Nimbin light We designed our bedroom to handle the light of the Australian sub-tropics. We used hundreds of CAD shade diagrams and tried to honour some basic feng shui principles. So a narrow window admits morning sun along the eastern wall. Just a glimpse, a shard of light. But in the winter (almost intentionally) the… Continue reading A most hopeful light
Category: variable
Two Trees I Loved: An Anthem
At the EcoEnco retreat in Western Australia in July, I participated in a songwriting workshop. What a treat! Joseph Pul© (https://soundcloud.com/joepule) and Steve Andrews (https://steveandrews.bandcamp.com/ and https://earthoceanphoto.com), both talented musicians, songwriters and guitarists, led us into the Karri forest. They helped us write our songs and set them to music. I’m waiting for… Continue reading Two Trees I Loved: An Anthem
Flight Poem
On 25 May 2013, I flew to Adelaide from the Gold Coast. I associate Adelaide with hopefulness and opportunity. I was looking forward to basking in the pleasures of old friendships once again. Twin griefs had distracted me for several months: the death of a dear friend and the loss of a longstanding friendship.… Continue reading Flight Poem
Honouring the legacy of Mandy Press
On Sunday 13th October, we will remember the life and passion of the indefatigable and incandescent Mandy Press. Mandy died in her sleep on 1 October 2013 at home at Yarambat, Victoria. Mandy’s husband, Gerry Morris, provided this obituary. Mandy was born in on 7 December 1947 in Brighton,… Continue reading Honouring the legacy of Mandy Press
Gone to God
Jolted awake by the phone at 4am in my friend’s house in Berkeley, I knew. My father was dead. In Canada: thousands of miles away. My good parent: dead at 69. I was 37. Back in Australia, I grieved alone for months. My loving, distressed husband finally announced, “I’m worried, Wendy. This grief has… Continue reading Gone to God
The Bentley CSG Blockade: Something Changes in Me
First reflections on the Bentley CSG Blockade 21 April 2014 A song has been going round in my head today, after greeting the dawn at the Bentley Blockade (https://northernriversguardians.org/). This is a blockade to prevent Metgasco from drilling for unconventional gas in farmland near Bentley, NSW. It’s Holly Near’s… Continue reading The Bentley CSG Blockade: Something Changes in Me
Bentley CSG Blockade: You Can’t Just Take My Dreams Away
Nimbin, 28 April 2014 It was bucketing rain at dawn at the Bentley Blockade this morning. The blockade against unconventional gas mining. No guitars or drums because of the rain. There were lots of people there but not a lot were singing. Then, magically, about 5 am, a woman with a strong,… Continue reading Bentley CSG Blockade: You Can’t Just Take My Dreams Away
Bentley CSG Blockade: Open Letter to Brad Hazzard, NSW Minister for Police
Bentley CSG Blockade, NSW https://northernriversguardians.org/?page_id=5240 5 May 2014 Open letter to the NSW Minister for Police, Brad Hazzard Dear Minister: I am a 71-year-old resident of the Northern Rivers of New South Wales and a Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia. I hold a doctorate in environmental ethics from the… Continue reading Bentley CSG Blockade: Open Letter to Brad Hazzard, NSW Minister for Police
The Bentley Blockade: Weeping for the Earth
The text! It would have looked better if I were digging out the composting toilet or planting organic veggies. But the truth is I was half-way into an egg and sausage McMuffin in Casino when the text came from Bentley. I had to ring Yollana to make sure I had it right. … Continue reading The Bentley Blockade: Weeping for the Earth
The Bentley Blockade: from Cassandra, disbelieved prophetess
In mid-2011, a speaker’s agent rang me to say he had an invitation for a good speaking engagement. “It’s with APPEA,” he said, “And you can talk about community engagement.” APPEA. Hmmm. I rang off and logged on. APPEA: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association is the peak national body representing Australia’s… Continue reading The Bentley Blockade: from Cassandra, disbelieved prophetess
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