Community consequence of COVID

The COVID19 ripples are still resonating throughout daily community life, shaping the way we communicate and the availability of social activities…but it’s not all bad especially if you can master the video-conferencing technology that’s now available.

The local art group that was meeting at the hall moved their meeting to video conferencing very quickly. It turns out that the social glue that binds the group remained sticky with increased benefits of not having to pack up the art materials and no travel time. Unexpected benefits were more extensive sharing of skills and critiquing of art work with everyone being involved, more time for art and an extra art session was easily accommodated. The group continues to happily meet online.

Local yoga moved online, downward dog from the comfort of your private space. Some studios were providing recordings for whenever the mood and time allowed, creating new flexible opportunities. Yoga is now back with face to face options.

Some of the national events that CPPA has been involved with in the past have had to make the call to do things differently this year.

National Science Week, in August, is providing the Scinema Film Festival for free to anyone! You can stream a wide range of award-winning science films by signing up to get the films delivered to your inbox!.

National Tree Day this year may have been cancelled by Planet Ark, but this is not deterring landcarers from popping a few plants in the ground around this time of year…it’s a good time for planting.

We’ll have 80 plants at Burnage Reserve on Thursday 30th July between 8am and noon as part of the regular Landcare session. If you’d like to lend a hand whilst out on your morning constitutional feel free to drop by and help with planting. Everyone is welcome, there’ll be suitable spacing, and morning tea is at 10am, BYO beverage.(The image is from 2001...those plants have grown)

COVID-19 is also mobilising and connecting community groups that can see the possibilities of a seismic shift in the way society operates, a window of opportunity to change direction, and build on the changes COVID has inspired.

Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), an internationally recognised climate change think tank, has recently commenced the Hunter Diversification research and engagement project - which will run 2+ years. BZE has also released the Million Jobs Plan showing that 115,000 new jobs can be created across the Hunter over the next 10 years, with rapid start up in industries such as Hydrogen & Green Steel manufacturing, Home Retrofits, Fly Ash Reuse, Electric Buses and Land Regeneration.

With energy production and mining a core part of our community, alternative employment opportunities that will fill the gap after coal will be needed. The Hunter Case Study of the BZE Million jobs plan can be viewed online 

Transition Film postponed

The Hall can get pretty cold in Winter so in the interests of warm feet and fingers the movie session has been postponed to Spring. 

The Transition Town group is looking for people who have an interest in localism. Local food and how to share it, local fun and how to have it or local transport and where to run it.  

If you would like to meet up with some like minded folk and be a part of the Transition movement get in touch. Email cppatransition@gmail.com or phone Ian 4959 7517 or Suzanne 4959 6741

Transition Town Movie Day for July postponed.

If you had already put aside July16th as your big night out for the month, you’ll have to seek out alternative entertainment as the film showing for Friday 16th 6-9pm has been postponed.

It was felt that a combination of a mid-winter night in a hall and school holidays may be deterrents to getting people out to the films.

There will be other screenings, and they will be notified in the Chronicle.

Transition Film Festival

The film festival continues with the June 20th Sunday session presenting a movie marathon of almost epic proportions.
 
The film that put Climate Change front and centre, An Inconvenient Truth, will be shown mid afternoon, if you’ve never seen it, now’s a good time. It provides a lot of really interesting information, some memorable graphs and a personal insight into what drives some people to take on the world.
 
In Transition -the movie starts the session and provides a good summary of what various localities are doing around the world to reconnect their communities so that they could survive with as least impact as possible should Peak Oil deliver the ‘shock to the system’ that was experienced in Cuba during ‘the special period ‘ of the 70’s when their oil supplies were stopped almost overnight.

The Power of Community wraps up the afternoon and goes in to some detail about how Cuba’s economy and social structure shifted to sustain the population by setting up local organic agriculture close to the population and  developing alternative transport systems to move the masses.

The films will run to the outlined programme so if you want to come to a specific film you can be assured of its start and end time.

In between the movies there is time to chat and get a cuppa and get acquainted.

What’s Happening             Start    Finish
Meet and greet, 
Beverages and bites          1100    1130
In Transition                    1130    1220
Lunch (Soup and/or BYO)   1220    1300
An Inconvenient Truth     1300    1430
Beverages & Bites
Discussion                         1430    1450
Power of Community       1450    1545
Beverages & Bites
Discussion                         1545    1615

Transition Film Festival

An uplifting trio of films are on the program for the second gripping installment of the Transition Film Festival screening at Progress Hall on Saturday afternoon the 8th May. There is the option of one, two or three movies available for your viewing pleasure throughout the afternoon session. 

                                                Start    Finish
Welcome
Beverages & Bites               1200    1230
In Transition                             1230    1320
Break                                        1320    1330
End Of Suburbia                        1330    1450
Beverages & Bites
Discussion                                 1450    1510
Power of Community               1510    1605
Beverages & Bites

Discussion                                 1605    1630

 The advertised program will be adhered to, to allow movie-goers to mosey on in for the film of their choice and sidle out when the time is right. Discussion and beverage breaks are included throughout the session to mingle and muse with like minded folk. Entry is by donation, the screen and sound setup have proved to be great for the Hall, if it is really chilly bring a lap rug.

In Transition-The Movie made its debut last year, showcasing the Transition Town movement. If you’re having trouble getting your head around what it is and why hundreds of communities around the world are going to such lengths to build local resilience, this 50 minute foray will have you feeling enlightened and excited about what a Transition initiative can do for your community.

End of Suburbia-Oil Depletion and the collapse of the American Dream
“With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, The End of Suburbia explores the American Way of Life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. World Oil Peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now, some scientists and policy makers argue in this documentary.

The consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. What does Oil Peak mean for North America? As energy prices skyrocket in the coming years, how will the populations of suburbia react to the collapse of their dream? Are today's suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? And what can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid The End of Suburbia ?”
http://www.endofsuburbia.com/index.htm

The Power of Community-How Cuba Survived Peak Oil “When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope.” 
http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php

Transition Film Festival on Track

The Transition Film Festival is about to roll out. Every month for the next six months some of the most inspiring and mind expanding films will be shown at Progress Hall, discussed by those present, ideas generated for our community and general lots of joi de vie to be had.

The first of the festival films is happening on Friday 16th April, it’s a local night in, catching up with the neighbours, stimulating discussion triggered by two mind expanding films with some light refreshments.
The more the merrier, so if you have some friends who want to find out a bit more about the ‘Transition thing’ they’re welcome to come along as well.

The awareness raising part of the Transition Town process is about sharing information and processes for gathering thoughts about the future as well as connecting like-minded people. There’s been a fair bit of discussion from the local steering group about how far a field to cast the Transition net, and there has been no limit put on the number of people in the process so come one and all.

The movie nights will be running to a reasonably structured timetable so that if you want to come to one film or both, or only the discussion, you can with confidence arrive when you want knowing what will be on.

The Transition town Steering Group meets once a month on the 2nd Monday of the month from 4-6pm at the Hall. The focus for the group over the next few months is on running the film festival and planning for a local festival in October. If you are interested in finding out more or lending a hand at one of the film nights contact Luke on 4959 9401 or email cppatransition@gmail.com.

The Movies
A Crude Awakening: Have you ever thought there was more to the oil economy than petrol at the pump? A Crude Awakening is a revelation, an amazing insight into the world of oil, how it impacts on every aspect of our modern day lives, who’s fighting over it and what the future may hold. Some have called it ‘the best exposition of the Peak Oil argument yet!” It’s well paced, well argued and a great summary of what Peak Oil
is. It is an inspiring film, not a doom ‘n’ gloomer but an insight into the power that greases the wheels of the modern economy and an enlightening 85 minutes of entertainment. http://www.oilcrashmovie.com/news.html

In Transition-The Movie debuted last year, showcasing the Transition Town movement. If you are having trouble getting your head around what it is and why hundreds of communities are going to such lengths to build local resilience, this 50 minute foray will have you feeling enlightened and excited about what a Transition initiative can do for your neighbourhood.

There’ll also be a loan library of movies that you can view at your leisure.

On Friday 16th April the program for the evening's entertainment will be
6.00pm     Welcome Beverages, Biscuits & Bits
6.15pm     Film: A Crude Awakening
7.40pm     Break &World Café- A meaningful discussion of some probing questions
8.10pm     Film: In Transition -The Movie
9.00pm      Beverages & Biscuits and some more quality conversation
9.30pm     The evening finishes

The program ahead

• May 8th- Saturday Noon-4.30pm
  In Transition-The Movie , End of Suburbia and The Power of Community
• June 20th Sunday 11am-4.00pm-
  In Transition-The Movie , An Inconvenient Truth, The Power of Community
• July 16th Friday 6-9pm
  In Transition-The Movie  and Power of Community
• August 14th Saturday Noon-5pm
  In Transition-The Movie , Escape from Suburbia and A Crude Awakening
• September 19th Sunday 11-4.30pm
  In Transition-The Movie , End of Suburbia and Escape from Suburbia

Historical Film night

Fifty locals attended the highly entertaining and very informative historical film night held recently at the hall thanks to the Hunter Cine-Sound Society.  Some of the films included amazing footage from the Maitland floods, early 1900's Newcastle parades, the role of coal in shaping the Newcastle Region and a more recent documentary on the return of the Catalina sea-plane to Rathmines. A donation of $103 was collected from those present to support the Catalina fundraising campaign. The photographic display from the Historical Society was very impressive too.

The evening also provided a chance for locals to catch up with familiar faces and share some very tasty treats courtesy of Bakers Delight. Another film night will be planned for 2010.

What’s On In November

• Monday  2nd 7-9pm : Monthly meeting of the Progress Association Progress Hall All Welcome
• Saturday Nov 7th Coal Point School Fete
• Saturday  7th 7pm-In Transition the Movie at Progress Hall
• Sat 7-Sun 8th Smart Energy Expo- Newcastle Town Hall
• Landcare reserve this month  Gurranba (foreshore) *5th with Green Team
• Lake Macquarie Landcare Inc. Annual General Meeting Tuesday 10th November 2009 4.30pm to 6.30pm at the new Landcare Resource Centre, Toronto Road, Teralba. Nomination forms and enquiries, ph 4921 0392
• Transition Town Steering Group meets 3rd Monday of the month 16th Nov 4-6pm
• Saturday 21st  7-9.30pm Historical Film Night at Progress Hall-All welcome
• Artists creative and social gathering every Thursday at Progress Hall, 1pm Contact Judy Cummings for more information on 49504680
• Toronto & District Garden Club meets at 3rd Thursday of the month. 19th November is a ramble through a member’s garden at Arcadia Vale, Bring a plate of food to share for Xmas, a mug and a chair if you can. Trading table and raffle. Contact Jan Hissey 49591382 or Kim Weller 4950 5707 for more location details
• December Landcare-Stansfield Reserves –*3rd  with Green Team volunteers at  the end of Stansfield Close

Memories, light the corners of my mind, … misty watercolour memories of the way we were. (Barbara Streisand)

Not so much water colour but black and white memories will be on show at the historical film night being held at Progress Hall on Saturday 21st November 7pm- 9.30pm with supper available.

The previously advertised date of the 7th of November has had to be rescheduled to the 21st due to the Newcastle and Hunter CineSound Society, having another booking. They offered their sincerest apologies.

If you’d like to lose yourself in the yesteryears of the 1940-1950s for a few hours, get a glimpse of what was making the news in Lake Macquarie in 1948 and peruse the Lake Macquarie Historical Society’s display, $5 will be all you need to slip back in time and relax.

There’ll be plenty of seats available at the door but if you’d like to sit in the front rows you can reserve a spot. Call Jean 4959 4019 or Barbara 4959 1259

Transition Initiatives- What are they and how do you do one?

Have you been wondering what The Transition Movement is all about? The Steering group has as well and have come up with some goals for the group.

• To raise the awareness of people who live in the area about Peak Oil and Climate change,and
• to get some local initiatives happening and to increase the numbers in the steering group.

The way the group is going to go about this is through a series of film and discussion sessions.

The first film is ‘In Transition-the Movie’, 49 minutes of positive pleasure about how communities all around the world are taking on the challenge to move towards a more resilient community and happier lifestyle.

The discussion after the film will be a question and answer session with members of the local Steering Group about the Transition Town movement and what the local group gets up to.

In Transition-the movie will be shown on Saturday 7th  November at 7pm at Progress Hall, 197 Skye Point Road, Coal Point. Entry is free and supper will be available.

The next meeting of the Steering group will be on Monday 21st November where we discover the wonders of Permaculture at one of the member’s homes. If you’re interested in coming along contact Di on 49 705 695

Transition Times Film Festival

The News Year’s Resolution for the local Transition Steering Group is to hold a film festival during January showing a variety of films, 3-4 times a week, covering a variety of time slots each with a discussion theme. This is to enable as many people as possible to see the films and have a chat about what the ‘theme’ could mean to our community.

Some of the films that are being considered include Baraka, An Inconvenient Truth, The Age of Stupid and The End of Suburbia. These are all very powerful films with strong messages about Climate Change and Peak Oil and the effects upon our current lifestyle.

The discussion after the movie has the potential to be equally powerful as we start to create a vision for a more positive future and consider what the changes will mean. 

The Transition Town movement focuses on positive ways to address potential challenges, a great opportunity to create a resilient and community .

Old time cinema coming to Coal Point

The Newcastle and Hunter CineSound Society in conjunction with the Lake
Macquarie Historical Society will be holding a film night at Progress Hall on
Saturday November 7th at 7-9.30pm .
The films will include three historical films about Newcastle from the 1940-50s, a
comedy and Newsreels of Lake Macquarie from 1948.
There’ll be historical displays from the Historical Society and an old fashioned
supper all for $5. There’ll be plenty of seats available at the door.