To Revive the Murray Darling … just add water!

At the conclusion of his excellent talk at March Rocket Science our guest speaker Paul Sinclair encouraged us to “do our bit” for the health of the Murray Darling Basin. What can we do? The Australian Conservation Foundation is currently leading an initiative to return 200 million litres of water to the Hattah Lakes wetlands. The Australian Government has already provided some water to this unique wetland system, but much more is needed to ensure its future health. If you would like to help this important program visit www.acfonline.org.au for more information on how you can assist.

Rocket Science guest speaker Paul Sinclair from the ACF in action at DIG Cafe - 28th March 2010

Where are the Hattah Lakes? – visit via Google Maps

Rocket Science #13 – What future for our rivers?

DIG Cafe on Sunday the 28th March at 3.30pm.

Dr. Paul Sinclair, Healthy Ecosystems Program Manager with the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Paul is well known for his marvellous book “The Murray: A river and its people”, published in 2001. He grew up at Kerang, on the Loddon River, a tributary of the Murray. His first memory of the river is a flood in the early 1970s when he was 12. The book explores the reasons why the river has become degraded, and what these changes have meant to Australians. According to Martin Flanagan, Paul Sinclair “is a new sort of Australian public intellectual. His view of the environment goes way beyond the polarity of greenies versus rednecks”.

At Rocket Science on the 28^th March Paul will tackle the topic “What future for our rivers – is it possible to reconcile competing demands for a scarce resource….in a drying climate?” It promises to be a great discussion.

Download a copy of the flyer.

Paual Sinclair and the Rocket Science audience debated carbon, water and biodiversity.

Rocket launchings in 2010

Rocket Science has been in recess over summer but the 2010 Program is shaping up well.

Our first session will be on Sunday 28th March featuring Dr.Paul Sinclair, Healthy Ecosystems Program Manager with the Australian Conservation Foundation. More details to follow soon. In August Prof. John Wiseman, Director of the McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne will speak on social and community dimensions of climate change.

Watch out as we confirm other topics and speakers for the year ahead.

Rocket Science #12 – Social Networking

To be held on Sunday 22nd November at 3.30pm – DIG Cafe

Social Networking – Facebook, Twitter – you know the kind of thing. A panel of three speakers will guide us through the dangers, the delights and the decorum of this new digital world. Facebook for family ties? The computer version of the Village Square? On-the-wire political culture?

Who needs the village square when we have Facebook? Or polling booths when we could, potentially, vote online? And will this new-age social networking on the net kill real-life communing?

Political strategist Ben Hart, human network researcher Associate Professor Barry Golding and lecturer in computer networking Dr David Stratton will form a panel to debate the pros and cons of online networking (Facebook, Twitter etc) versus the real thing at Newstead’s Rocket Science on November 22.

Ben Hart, a chief of staff with the Victorian Government, says Barack Obama’s incredible online campaign was a key to his election and believes online networking is likely to be a big part of our political future.

Education academic Assoc. Prof. Golding, who researches human face-to-face networking, argues that online networking could be another great divider setting new lows in social inequality between those who do and those who don’t.

He says the net has stolen our young people and created a world that locks out the technologically incompetent and ill-equipped and the poor. Is he right?

“Never before have we been able to be more in touch with the world, find out more and hear more, “ Dr Stratton says, “ yet in this new age of Facebook and Twitter there are those who argue humanity is losing a vital dimension, that of being able to commune face to face.

“Our panel will explain what online social networking is, how it works and look at its positives and negatives.”

“We have a skeptic and a devotee and my job will be to keep the conversation on track and make sure we cover all points of view. We’ll use show and tell on a projected computer screen to demonstrate tips and tricks.  Online networkers can come and share tricks – and indulge themselves with some face-to-face networking. Those worried about the consequences of this trend are welcome to come and talk about it.”

To download a copy of the flyer click here.

Rocket Science #11 – David Holmgren “Sustainable Energy from Sustainable forests: opportunities in a world of climate change and the end of cheap oil”

This special “Rocket Science” session featuring local sustainability practitioner David Holmgren will be held on Sunday 25th October at DIG Cafe [3.30pm start].

Know locally and globally for his work ton the development and evolution of permaculture, David lives at Hepburn Springs where he lives and works using the principles he developed more than 30 years ago. His talk precedes the world climate treaty talks scheduled for Copenhagen in December and focuses on energy generation from renewable sources.

Bill Mollison and David coined the word Permaculture in the 1970s. Today David explains the word means: “Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for provision of local needs. People, their buildings and the ways in which they organise themselves are central to permaculture. Thus the permaculture vision of permanent or sustainable agriculture has evolved to one of permanent or sustainable culture.”

To read a short article written by David entitled Firewood: Sustainable and Appropriate Energy Source click here. For further information visit www.holmgren.com.au

Rocket Science #10 – Central Victorian Solar Cities

DIG Cafe on Sunday 27th September at 3.30pm.

Michael McCartney (Project Director of the Central Victorian Solar Cities Program) will tell us about:

The Solar Cities’ visionary energy initiative brings together industry, business, government and communities to rethink the way we produce, use and save energy.

In seven key locations across Australia, the Solar Cities’ vision is to create new partnerships and trial ways to save energy, increase up-take of Australia’s leading-edge technologies, reward energy efficiency and solar power generation, and showcase the economic and environmental benefits of wiser energy choices.

Visit www.centralvictoriasolarcity.com.au for further information

Download a copy of the flyer

Newstead 2021 Energy Survey – preliminary results

At the June 28th Rocket Science session Ray Culvenor presented some of the preliminary findings of our recent renewable energy survey. The purpose of the survey was:

* to find out about current sources of electricity and water heating in Newstead

* to examine the interest in adopting renewable energy

* to identify barriers to adopting renewable energy systems

To view a copy of Ray’s presentation click here or to view the actual survey click here.

A more detailed report is in the pipeline so stay tuned for further details.

Rocket Science #9 – The Hopetoun Community Sustainable Energy Initiative

Dig Cafe on Sunday 28th June at 3.30pm

The community of Hopetoun in north-west Victoria have been active in exploring alternative energy options for their town and district.

COME ALONG & HEAR:

• How they worked out their current and future energy needs
• About options for solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy production
• How they sought and gained funding for their work
• How we might learn from their experience in pursuing future sustainable energy options for Newstead

Download a copy of the flyer

To book call DIG CAFE on 5476 2744

Rocket Science #8 – Newstead has a new website

DIG CAFE, Sunday 31st May, 2009 at 3.30pm

Over the past few months a group of local folks have been busily rebuilding and updating our community website 

COME ALONG & DISCOVER:

• What  the new site looks like
• What it will be able to do
• How you can be involved in contributing content and information
• How the new site can support local community groups and businesses
• About opportunities for training

Our developers, DAVE HALL and STEVE PROPOSCH will be on hand to introduce the website with all its “bells and whistles”

Download a copy of the flyer

To book call Dig Cafe on 5476 2744

Newstead Water Futures – Tuesday 19th May

NEWSTEAD WATER FUTURES – Sustainable water options for communities and the environment at a time of climate change

 

A COMMUNITY FORUM featuring:

 

Gavin Hanlon – Managing Director of Coliban Water

[view Gavin's presentation]

 

Phil Dyson – Regional hydrogeologist and groundwater expert

[view Phil's presentation]

 

Juliet Le Feuvre – Healthy Rivers Campaigner with Environment Victoria

[view Juliet's presentation]

 

Geoff Park, Phil Dyson, Juliet Le Feuvre and Gavin Hanlon following the session

 

Newstead Community Centre Tuesday 19th May (7 for a 7.30pm start)

 

The forum will consider issues such as:

 

·                    What is the current state of water supply and demand in Central Victoria?

·                    What do global warming scenarios predict for future water availability?

·                    How are our water utilities planning for a future where demand is increasing and supply threatened by drought and climate change?

·                    What are the implications for maintaining the health of water dependent ecosystems such as our precious Loddon River?

·                    What is happening to our local aquifers and current resources of groundwater?

·                    What can we do as a community to explore sustainable water options for farming, rivers and people?

 

RSVP via email to geoff.park@nccma.vic.gov.au or 54762593

The forum is an initiative of Newstead 2021