Four roadside bins to grace your kerbside. What is this, how will it work? Mitchell Shire begins the four-bin roadside collection system in March. A bin for glass only, another for other recyclables, one for green waste and the red bin for landfill. Four bins will take some thinking, and becoming familiar with timetables. Australia’s recycling per capita is not high: we can do better.  In Mitchell Shire. 66% of our rubbish bin is organic waste, so taking that out of the red bin will save on methane generating landfill and enabling a large scale composting operation. However, there’s a lot to get your head around. Narelle Liepa is Mitchell Shire’s  Manager of Environment and Sustainability. She joins Peter Lockyer on EarthChat this week and we will work our way through the new 4 bin system, the reasons behind the new system, and the desired outcomes.  4 bins is a big waste management step, all on your kerbside. EarthChat …. Its food for thought, yours and mine. Listen up.

Mitchell local and BEAM committee member Peter Gaffney is an organiser for Rising Tide and he joins EarthChat again to talk about this amazing movement. Peter is dedicated to the well-being of both the planet and its inhabitants. He is both an impassioned environmental activist and palliative care nurse specialist. Throughout his career, the planet's welfare has remained a central priority. He has sought to bridge the gap between environmental activism and healthcare, recognizing the intricate relationship between a healthy planet and the well-being of its inhabitants. We hear from Peter about his passions and advocacy work and we will get a first hand report on the Rising Tide blockade work in November 2024. Listen in and find out why this work is important and what you can do to support climate action. Read more about Rising Tide in Victoria on Facebook or check out Rising Tide's website here.

Ruth. Emma and Phil continue their conversation about the impacts of colonization in Australia. On Tuesday's program they will focus on why Treaty in Victoria will ultimately benefit everyone who lives in this State. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and the State Government have formerly declared that negotiations can now begin to create a Treaty for the State of Victoria, Australia. Non indigenous residents as well as indigenous residents will gain from agreeing to a Treaty. How?  By supporting indigenous Victorians having self determination it will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can choose how best to meet and manage their social, cultural and economic needs so they too can have autonomy to live their best lives. Self determination for all means we are free to be the authority in our own affairs and live in accordance with our own values and beliefs. We all need the ability to decide what we want to do with our lives and to have the freedom to act on that decision. We can then develop a sense of personal empowerment and freely achieve our chosen goals. Living alongside the oldest living culture in the world offers profound richness to our ‘western’ lives, along with unique and exciting opportunities for collaboration and innovative partnerships. ‘Two Way Knowledge’ or ‘Two Way Learning’ means we mix the best of western and indigenous knowledge and bring together the differences in our our two cultures to meet and interface in all aspects of society. The results? Barriers are broken down and together we create cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity. Combining our knowledge and skills means everyone has what they need to thrive. We will illustrate examples of the increasing number of exciting partnerships that have formed and are forming as a result of our two cultures coming together. And we will name the obstacles that are still getting in the way of such creative innovation and well being. What’s needed to overcome and heal the trauma of the past, and to heal the longstanding division and fear that was sorely exposed by the recent referendum? The Truth Telling facilitated by The Yoorrook Justice Commission is helping us learn about and embrace our true history. It reveals much about who we are, how we got here, and where we go if we are good Treaty partners and treat each other and our planet well. The discomfort that we may feel is an invitation to listen, to learn, to understand, and to honour the wisdom of Australia’s indigenous peoples, one that respects people and the planet. You too can join a weekend of Self-Reflection Conversations on Structural Racism, Privilege, Decolonization and Allyship on February 1& 2, 2025, at Commonground, Seymour, Victoria. Enquiries: emma@common-ground.org.au

Tim Forcey has written a handbook that shows why, and how you can shift your home to being all electric. Good for your health, and your pocket, and good for the planet. On EarthChat this week, Tim shares his story and delivers a compelling case to go “all electric” and “get off gas”.  It is cheaper, healthier, and smarter. In this week's EarthChat, Peter and Tim chat with Tim Forcey about his life story, his work helping people make their houses more efficient and the huge benefits which come from going all-electric. It's easier than you think! Want to read a bit more about his work? Read about Tim Forcey here, buy his book here or join the My Efficient Electric Home Facebook Group here.

This week Tim Budge and Ruth Yeatman chat with the Joshua Waters about Indigenous Knowledge. Joshua is a First Nations K/Gamilaroi man, PhD student and Senior Research Fellow with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University. His work explores the critical role of Indigenous Knowledges in global higher education and institutional contexts. He is also a core member of Deakin University's Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Lab and a Director of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Collective (IKSC) where he supports a number of regional, national and international partnerships and research projects aimed at utilising Indigenous knowledges and complexity for global systems innovation and change. On EarthChat, we explore the meaning and significance of Indigenous knowledge and how it can throw light on some of the big questions we are facing as a society. Joshua will talk about how he lives and work with both Indigenous and Western knowledge, particularly his University study. We will also try to get a sense of how environmentalism and climate action can learn from Indigenous knowledge and how we can respect and support it in our work for the environment. Want to listen to the music Joshua suggested? Listen here for Roger Knox and here for Loren Ryan Want to read a bit more about Josh's work? Look here, here and here.

Euroa Arboretum workers, Bronte Haines, Charlotte Langman, and Nelly Watson join Ruth Yeatman to talk about the wonderful conservation work of the ‘Arb’, its many offerings, and why they love working in this truly beautiful natural environment. Spanning 27 hectares, the Euroa Arboretum offers a unique experience to spend time in the natural environment of northeastern Victoria. Working with traditional owners, from the Taungurung Land and Waters Council, the ‘Arb’ is restoring the natural environment to ensure it is preserved for future generations. Established in 1990 the Euroa Arboretum has become a beloved destination for visitors wanting an outdoor experience as well as being a leading service provider of ecological restoration supplies and information. Originally the depot site for the freeway work to by-pass Euroa, the land was handed over by VicRoads to the local community. A volunteer Committee of Management transformed it to a beautiful park of woodland and wetland environments, walking tracks, picnic areas and an indigenous plant nursery. From 2000, with the help of Natural Heritage Trust funding, the ‘Arb’ established the on-site Seed Orchard to provide an accessible and sustainable source of indigenous seed for regional revegetation. From then on the ‘Arb’ has generated income from plant and seed sales, growing approximately 60,000 indigenous seedlings per year including providing seed to the Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seed Bank at Dookie which, in 2019, moved across to the Arboretum where it is now run from. In the ensuing 24 years, the ‘Arb’ expanded its many Conservation initiatives offering a myriad of wonderful innovative services including environmental education, running field days and workshops to promote awareness of and research into local habitat protection and restoration activities; a bush kinder; lovely walking trails; actively managed grasslands; a bush crew you can hire; and, you can even go canoeing and fish (with a licence) for Rainbow Trout!. The ‘Arts’ are also included with beautiful steel sculpture panels produced by local artists. So far, 98 bird species have been sighted. Birders, see if you can add to this list! There’s so much more to be found at this very special and thriving Arboretum. Check out these ‘highlights’ : https://euroaarboretum.com.au/highlights/ On sale are a wide variety of native plants for purchase at very reasonable prices so you too can provide food and habitat for birds and insects in your garden. Volunteering is also possible at the ‘Arb’:                                                                              https://euroaarboretum.com.au/volunteer-at-the-euroa-arboretum/ 

This week Tim Budge and Peter Lockyer chat with the legendary Cam Walker about forests, climate change, supporting Traditional Owners and his enduring love of the High Country.Cam is the campaigns co-ordinator with Friends of the Earth in Melbourne. Friends of the Earth (FoE) is a grassroots, community-based environmental organisation and Cam is responsible for co-ordinating the various campaigns and projects of the organisation. FoE takes a community empowerment approach to its campaigns. He has worked for decades on grassroots environmental campaigns, starting with the Franklin River in 1982, and with indigenous communities, trade unions and civil society groups. In the last three years he has focused on identifying forests of high conservation value in the Victorian high country and campaigning for their protection, and working towards an early end to native forest logging across the state. A long community campaign led to the Victorian government announcing it will end all native forest logging in the east of the state by January 2024. He is an active volunteer firefighter, received the National Emergency Medal for his efforts during the Black Summer fires, is a high school teacher by training, with a background in terrestrial ecology. You can read his blog here, read more about Friends of the Earth here.

This week on EarthChat, John Thompson president of Mitchell Community Energy joins Narelle Liepa from Mitchell Shire Council on EarthChat to share some of the good work happening in community renewables in Mitchell Shire. What is happening?    - A Solar farm at the tip - Jeff's work on the old courthouse - Our proposal for a solar carpark at Chittick Park and Community Batteries - The proposed Energy Hub - And what about the FERA windfarm?

It is an energising conversation, so listen in! Learn more about Mitchell Community Energy here.  On this program, we played Ann's Song and Wind in my Head. We don't have the rights to put them on the podcast, but you can find them on Spotify.

Join Tim Budge and Jessica Morrison as they chat about Jessica's involvement in peace and social justice issues. Jess has been a passionate advocate for working towards peace in situations such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine and has been outspoken in her opposition to war. She discusses the impact of the war on Gaza on innocent people and how Palestinians (and Lebanese) are suffering. She was Executive Officer for the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) for 13 years.

Jess now works for Quakers Australia.

Other topics we discuss include the problem of burnout and how the climate movement needs should be addressing the trauma of fighting for climate action. See here (by Jessica and others) and here (by Charlie Wood) for good articles on this topic.

We also discussed her work with Pay The Rent. Paying the Rent is about non-Indigenous people honouring the Sovereignty of Aboriginal people; it is a somewhat more just way of living on this stolen land.

Ruth chats with creative team members of the Seymour Performers Workshop (SPW) to explore the far reaching benefits of the performing arts, along with exciting news of their latest production and the creation of a Community Choir.

They explore how creating music theatre along with the act of singing creates social, physical, and mental benefits, not only for the performers but also for the audience who is invited to interact and reciprocate through their attention, engagement, and reaction. This inclusive co-creation allows a collective exploration of new ways to look at the world - an opportunity that can ultimately benefit all species and potentially foster planetary wellbeing.

Using the ‘Visual and Performing Arts to encourage Pro-Environmental Behaviour’, edited by David Curtis, (first published in 2020 by Cambridge Scholars Publishing), provides evidence that artistic methods provide valuable tools to enhance communication about the environment and degradation, and create empathy for nature. Artistic methods can also help us find new ways of looking at a problem, to express solutions, and facilitate community processes. These authors show that the arts and artists are an important part of changing our society so that we exist more sustainably into the future.

Peter Read and Caitlyn Trotter from Seymour Performers’ Workshop join EarthChat for this interesting conversation when we’ll also hear the latest SPW news. About Peter Read: Peter began his working life in the theatre. After many detours and moving to the Seymour district in the mid 1990s, he began performing again, first in Broadford then starting the Seymour Performers Workshop with fellow local performer, Kerry Hogan. Over the past 20 years, Peter has been an actor, writer, director and president of the Workshop as well as a drama teacher in both Seymour and Broadford.

About Caitlyn Trotter Having graduated in A Bachelor of Music (voice) at Monash University in 2018, Caitlyn returned to her rural roots to pursue a career in music and performing arts education. Government projects like 'The Song Room' as a Teaching Artist in rural primary schools, along with becoming a Voice teacher at Notre Dame College, Shepparton has led her to specialize in teaching Voice performance. In addition to performing herself with local theatre and singing groups, Caitlin enjoys the role of choir director for local community choirs. She looks forward to bringing her experience and knowledge of Music and the performing arts to the Seymour area. Read more about the Seymour Performers Workshop here

Listen in to this week's EarthChat where Marie Gerrard and Ruth Yeatman chat to Wallan environment advocate Claudia James about managing growth while caring for the environment. They look at the challenges and opportunities for improving amenities particularly in our high growth areas and focus on the connections between health, wellbeing and nature and practical ways of planning these connections in new developments. Claudia will also be involved in the jointly organised Natural Treasures Walk, to take place on Sunday 6th October, at Hidden Valley Rail Reserve. More details here: www.beam.org.au/events Read more about the Wallan Environment Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/992752334090457/

Tim Budge and Peter Lockyer chat with Andrew Mahar, AM about taking practical steps to support climate action around the world. Andrew is an internationally recognised social entrepreneur, having spent the past 35 years seeding, nurturing, and mentoring over 15 successful social enterprises, both in Australia and Timor-Leste. This includes working with Timorese farmers to produce and market delicious coffee. Andrew was awarded an AM (a Member of the Order of Australia) in 2013 and has also been recognised internationally, including winning the prestigious Stockholm Challenge Award in 2001. Andrew has been working and advising on developing social enterprises in Timor-Leste since 2003. Read more about his work, including purchasing carbon credits at https://withoneseed.org.au/ or you can buy some of that delicious Timorese coffee at https://cornerstorenetwork.org.au/.

This week on EarthChat, Marie Gerrard and John Thompson explore the many and varied ways that our economic future will be affected by Climate Change. These include increased natural disasters, droughts, bushfires and health effects to name some. We can expect major rises in our expenses for recovery. Many homes and businesses will become uninsurable and governments will be expected to pay with our taxes. 

What are the economic costs and what can we as community members do in response? Listen in to find out more!

Peter Sawyer is a Seymour resident with a passion for watching birds. Birds in town, on the Goulburn River and recently at Borroloola in the Northern Territory. On EarthChat, Peter Lockyer teases out some of the delights of Peter’s birdwatching, and of threatened species still about, and what we all could do to assist in their conservation. It's been a wet year and birdlife is abundant. You can find Rainbow Bee Eaters along the Goulburn River, or a Red-Browed Treecreeper on stringybark trees in the Tallarook Forest, or Wedge-tailed Eagles cautiously eyeing of smaller creatures and roadkill. Peter Sawyer’s interest in birds stems from a life outdoors and curiosity about what is out there.  Birdwatching is something you can do anywhere and is complementary to his other hobbies/passions of golf, cycling, kayaking, camping and fishing. With his brother Ron, Peter has made thousands of contributions to eBird and are credited with adding 2 birds to the Australian list as the first people to see these birds in Australia. BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE! This month, EarthChat is giving away a copy of the wonderful book "Sand Talk" by Tyson Yunkaporta. To be in the running, just message BEAM on Facebook or email info@beam.org.au with the tag #sandtalk and your name will be in the hat.

Ruth and Phil welcome Levi Power and Jarvis Atkinson from the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria who bring us the latest Victorian Treaty news. Treaty is an opportunity for First Peoples to have a greater say and control over matters that affect them. It is an opportunity to secure meaningful structural reform to ensure First Peoples make the decisions about their communities, their culture, and their country. Australia is the only Commonwealth country without a Treaty with its First Nation’s People but this is about to change with the State of Victoria leading the way. The First People’s Assembly of Victoria is the independent and democratically elected body to represent Traditional Owners of Country and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria. Having conducted a careful and thorough consultation process over the last 7 years with Indigenous people across the State, The First Peoples’ Assembly have announced they are now ready to commence Treaty negotiations with the State Government of Victoria. The assembly will continue to bring Communities together around the State to decide what priorities they should focus on during the first round of negotiations. This will also help empower the diverse Traditional Owner groups in Victoria to start negotiating Treaties in the areas that reflect their specific aspirations and priorities. For more information go to firstpeoplesvic.org where there is plenty of great information and an invitation to non indigenous Victorians to walk with them on the path to Treaty. About Levi Power Levi Power is a proud Yorta Yorta man of the Dhulanyagan clan, born, raised and living in Shepparton. He has worked in the Treaty space for the last four years, engaging with Community across the State and is now one of four North East Representatives with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. “I want to see a Victoria where the oldest living culture in the world is embraced and celebrated, and the right history is being taught in schools. A Victoria that values Aboriginal Community skills and knowledge.” About Jarvis Atkinson Jarvis Atkinson, a Yorta Yorta man from Shepparton, recounts how his educational experiences led to involvement with the criminal justice system. He describes overcoming addiction, and now he works as one of the NE Engagement Officers with the First Peoples Assembly, promoting Treaty and self-determination in Victoria. Also, this month, EarthChat is giving away a copy of the wonderful book "Sand Talk" by Tyson Yunkaporta. To be in the running, just message BEAM on Facebook or email beamenvirogroup@gmail.com with the tag #sandtalk and your name will be in the hat.

On this week's EarthChat, Vanessa and Ruth talk about landscape restoration and the pilot project Vanessa has coordinated this year with the Granite to Goulburn group (G2G), under the umbrella of the New Futures for Victorian Landcare program. Listen in and learn lots!

This program originally went to air on 8th December, 2023. however, there has been lots of further developments in relation to a Treaty for Victoria and the First People's Assembly. EarthChat will have future episodes which bring us up to date with these developments, but this initial one is an important scene setter for the episodes to follow. Join us on this journey. Ruth and Phil are joined by Levi Power, a North East Representative of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, who brings us the latest Assembly news. Over the next few years, the Assembly will negotiate a statewide Treaty with the Victorian State Government to tackle the big overarching statewide issues like improving health, education and justice to create a better future together for all Victorians. The Assembly will also help empower the diverse Traditional Owner groups in Victoria to start negotiating Treaties in the areas that reflect their specific aspirations and priorities. The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria is the independent and democratically elected body to represent Traditional Owners of Country and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria. They are not spooked by the recent referendum result but rather strengthened to continue to message the need for Treaty. We’ll begin by learning about Levi and the other recently elected NE Representatives, their distinguished ancestry, their own journeys, and their aspirations for a better future for indigenous Victorians. Levi will also update us on the exciting news that Treaty negotiations are about to start in 2024. We’ll finish with learning what we non indigenous Victorians can do to take up The First Peoples’ Assembly invitation to “Walk with us”, and how we become good allies to usefully support this process of Treaty-making here in Victoria and pave the way for all States to follow to enable our country to come together in true reconciliation.

About Levi

Levi Power is a proud Yorta Yorta man of the Dhulanyagan clan. Levi says, “Born, raised and living in Shepparton. I don’t need to look far for inspiration when it comes to Aboriginal activism from our amazing leaders who have paved the way for us to this pivotal time in our history. I’ve worked in the Treaty space for the past 3 years, engaging with community across the state on a daily basis. This has prepared me for the role. When I hear 'nothing is off the table' when it comes to Treaty negotiations, it inspires me to think big. It’s up to us to shape what that looks like and what the next generation will be born into post Treaty. I want to see a Victoria where the oldest living culture in the world is embraced and celebrated, and the right history is being taught in schools. A Victoria that values Aboriginal community’s skills and knowledge. My priority is to make sure our communities voices are being heard. I commit to accessibility and approachability anytime; on the street, at the footy, or over a coffee.”
Read more about him here.

This week Marie and Tim talk to Una Hobday OAM from the Rotary organisation “Food Plant Solutions”. This group have developed a large data base of suitable plants for different countries and regions of the world with details of the nutritional values of different foods.  There are also details for growing food plants in various areas of Australia. Food Plant Solution information is designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of children and families and to reduce the incidence of malnutrition around the World. It aims to educate local people in the use and advantages of using  traditional local foods. Want to know more ? Click here for more information about Una and here for more information about Plant Food Solutions.

Also, in this episode, we talk about Goranwarrabul House and its urgent the need for financial and monetary support. You can find more details here: https://chng.it/H9Xrj6cRSJ 

On this EarthChat, Chloe Fox, Brontë Haines, and Nelly Watson chat with Ruth of their passion, commitment and creativity in bringing yummy affordable local seasonal produce from farm to plate. To produce a healthy and creative feedback loop that ensures sustainable reciprocity means we must take care of the earth. And in the process we get to witness the beauty of how plants grow alongside the invaluable contribution made by micro organisms, insects, and birds in this marvelous reciprocal loop. Growing and eating local food also creates community. We come together to share and swap the abundance of what we grow and inevitably conversations ensue about how delicious freshly picked fruit and veggies taste, and the many ways the entire plant can be eaten, along with learning about lesser known produce including native bush food and how to prepare it. Lots of recipe ideas, etc….. Gastronomy, the study of the relationship between food and culture, the art of preparing and serving rich or delicate and appetizing food, the cooking styles of particular regions, and the science of good eating goes only part of the way. Chloe Fox brings a wealth of growing experience from running Somerset Heritage Produce, a small scale cooperative organic market garden based in Seymour Victoria. Located on the banks of the Waring (Goulburn) River. “We grow according to organic principles and focus on soil health and biodiversity.  We grow primarily heirloom varieties, our vegetables are delicious, full of nutrients and grown and harvested with love and care. We embrace the unique and diverse beauty of our vegetables”. Brontë Haines is generally in the garden. Fair Food & Wildflowers store in Avenel is where her love for growing, food security, and caring for her home, on Taungurung Grey Box Grassy Woodland, intertwine. She has a degree in nutrition and a Masters in environmental restoration. She has worked researching the experience of food insecurity among people seeking asylum, as well as among people accessing food charity in Victoria. When not at the store she is at Euroa Arboretum tending the grounds and the little plants. Nelly Watson is currently part of a team that helps Brontë run Avenel Fair Food and Wildflowers. Her other roles include sourcing and ordering products for local venues who are passionate about using and promoting locally sourced ingredients/products. She has been a delivery driver for the Open Food Network's experimental, small producer focused logistics project, 'Open Road’, and she is part of a team of coordinators for the Strathbogie Local Food Hub, a Euroa based, community led initiative to support local producers during Covid. She describes herself as being fortunate to work in the local food scene since moving to the Strathbogie Ranges 8 years ago where she hangs out in a self built tiny house on wheels in the foothills among the stringy barks, critters and granite outcrops. Nelly also works at the Euroa Arboretum as part of the Bush Crew. This is a lively and enlightening ‘foodie’ romp introducing us to delicious new vegetables, native foods, and the utter delights of growing and eating fresh seasonal produce, along with the many ways we can care for the earth while doing so. Food, Glorious Food!

Our guest on this week's EarthChat is the former Greens Senator, Janet Rice. For over 40 years, Janet has been a campaigner for people and the planet, including campaigning against trucks in residential areas, campaigning for forest protection, being a founder of the Greens in Victoria and being a Senator in the Australian Parliament for the last 10 years. She was the Greens spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Social and Community Services, Forests and LGBTIQ issues among others. She was also the co-convenor the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Palestine Group, and the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet. Janet joins Tim Budge and Peter Lockyer to discuss a range of topics including the importance of Palestinian solidarity as a social justice issue, her reflections on her achievements as a Senator and campaigner on important causes, and her plans for life after politics. Listen in for what will be a fascinating conversation with someone who has shaped debate on many national and local issues over a long period of time. Read more about Janet Rice and her career on her Wikipedia page. Read her blog about her bike ride home here.

What does this proposed Indigenous management mean now that the logging threat has subsided. Or has it? Is selective logging within this proposal? The Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) believes that the State Government must put Country and people first when deciding on the future of the Central Highlands forests following direct involvement in the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement. TLaWC requests that forests within these cultural landscapes be designated as Cultural Reserves rather than National Parks to enable this significant part of Taungurung Country to be managed consistently according to Taungurung cultural knowledge:

“Active management for a broad range of values is needed to heal and care for Country”

Matt Shanks,  Executive Manager of Biocultural Landscapes at TLaWC and proud Taungurung man, joins EarthChat to discuss the emergence of First Nations, and particularly Taungurung Land and Water Council in seeking management of State Forests  since the cessation of VicForest and logging of Victoria’s native forest. The Rapid Biocultural Expressions Assessment of the State Forests within the Central  Highlands Regional Forest Agreement (CHRFA) area occurring on Taungurung Country represents the findings of a Taungurung led research project and outlines Taungurung’s position on the future of forests. It identifies a number of significant cultural landscapes in the Central Highlands and asks that forests within these cultural landscapes be designated as Cultural Reserves. See also here. First Nations managing State Forests seems a neat fit. But what does this management look like, what uses will be envisaged and how does the conservation of biodiversity fit within the Cultural Reserves model. Matt Shanks is an engaging speaker and up for a robust conversation. His thinking creates an exciting landscape of cross-cultural engagement good for First Nations and our broader community.

This week Marie Gerrard and Peter Lockyer chat with Elyse Kelly, Mitchell Shire Council's Environment Coordinator about a range of plans to enhance the local environment in our beautiful shire. Elyse has worked at the Mitchell Shire Council for several years and during that time there have been many improvements in the protection of our very diverse area. In the coming months there will be a range of consultation opportunities for the public to comment on various Council plans related to the environment. They also have details of the National Tree Day on Sunday 28th July where there will be opportunities for everyone to take part. 

It's now the middle of Plastic Free July and this week's EarthChat gives us a good opportunity to do a plastic-free stock take. How is the month going for you? What have been the small steps you have taken to make a big difference in reducing plastic in your life? What's going well and what has been a struggle?

So, this week, Tim and Ruth chat about plastics. They also have three different local guests who give their perspectives and share handy hints for reducing plastic. Some actions are harder than others and some people have yet to see the importance of reducing plastic waste. However, the good news, is that some changes are easy and fun and can make you feel much better about life and the planet. Hear how one business, Cafe 96, has been doing some exciting things to reduce plastic in their food preparation and offerings. It's a win-win for them and their customers. Also, get some handy hints about other businesses which are moving away from plastic and who you can support them. We look forward to your company. It's not too late to get on board with Plastic Free July. Take the challenge here.

Horse studs are big around Seymour and indeed across all of Mitchell Shire. This is a big money industry. What are the opportunities to make this industry more environmentally benign? James Manning is Stud Manager at Godolphin Stud in Northwood Road, and he joins Peter Lockyer on EarthChat this week as we dig deep into horse manure, a BEAM study a decade ago “Stable Waste to Compost” and James's work at Godolphin. James is also currently studying a regenerative agriculture course. He’s also looking to inform locals about an upcoming free Farm Tree event at Godolphin on Feb 14th. That’s a lot to chat about. See www.godolphin.com for more details. Find out about his regenerative agriculture course here: https://lachlanhughesfoundation.org.au/

Turtles in the Goulburn Valley - ancient survivors under threat from foxes and vehicles. Ken Wallis lives on a property  near 5 Mile Siding on the Goulburn River, on which he grows flowers with his partner TR but a healthy turtle habitat has sparked a new interest for them both. Ken’s turtle habitat includes billabongs along the Upper Goulburn Road east of Tallarook. Freshwater wetlands, swamps slow-moving rivers and farm dams are the favoured habitat. The Eastern Long-neck Turtle is in healthy numbers, but their nests  are under heavy threat every nesting season. Foxes in the main, and perhaps larger birds, have an appetite for disturbing nests and eating eggs.  95% of nests in Australia are damaged. So whilst a long-neck turtle can lay a lot of eggs- up to 13 hard-shelled eggs- the brightly coloured plastrons take 120-150 days to emerge. That leaves  a lot of time as vulnerable to hungry foxes and foraging larger birds. Turtles date from 230 million years ago, and have survived the dramatic changes that wiped out dinosaurs but their future is uncertain in a changing climate with pest predators and vehicles. Ken joins Peter Lockyer to discuss the turtles at Five Mile Siding; their nesting habits, how to identify turtle nests, where the nests are most likely and how to conserve the nests. What are the conservation measures available? Have you got turtle evidence in your backyard? Ken has a keen eye, and also shares his observations of patterns in migration of snakes, wombats and birds up and down the Tallarook Ranges through Seasonal Concepts to the Goulburn River. And these patterns change. Ken Wallis chats with Peter Lockyer on EarthChat. Education and stories from our Goulburn River backyard in Taungurung country that makes our region just that more fascinating to share. 

Despite the recent referendum result the reconciliation journey continues - it is far from over as the need for recognition, justice, and healing is ongoing. 6.2 million Australians voted YES. And then there were many who voted NO who actually want positive change for indigenous people in this country but because of confusion and misinformation they heeded the outrageous advice from the Leader of the Opposition who counselled: “If you don’t know, vote NO..” What on earth happened to: ‘if you don’t know, find out’? As we prepare for Treaty negotiations in Victoria let’s get clear about what drove people to vote NO? We must learn these lessons to ensure Victorians are clear that this important opportunity ensures Indigenous Victorians will at last have the freedom and power to make the decisions that affect all of their communities, cultures, and Country. They are after all the experts when it comes to identifying and communicating their needs. Ruth’s guest this week is Professor Andrew Gunstone who is an international authority in the field of reconciliation. His recent book: Reflections On The Voice : During and After the Campaign, the first to explore the Referendum and its Aftermath, was written both during and after the Referendum campaign. It explores many critical reconciliation matters, including Indigenous rights, addressing racism substantive reconciliation, equality, truth-telling, community engagements, international agreements, and allyship. Prof. Gunstone is the Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Reconciliation at Federation University, where he has institutional responsibility for all reconciliation matters, including the Nations Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, which he created in 2023. Andrew has been engaged in reconciliation for many years and is also Co-Chair of Reconciliation Victoria, the peak State-wide reconciliation body; Foundation Editor of the Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, Co-convenor of the National University R.A.P. Network; and a member of the serval national and regional reconciliation committees. Join Ruth for this important conversation with Andrew Gunstone who helps us get clear about what it will mean to have a Treaty in Victoria.

This week on EarthChat, Marie and Ruth chat with the Hon Kelvin Thompson about Birdlife Australia. The conversation is a great chance to learn about long-standing group and its work that makes the most of the power of citizen science. Marie and Ruth discuss the long term findings of the organisation's annual bird count with Kelvin who had a long career in politics but has also been a bird watcher since childhood He is a life member of Birdlife Australia as well as their Education Officer. It's an interesting and informative conversation. Many of us environmental activists have a love of birds and their place in nature in our childhoods. BEAM always welcomes children in our activities. Want to learn more about Birdlife Australia, check out their informative website here.

The Rising Tide of community activism against the fossil fuel export industry has a local champion in Peter Gaffney. Rising Tide is an activist community group focused on real action to address the climate change challenge. Actions are direct and dramatic for this is the challenge of our time. “We are the rising tide of ordinary people, called by extraordinary times. We are a diverse movement demanding Australia honours our commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. We are prepared to take whatever peaceful actions within our power to defend the climate.” Time is short and the stakes are high as our climate change escalates. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says… “2023 is a year of reckoning. It must be a year of game-changing climate action. We need disruption to end the destruction. No more baby steps. No more excuses. No more greenwashing. No more bottomless greed of the fossil fuel industry and its enablers.” Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of coal and gas. The emissions from these exports dwarf our domestic climate pollution. The Port of Newcastle is the biggest coal port in the world, and Australia’s single largest contributor to the climate crisis. So Rising Tide's action focus is on coal - stop expanding coal mines, and stop exporting coal to become someone else’s emissions problem. That problem impacts us all. Last year Rising Tide staged a blockade of the Port of  Newcastle. Newcastle is the largest coal export port in the world. A 30 hour blockade that attracted committed people from infants to 90 year-olds. Peter Gaffney is a committee member of BEAM Mitchell Environment Group. Peter was really enthusiastic about direct action in Newcastle last year and is now on the Victorian organising committee of Rising Tide. On EarthChat this week,  Peter shares about the “fire in his belly” over coal and climate action with Peter Lockyer. 

Plastic Free July is coming and we have an amazing guest to help us plan individual and local community activities! On this week's EarthChat, Tim and Ruth chat with Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, the founder of the global Plastic Free Foundation. Plastic Free July is a key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation, inspiring all of us to work towards a vision of seeing a world free of plastic waste. From humble beginnings in 2011 with Rebecca and a small team in local government in Western Australia, it is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world. Millions of people across the globe take part every year, with many committing to reducing plastic pollution far beyond the month of July. Rebecca is a change-maker, author, TEDx speaker and sustainability professional who is motivated to care for people and planet. Rebecca believes that as individuals, by changing our relationship with plastic and challenging our consumption, together we can work towards a world without plastic waste. Want to read more and get involved in Plastic Free July? Look here. Also check out our Facebook page and our website for BEAM's Plastic Free July events.

Tim and Ruth chat with Liz Downes about Deep Ecology. What is Deep Ecology? It is a way of life that supports conscious activism. It’s a sense of being part of the earth and called into action by the web of life. activism and facilitation work then involves creating a sense of community among like-minded people who want to explore this connection with the web of life.

Liz Downes is a forest activist, researcher and campaigner. Her recent focus has been in Ecuador, where mining is threatening the world’s most biodiverse regions. Liz is director of the Rainforest Information Centre and a facilitator of Deep Ecology, helping others do experiential work which aims to ignite our passion for the living Earth and the knowing of ourselves as part of it, which lead to empowerment and action in difficult times.

Want to read more? Check here for information, including course dates, for the Rainforest Information Centre and here for background on Deep Ecology.

You can find out about the Australian Earth Laws Alliance here

This week on EarthChat, Marie and Tim chat with Cath Rouse from the community group opposing the proposed Wollert waste to energy incinerator. They discuss and learn about the environmental dangers to the surrounding residents from the  potential toxic emissions caused by burning among other things large quantities of plastic and other chemicals. They also emit large amounts of greenhouse gases while producing energy. Want to read more? Check out this website from Climate Action Merribek. You can also add your name to the petition here. You can also get involved though the No Northern Incinerator Wollert FaceBook page

Peter Mitchell joins Ruth this Tuesday, May14 at noon to give listeners a sneak preview into the latest edition of the ‘Natural Treasures’ in Mitchell Shire prior to its official launch next Sunday, May 19. This new edition offers 16 more sites for us to explore, and Peter has created reserve notes for every site. There are a lot more nature reserves, roadside wild nature corridors, rail trail reserves, and many more walking tracks, all of which beckon us to put on our boots and get out into nature. And there’s more…… ! In addition to being able to pick up the leaflet from the Shire’s Libraries and Information Centres from next Monday, May 20, you will also be able to plan your nature expeditions from home via BEAM’s website which goes live at the time of launch (see below). There is also a fabulous "Nature Scavenger Hunt" for children to enjoy. I’ve been privileged to take a sneak peak at this fabulous new leaflet. Here’s an excerpt: “This brochure lists the best of the nature reserves in Mitchell Shire which are available to the public. The landscapes of Mitchell Shire have many Natural Treasures including small but rich patches of wildflowers, tree-lined corridors along roadsides, railways and creeks, larger conservation reserves and state forests, and private bushlands. To find these reserves, download walking maps, and learn more about the natural history that make these Treasures such rich places, go to: beam.org.au/naturaltreasures (live from Sunday, May 19) They have a rich diversity of environments…….” “This diversity of environments provides habitat for a wide range of native plants, animals, fungi and bacteria, and all the complex interactions between them. The form a framework of biodiversity that we can use to rebuild healthy ecosystems and landscapes across the Shire”. What also makes this Natural Treasures’ leaflet so special is that it is the only information of its kind, (thanks to the work of Peter and others acknowledged on the leaflet). Neither Parks Victoria nor Vic Forests offer such extensive and important information. Join us to hear about these exciting new additions to the leaflet, and to be reminded of all the nature reserves open to the public in this Shire. We often don’t realize how lucky we are to have so many places to immerse ourselves in nature nearby - many more compared to most other Shires in this State.

Vanessa and Ruth discuss the recent Landcare forum on soil health and sustainable farming, held at the Seymour Racecourse on the 2nd May,  including a presentation by TV celebrity chef Matthew Evans and his book on Soil. Vanessa outlines the contributions by the various speakers invited to the forum, touching on soil health and productive soils, biology and plant pathology. There were lots of practical examples of soil health applicable to farms, as well as the connection between healthy soil and nutrient rich foods, management approaches in Regenerative Agriculture and an outline of the pitfalls that need to be avoided.

Tony Richardson and his partner Rita have been growing trees on their two farms for 25 years. They invested their super (against advice at the time) and grew different eucalypt species hoping to log them for timber after about 25 years. However, Tony, a transport engineer by profession, had been captivated by the potential of biochar, and peeler logs for plywood. Growing trees for logs locks up carbon for maybe 50 years, and all of the upper tree and branches and leaves (75% of the biomass of a tree) become carbon emitting waste. In contrast, biochar can lock up carbon for 100 years, and all of the tree not peeled for plywood can be pyrolysed…no waste.  Logging takes the base of the tree trunk, but the rest of the tree is left to rot, or burnt; a big carbon emitter, and a wasted resource. Tony recommends a 10 year plantation turnaround as the best carbon storage, with biochar and peeler logs sold on the retail market. A short turnaround means the farmer’s plantation is less likely to be lost to bushfires. What does this all mean? EarthChat this week shares an interview with Tony Richardson, with Peter Lockyer as host and guest commentator and local gardener Brian Bowring offering his perspectives… Brian has been a biochar advocate for years. It's a great yarn.

Bertram Lobert, president of the Community Group, ‘Save Our Strathbogie Forest’ (SOSF), joins Nelly and Ruth on EarthChat Tuesday to tell us about their conservation efforts to improve the management of the Strathbogie Forest. A recent campaign with the Victorian Government successfully advocated for a halt to native forest logging in 2019. In 2024, in a legal case brought by Save Our Strathbogie Forest against the State of Victoria/Dept. of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, the Federal Court ruled that the evidence before the court was insufficient to argue that the four proposed planned burns were likely to significantly impact the nationally threatened Southern Greater Glider who’s survival is completely dependent on access to hollow-bearing trees. Despite this disappointment, there was an upside in the process, the court found that planned burns for fuel reduction are not exempt from the EPBC Act, as the Victorian Government has insisted for the last 25 years. This in itself is a ‘big deal’. Later in August, the full bench (three Justices) of the Federal Court, at Appeal, strengthened this finding. Bert sincerely believes that adopting the First Nations’ ethos of ‘healing country’ with a strong bioregional context is an integral part of our collective human response to several of the planetary crises we face, namely climate change, the sixth extinction, freshwater use and land system change. SOSF consults with the Taungurung Land and Waters’ Council in their efforts to strive for policy and actions that better protect the forest’s natural values. Join us to hear how he and the SOSF overcome the challenges inherent in convincing those ‘in power’ to rethink their approach to forest management to ensure critical habitat is protected not only so the many species who depend on them can thrive, but how they in turn can reciprocally fulfill their role of contributing to the overall health of the forest. Bert is a post graduate in zoology, geography and ecology from Monash University, and his current projects involve threatened species conservation, ground-water monitoring, wetland conservation, nature communication and forest management. His greatest love is having the time to simply be out in the field to collect data.

Over the last six months, the killing of over 30,000 people and the forced relocation of approximately 2 million people has brought global attention to the plight of people in Gaza and the wider conflict between Israel and Palestine. Our EarthChat guest this week is Dr Rachel Coghlan who completed her PhD on palliative care in Gaza and who maintains close contact with health workers and others there who are enduring the ongoing destruction talking place. Houses and hospitals have been damaged and destroyed, fields and trees uprooted, people left without access to food, clean water or sanitation. Tim and Ruth talk to Rachel about the damage to society and to the environment that has taken place and ask what role can we play in advocating for peace, reconciliation and restoration of destroyed ecosystems? Rachel Coghlan is a public health leader with over 20 years’ experience in clinical physiotherapy and in international humanitarian health research, policy, and advocacy. She is also a Fulbright Scholar and holds a PhD from the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, at Deakin University. She has contributed to palliative care research and education in Gaza and maintains connections with Palestinian friends and colleagues. Rachel is a curious thinker and listener, always searching to learn from those most affected by illness and humanitarian crises with a view to trying to help make some sense of the grief and suffering that mark life in our world. Her Crikey articles can be found here

Marie and Tim talk to  Phoebe Gardner from Bardee about their developments in using black soldier flies to transform very large amounts of food waste into protein, animal feed and fertilizer. Part of a truly circular economy. Bardee claim that their vertical farming system feeds and nurtures soldier flies through their natural growth phases and in their Grow Labs, larvae grow 3000x in size in just 7 days eating only food waste with no added water required. Larvae are processed into a high quality insect protein for pet food and animal feed & the castings become a nutrient-rich organic fertiliser. As well as producing very useful products this diverts large amounts of waste that would otherwise be going to landfill. This is a very positive project for the environment.

This week, Ruth welcomes back Grace Davis-Williams who is our Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Education Officer in Mitchell Shire. This role is part of a collaborative project between Mitchell, Murrindindi and Strathbogie Shire Councils who came together in 2018 to provide a regional approach to waste education, a critical tool for supporting waste management strategies and sustainability. Grace has been straddling her efforts to minimize waster over three shires for the last six years. A big undertaking. She somehow fitted in giving birth to Benny but now returns to work determined as ever to raise awareness of how we can improve our waste practices. Her priority list includes the reminder to us to keep recycling loose in our bins - a big problem in Mitchell Shire where up to a whole truckload of recyclables is sent to landfill each week because people keep bagging their recyclables before putting them in their yellow bins. Put them in loose! And then there’s the battery challenge. Batteries are a problem for the environment. Supermarkets have special receptacles where people can dispose of their batteries. Grace is holding a webinar on 17th April about why they are such a problem for the environment and what we can do to help. The good news is that Victoria is definitely pro recycling - around 98% of Victorians are trying to recycle. Join us to learn how we can do it even better especially in Mitchell Shire where we have one of the highest contamination rates in the State and the highest in the region. See here for a huge range of local workshops and events.

The end of logging in native forests by VicForests raises the wonderful opportunity for us to think of future prospects for these tree communities in Victoria. This week on EarthChat, Tim and Marie talk with Paul Macgregor, forests campaigner for BEAM, and committee member of the Victorian Forest Alliance, about the importance of restoring these forests to biodiverse splendour and cultural richness. 1.8 million hectares of state forest, once reserved for logging, now face a brighter future. Trees and forests will now have a chance to grow old and mature, providing greater habitat for rare animals, and reducing forest flammability. Biodiversity can expand. Carbon can be sequestered. Air and water will be cleaner. The cultural uses of forests and their plants by First Nations can be respected, explored and shared. But after 200 years of logging, clearing, tree monoculture and inappropriate fire regimes, there’s a lot of work to be done to help these forests restore to their full potential as living communities. Paul, Tim and Marie discuss the ways in which we can do this.

On this week's show, Peter is joined by an old friend, Annemaree Docking. She's a hands-on, small-farm landholder who's been practising sustainable farming for 30 years. She is also a former Vice President of the BEAM Committee. Annemaree was raised on a suburban block in Doncaster, on what was then the outskirts of Melbourne, very much a fringe suburb in the 1980’s, apple and pear orchards were giving way to quarter acre Aussie dreams while Annemaree grew up riding horses where the Eastern Freeway and townhouses now preside. The changing landscape left its impression on her. She is currently a PhD candidate with Deakin University researching Regenerative Agriculture Systems.   Her Regenerative Agriculture for Climate Resilience project considers the concept of regenerative agriculture and its potential to support transformative change of peri-urban agriculture and landscape for greater climate resilience of cities and regional centres. Annemaree is the Principal Consultant of her new business project Thriving Rural.

"Climate Safe Rooms" is a Climate retrofitting project to create refuges in low-income households during heatwaves and extreme cold. As our weather bobs around all over the place, and the expected extra hot and dry summer has become a mix of deluge and high humidity, local action on climate has many faces. This week, Peter is joined by the Mitchell Community Energy's President, John Thompson, who is fired up about Seymour being the springboard for community action that contributes to the recently adopted Mitchell Shire Climate Emergency Action Plan: from linking with the Seymour Buslines EV bus pilot; to direct action making inefficient homes more liveable when the mercury hovers above 40°C for a week. We are also joined by Geelong Sustainability chairperson David Spear with some insights into the Climate Safe Rooms project. The Climate Safe Rooms project was funded by the Victorian Government to retrofit one room in a vulnerable household to be comfortable in extremes of heat, and cold. This has clear health benefits to the householder, and energy savings. An energy audit, door and window seals, a solar system and a reverse cycle split system are amongst the changes introduced by this pilot project.  Geelong Sustainability are award winners in innovative local action on climate. Is this the path for Seymour?

Join Peter Lockyer and John Thompson on EarthChat this week for good news to meet challenges to climate in our local community. In just one hour, you may gain an insight to change your life forever. Or close to it.

We are a powerful force for nature! How do we get people involved in environmental action?

This week on EarthChat, Tim and Ruth talk to Don Vogt, a long-term environmental activist and convenor of the ACF Inner Melbourne Community Group. Don is a tireless and committed community leader and he dedicates most of his week to organising events, recruiting new members and further strengthening this powerful local group. They plant trees, get AFL footballers involved, run workshops, lobby politicians and do lots of local clean-ups. Don shares some of what he has learned in getting people involved and some of the challenges he has faced along the way.

Continuing the theme of the importance of volunteering for the environment, Vanessa and Tim will be talking about Vanessa's recent experience working along Hughes Creek near Avenel, and how this relates to an endangered fish species, the Macquarie Perch, that can still be found in this creek.

You can also read more about it online on The Country News at this link (subscribe or access articles for free for one month).

Vanessa and Ruth discuss Vanessa's recent adventure discovering two very different habitats for native animals. They discuss the largest feral predator-free ecosystem in Victoria, Mount Rothwell, and the sewage treatment lagoons of the Western Treatment Plant, otherwise known as the Werribee sewage farm. Want more information about either location? Read about Mt Rothwell here and the Western Treatment Plant here

Marie and Tim chat to Brendan Garrett about Mitchell Shire Council's Climate Emergency Action Plan. We talk about how to reduce our carbon footprint and meet our carbon net zero goals. What are the practical steps we can take? You can read the Plan here.

You may not know the name Violet Coco, but you would have seen her on the news, arrested for protesting in different places, all to highlight the precarious state of our planet. Violet is a passionate environment and social justice activist. She has been arrested 49 times in 6 years as a non-violent, direct action, change maker. She recently spent two months in prison and is facing court again on February 7th. She was the first person sentenced under controversial new anti-protest laws in NSW, receiving a sentence of 18 months in prison for blocking the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a campaign which was supporting firefighters. Her sentence was dropped on appeal. Violet describes herself as a conscientious objector to the murder of our planet. Violet is an eloquent and gracious conversationalist and someone who has great wisdom to share.  

Information on Violet: - Patreon, Wilipedia and The Guardian

Some links of interest mentioned in the show: - Song: People's Uprising by James Brook ft Violet Coco (on Bandcamp)

- Some books and other resources: 

Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet and Peace is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh

We can’t get There from Here: Carbon, Climate and the Call to Wonder, with Báyò Akómoláfé and Paul Hawken 

Any book by Joanna Macy

Tim and Ruth talk to Dr Rosemary Kelly about superannuation investments, international treaties prohibiting weapons which cause indiscriminate civilian deaths, climate change and fossil fuels and how funds apply screens when investing. Find out why this might be important for your super. An important conversation on the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.

Seymour now has its own Youth Development Officer. Ryan Hutchison joins Ruth along with the 2 other Youth Development Officers for the Mitchell Shire, Tara Kinsey & Kris Johnson. They fill us in on what the Council is offering Youth aged 12 - 24 throughout the Shire. 

Vanessa Malandrin talks about rivers and an interesting PhD research project. The research by Madeline Grupper from Melbourne Uni looks at how people in the Goulburn Broken River Catchment think about rivers and water use. The hope is to build a shared understanding of river priorities.

Ruth’s guest is Aeronwyn Schache, a face to face fundraiser’ with The Wilderness Society. This is a fascinating conversation on the path and values that have led this next generation activist to devote her life to supporting the environmental health of our planet and all its residents.