We have a new coordinator for the food co-op. We are pleased to have long term committee member Sonia Bourke, take on the role. Sonia has been a dedicated member for 12 years and has an excellent knowledge of the products and how the co-op operates. To assist Sonia in her role we have delegated some areas of responsibility to others.  Sonia is centre in the above photo with two new members Teresa and Fiona.

Our membership sits at around 68. One of the first things we will be doing is further promotion to tap into members of our community who may not be aware of the unique asset we have in the Benalla community. Our main form of advertising has been through ‘word of mouth’.
Open dates for the remainder of the year are as follows – December Monday 2nd, at 4pm, Saturday 14th at 9.30am and Thursday 19th at 9.30am.

Narelle Martin is the Founder and Director of the Regional Change Agency.    
 
Narelle has worked on environmental sustainability in Victoria, NSW and Canada for many years, working with local and state governments and the wine industry in Ontario, Canada. Since 2008 her focus has been on climate change, and she is highly qualified in this area.

Following the 2019-20 Summer bushfires she worked extensively with Towong Shire Council staff and Councillors to lead the debrief around the fire impact for a number of council operations. More recently she has worked with RAMJO, a collection of eleven Councils in NSW. She developed a Regional Energy Strategy, which was adopted in November 2022, and in March 2023 was engaged as the Energy and Sustainability Project Manager where a major role was to work on a number of the recommendations of the Strategy. She recently toured Canada where she visited a nuclear power station.

Her community roles include membership of Burgoigee Creek Landcare, and land and community related projects including as the Foundation co-chair of the Giant Pumpkin Competition and Harvest Festival.

She has been a member of Renewable Albury Wodonga (RAW) for some years, which has undertaken initiatives in renewable energy and community education, been an elected member of Council (Gawler, South Australia).

Narelle’s talk is titled “Building Hope in a Warming World” and is an outcome of her extensive work in the topic area.

The meeting will be held at 7.30pm at the Benalla Uniting Church, Carrier Street Benalla, opposite the Coles Car Park.  Supper will be available after the meeting.
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Information from Online Meeting of the Coalition for Community Energy, 31st October 2024

Guest Speaker: 'Local Government Energy Upgrades - Supporting Residents in the Energy Transition' - Donna Luckman, Merri-bek City Council  -  Donna's talk and slides. (Also posted it and the links below on the forum.)

Indigo Power - Molly and Heath.  Molly can be contacted on [email protected]  if you are interested in resources or marketing materials to support groups with their new groups offer - $100 reward for each customer sign up. It comes alongside some new rates with great prices for non-solar customers who can use up excellent solar soak. Congratulations on signing the 7 new community batteries with ARENA, sites are all listed in the GoogleDoc.

Climate Ready Hume Newsletter - Louisa Marston [email protected] can be contacted if you want to be on the Climate Ready Hume Newsletter and you are not already.

Some links shared and namedropping that occurred from meeting - 
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• Electrify Wangaratta’s great sign up to get off gas tool
• NB Victorians can also use the Electric Home planner
• And if you are really keen try the ACT Next Choice Electric Tool
• But for a more comprehensive audit, you can’t beat Ecologic
• Merri-Bek’s electrify everything messaging guide
• Project selector for new community energy groups - the MyTown energy tool
• We discussed the new NSW government commitment to community energy and re-invigorating the Community Power Hubs idea
• ** Helen Haines’ work
• ** The Local Energy Hubs Campaign
• ** The RenewAustralia for all campaign
• ** The Climate Action Pays Off Campaign
• TRY 10th Birthday on the 16th Nov - get your tickets
• Congratulations to SHASA for turning 10 too - Moruya Surf Life Saving Club will be going off on the 10th November
• Finally there is a full day event in Vic on the 3rd Dec for everyone working with Environmental Volunteers - look for a hub near you, or join online.

Venus Bay community is giving a talk about their resilience work at an Essential Energy webinar on 4th Dec (5:30?)

Coalition for Community Energy eNews, please sign up here.  

Heather Smith Chair, Coalition for Community Energy  
​M  0417 862 206  E  [email protected]  W  www.c4ce.net.au