The Teddy Bear’s Picnic

This weekend was a big day for the kids in Hornby Shire. It was the annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic and despite some sporadic rain, they came in droves.  There were over a thousand people and the kids had a ball.  From the face painting to the hula hoops being swirled around there was lots to do.  Many people brought along a picnic and enjoyed a day out with the family.

I volunteered as one of the official photographers on the day and enjoyed taking photos of a wonderful community event.  Well done, to the Friends of Lisgar Gardens who in collaboration with Council put together a wonderful event.

The Darcy Street Project

Our time at the Pop Up is enabling me to make new connections. One such connection I made was with John at the Darcy Street Project. It is a wonderful social enterprise that is using commercial strategies to maximise improvements to human and environmental benefits. They are supporting coffee culture by coffee and tea education. They run workshops to promote knowledge in the industry and it gives people who want a start in this business a chance to learn on the job. I love it and that’s why we support their business while at our Parra Pop Up. Go buy a coffee if you work in the area. 

http://www.darcystproject.com.au

Time to be GREEN

There is no time like the present to be GREEN.

We think it is time to re-think politics in our country. As NSW gears towards another State election, I wonder how many of us are taking the time to seriously consider the issues?  Or are we just too busy that, come Election Day, we will go and tick the same old boxes?  The Greens talk of grass roots democracy and we find that appealing.  They talk about a just and caring society, protecting public education and of a plan to give NSW 100% renewable energy by 2030.  I was excited to read they want to stop coal seam gas and save our land and water, to keep solar subsidies for households, to expand our bus and train networks, to protect public health and provide housing security. More locally they propose to develop the Westside of Hornsby as a liveable community village rather than the towers that will only increase congestion.  This is why I find them appealing. 

The Greens acknowledge that we at a tipping point and if we’re going to improve our living environment, then we have to clean up not just the environment but politics in NSW.  They acknowledge that limiting climate change—and all the damage it can do by limiting our ability to grow food, wiping out species and increasing extreme weather events—is now the major challenge facing humanity.  We may not have realised it here in Sydney but 2014 was the planet’s hottest year on record.  It was also the year greenhouse gases set new records.

It’s that time again when we can have a say about our future.  What will you say?  What will you choose? Should we keep voting the way we always have or is it time to think differently?