This is an advance notice of our forthcoming AGM, to be held at the Uniting Church Meeting Room in Carrier Street Benalla on Thursday 26 June (please note, not May!) at 7.30 PM.

The meeting has been deferred until June instead of the usual May date to allow our proposed Guest Speaker to attend.  More information on who this will go out with the formal Notice in the next week or two.  In the meantime, the Committee is seeking interest from members for various Committee roles including especially the role of President. David Blore, our current President, is relinquishing the role because of his responsibilities as a Councillor, so if you have ideas and a willingness to assist our Group in this fashion, please get back to us at this address ASAP.

If you are aware of anyone who may be interested in our Group's activities but is not yet a member please feel free to invite them to our AGM and of course to our ordinary meetings held quarterly throughout the year.  As you know, we have a wide range of interests and in the current national and global situation our personal and collective actions as community members for ourselves and our descendants are of paramount importance.

Session 1
Film "CLIMATE EXTREMES".  Providing a deeper understanding of planetary boundaries, tipping points and the forces shaping our climate.
Guest Speaker Dr Phillip Lawn ‘How did Humankind get into this Mess and How does Humankind get out of it?’

Afternoon tea 3.00pm.

Session 2 3.30 pm
Film ’ROOTS SO DEEP - Episode 1’.
Inventive farmers and scientists building a path to solve climate change with hooves, heart and soil.  At the festival a discount code will be provided to stream the four episodes.
Guest Speaker Mark Foletta ‘Diversity, Regenerative Agriculture and Community’

Film ’TAKAYNA - THE HEART OF LUTRUWITA’
Be taken on a journey to the vast and threatened landscapes of Australia’s largest temperate rainforest.

Dinner at 6.45 pm

Session 3  7.45pm
Evening Feature Film ’DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: OCEAN’
There is nowhere more vital for survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than our oceans.

Download the SEFF 2025 Flyer
Download the SEFF 2025 Programme

Tickets $35 and booking essential online www.trybooking.com/DARDU

Afternoon tea and dinner provided by Pavlos & the Swanpool Catering Team

​Beverley Lee
Web Team/Past member of Renewable Energy Benalla 
​24 May 2025

From "Local Energy Hubs", this series of articles provides a great response to the Fearmongering of the fossil fuel lobby and their enablers:

https://www.localenergyhubs.org.au/renewables_done_right?fbclid=IwY2xjawJdtNBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmfI0Svm7THBTEz5xv2Wkzg963Bd-LDJ6LJ2t-8lNkfjHK3R6MbUlBN_b0ul_aem_Nmh4yJQY-JFYnLEOs-Ztag&sfnsn=mo 

At this critical time when we have a lack of information about renewables, it is crucial that the majority of people are informed.

Please share it with your own networks to spread the word.

​​About  Local Energy Hubs:   https://www.localenergyhubs.org.au/about

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary, Benalla Sustainable Future Group

Hi,

I want to share FCA's Quiet Majority Election Campaign. This year, we want to make sure that landholders and communities across regional Australia continue to benefit from the energy shift. 

While this campaign is a little different from your organisation's focus on sustainability and conservation work, the policies we are asking for will go a long way in securing a low emissions economy here in Australia. 

This election, we’re asking for:

• Farmers to be able to use the energy they generate across their whole property, including across different property titles
• Upgrades to local poles and wires
• Delivery of support for batteries for all farmers

To do so, we are rallying a grassroots campaign (check it out here), which features guides for farmers to send letters to their local newspapers and to local MPs and candidates. 

We are organising an open letter to show the widespread support for farmers to be able to access affordable battery systems. 
​
Support this by signing the open letter for battery support and sharing with your network. I have attached a tile that you can share on your socials or newsletter to encourage your network to sign, if this helps.

Sign our open letter - Farmers for Climate Action

Re: Support for On-Farm Batteries. Australia’s farmers are calling for urgent federal political support for on-farm batteries to help secure their energy future, lower costs, and strengthen regional communities.
​
farmersforclimateaction.org.au

Everyone is welcome to support the campaign by signing the open letter. If your group has farmer members who may be interested in sending a letter or ordering a farm gate sign, feel free to send the guide onwards.

Cheers, 
Rosie, for the Farmers for Climate Action team

We invite you to attend a presentation by our guest speaker Matthew Griffin, Chief Operating Officer from Advanced Energy Tech (AET) Bendigo. The presentation will start at 7:30pm on Thursday 27th March in the Uniting Church Meeting Room opposite Coles carpark.

The presentation will be followed by supper, finishing with our March general meeting for members and others who are interested.

Matthew's presentation is titled "Advanced Resource Recovery in Rural and Regional Areas".This presentation will explore how AET is applying innovative technologies to improve waste management in rural and regional communities. We’ll discuss practical approaches to reducing landfill reliance, recovering valuable materials, and supporting local economies. The session will provide insights into the opportunities and challenges of implementing these solutions in areas like Benalla.
​
Please RSVP your attendance to [email protected]

Judy Schwarzman
​Secretary, Benalla Sustainable Future Group

The Council's "Have Your Say" Council Plan 2025-2029 Survey is now open at  https://haveyoursay.benalla.vic.gov.au/council-plan-2025-2029 .

BSFG is strongly encouraging all members and supporters to complete the online survey for the development of Benalla Rural City Council's Plan 2025 - 2029.

This is imperative to ensure that BSFG's perspective is heard by the consultants and Council.

This Plan is the most important document for Benalla Rural City that will be prepared, over the next four years.  It will set the scene for the priorities to be addressed by Council, which means that sustainability and environmental considerations must be strongly conveyed to bring about the changes in emphasis from Council that we at BSFG believe are of utmost importance.

The more BSFG Members and Supporters contribute their ideas about sustainability and environmental issues as priorities, the best chance we have of Council taking these important matters into consideration when making planning decisions in the next 4 years.

Please follow this link  https://haveyoursay.benalla.vic.gov.au/council-plan-2025-2029   to complete the Council's "Have Your Say" Council Plan 2025-2029 Survey. 

Judy Schwarzman,
Secretary, Benalla Sustainable Future Group.

Benalla Library is hosting an author talk by Scott Hamilton and Stuart Kelly, authors of "Sold Down the River".  This event relates to BSFG's purposes, and you may be interested to attend. Please see the details below and in the flyer attached.

'Scott Hamilton and Stuart Kells, both experts in public policy, have interviewed irrigators, farmers, Traditional Custodians and water traders to tell this disastrous story. Their compelling expose brings to light how we have failed to protect our most precious natural resource.' 
Source:  National Library of Australia - Summary of 'Sold Down the River' at:   https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/247099426/version/275139058%20277469403%20277478971   

As you can imagine, a discussion about commodification of natural resources and water policy has the potential to become unconstructive. To keep the event on the rails, the interview questions will be focused on the research process from its beginning to publication, the contents of the book, and any updates since publication.

Event Details:

Time and Date:  10am to 11am on Saturday 22nd February 2025, 
Venue:    The Sir Edward ; 'Weary' Dunlop Learning Centre (Benalla Library).
Tea and Coffee provided. 
This is a Free event. 
RSVP: Please RSVP by calling (03) 5762 2069 during business hours to reserve your spot.

​Judy Schwarzman
Secretary, Benalla Sustainable Future Group.

This is a call out to all members to consider volunteering to be a community representative on behalf of BSFG, for the development of Benalla Rural City Council's Plan 2025 - 2029.

This is imperative to ensure that BSFG's perspective is heard by the consultants and Council.

This Plan is the most important document for Benalla Rural City that will be prepared, over the next four years.  It will set the scene for the priorities to be addressed by Council, which means that sustainability and environmental considerations must be strongly conveyed to bring about the changes in emphasis from Council that we at BSFG believe are of utmost importance.

Please reply to [email protected] to express your interest in this important volunteer role. 

Judy Schwarzman,
Secretary, Benalla Sustainable Future Group.

BSFG is posting this information as it is relevant to the purposes of BSFG and it may be of interest to you.

The National Sustainability Festival 2025 has a wide variety of events, both online and in person. There are some well-known presenters speaking on topics of interest and concern, from sustainable activities we can do ourselves, to current topics including climate and nuclear energy.

The Festival Home Page contains tabs for 'Program' showing all events, and 'Line-up' showing all speakers, advocates, artists and performers. 

We hope you find something to inspire and activate!

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary, Benalla Sustainable Future Group

Karen Nankervis has been a very active, dedicated and well considered member of the food co-op committee for many years. Karen has decided it is time for her to step down from the committee and re-prioritise her time and energy elsewhere.

Fortunately Karen will continue to be an active food co-op member, including in her role as computer operator.

Karen--the co-op thank you most sincerely for your generous service, excellent ideas, energy and friendship. 

​Rhona Rose​

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.
​

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 - 
​

• 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

Kaye Blore and the
Wastewise Benalla Action Group

Join Electrify Wangaratta at the Wangaratta Performing Arts & Convention Centre at 2pm Sunday 13 October for an exciting event focused on making homes more energy-efficient!

Learn  how to optimize your home to reduce your energy bills and increase year-round comfort.

This is an interactive, informative session includes:

• The launch of Electrify Wangaratta - your local knowledge hub for home electrification.
• The unveiling of the Home Electrification Guide - a tool to help you transition to an electric home.
• A presentation from Tim Forcey - author and home energy expert - on creating an efficient, all electric home.
• Stories from locals who've gone all-electric.
• A live home efficiency Q&A .
• A chance to win one of 3 lucky door prizes worth over $500 (Registration essential).

Don't miss out on this opportunity to make your home more environmentally friendly and cost-effective!

Please register at https://events.humanitix.com/go-electric-slash-your-energy-bills 

At our next Meeting on Thursday October 10th Join us for a FREE information night followed by a Q&A session on the current state of residential Solar and Batteries in North East Victoria, presented by Solar Gain.
Book your place using the QR Code below, or use this link https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1299107, or click on the flyer image.

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.
​
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/.
​
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
​
Benalla Food Cooperative Report - Susanne Bennett
​
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
​

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary