Territory. Any short-term financial profit that these companies, or your Government, may realise from such activity, will very soon pale into insignificance, compared to the costs associated with repair bills from weather related disasters caused by the escalating carbon dioxide levels the fracking has contributed to, and the costs associated with the health issues the communities will need to address.
 
For the sake of that 15 year old girl and all her fellow students who are showing courage and leadership in speaking out about their concerns, we as responsible citizens must make wise decisions, even if they may seem to be politically unpopular. There are many other options available to us right now to provide energy and transport into the future, so why not pursue these options as an investment in the future well-being of your young people.
 
Yours faithfully
 
Peter Holmes
President – Benalla Sustainable Future Group
PO Box 642, Benalla, Vic, 3672