Hepburn Energy Descent Action Plan

Dinner & discussion with Councillors May, Klein & Barrell

                      on    Thursday 28th Jan at 7pm at Conti

Unique opportunity to influence this exciting move by your shire councillors to create an energy descent action plan for the Hepburn Shire.

The decision by council to take this step can be seen in part as the culmination of years of education and advocacy by HRN to get an open, positive and planned approach to the massive changes we face in the near future from the climate, energy and financial crisis. But this has also come as a surprise opportunity for all of us already acting along these lines. What exactly does the council mean by an Energy Descent Action Plan? We are not sure but we understand this is different from most council planning processes that are driven by State government legislation, regulations. This is a genuine initiative of our council and the councillors taking the lead in this process have all agreed to meet the Hepburn Relocalisation Network to explain their thoughts, answer questions and receive our input.

Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to what may  be the most positive and far sighted action by Hepburn Shire for our community’s future.

Check out the HRN blog for a brief discussion paper by David Holmgren on the background and options for a Hepburn Energy Descent Action Plan.

Please book by tomorrow (Wednesday) 8pm

Dinner at Conti Thurs 28th Jan, Veggie boxes and Fire plans

Hello to all in this very fine New Year marked by enough rain to make us all just that much more fire safe.

Hope you all have your fire plans ready and start implementing them immediately. Have you joined a Community fireguard group yet? If not, we strongly urge you to do so. Our local fireguard officer, Jay Gardiner, is good value. See our fire bulletins from Joan Webster that give clear, simple practical guidance on what to do when in your fire plan.

To welcome in 2010 and start the year with a healthy, fun event we are having a community dinner (of vegan delights) at Conti on Thursday 28th, $15, please book in advance. Come at 7pm for a 7.30 start. Councillors Seb Klein and Rod May are coming to discuss with us the development of an EDAP (Energy Descent Action Plan) for Hepburn.

Veggie boxes are happening weekly so if you are not getting one and would like to, sign up by Tuesday 8pm to get one this week. Please pay in advance for your box.

Remember you will have to subscribe to this blog to continue to receive HRN updates. For those who are not so familiar with blogs, to subscribe:
1. Enter your email address in the box on the right hand side under "Subscribe via email" and click Subscribe.
2. You will then receive an email asking you to verify your subscription and you will need to follow the instructions in this email.

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Add your ideas for 2010 to start the discussion!


Cheers,
Su, Maureen and Liz

HRN 2010 News

Hi Folks,
We have now got a BLOG thanks to the tireless effort of Meg ... this is quite exciting once you learn what it is. If you still want to receive the information from us about HRN you will need to subscribe (the up side is that you can unsubscribe whenever you want). You can now add comments. Remember you will have to respond to our offer to subscribe.

Tony, Carla, Adrian and Phil playing and Kim watching... great equinox celebration dinner!

It's a new year, so which direction do you want us to head?? We'll still be offering lots of movies ... probably on a Thursday night at the Savoia Hotel, every second Thursday of the month. Su's itching to have a community meal .. probably at least around the autumn equinox, but maybe something sooner too.
 cheers,
Maureen

Hepburn Weather on the HDS Website

A Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station has been installed at Melliodora. The data is now automatically uploaded via the Davis server and available from the Holmgren Design Services website (would have been good to check out during the recent wind and rain storms!).

The weather icon (left) on the home page banner links to a clear graphic display of current temperature, wind direction and speed, humidity, daily rain and pressure as well as high and lows for the day. A further link provides full weather data in table format including inside temperature and humidity that show the thermal performance of the passive solar mudbrick house.

For locals in the Hepburn shire, our nearest Bureau of Meteorology weather station is Ballarat, 45km to the west. That information is updated hourly and is not as comprehensive as our data which is updated at 3 minute intervals.

With increased concern about precise local weather conditions during the fire season, the Melliodora data complements another recently installed Davis Vantage Pro2 at Daylesford CFA fire station that can be accessed via the Davis Weatherlink webserver. www.weatherlink.com (note that the location of the icon on the map for the Daylesford CFA is misplaced at Yandoit).

Have a look at the photo gallery of the installation, it shows the use of a high density 20 year old radiata pine pole to get above the very sheltered garden. The pole was harvested from a suppressed wild stand behind the Hepburn Primary school.

Films on Thursday at the Savoia

Hi folks, our next film evening this Thursday is an animation feast. The first is about Jean Giono, the man who planted trees. There are others and we will finish with the guerrilla gardening short film from Adelaide. You may like to bring the kids as all films are inspiring for adults and kids alike. We are starting at at 7.30pm and since there a few short films, this will give you the possibility to leave if the kids are getting restless.

Hope to see you there

Also, Saturday was certainly an exciting weather event and for those who were trusting enough, the rain and wind died down in time for us to have a very rewarding 'edible weeds' walk around the Hepburn Primary School area. The next workshop with Alexis will be on gathering and cooking with weeds.

Vivien Hodgins, Wife of Rod May

A Memorial Service to celebrate the life of the late Vivien Lorraine Hodgins is appointed to take place at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts, 1220 Howitt Street, Wendouree on TUESDAY, October 13, 2009 commencing at Eleven (11.00) am.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Vivien Hodgins Samoan Appeal, PO Box 1194, Wendouree Village 3355

Equinox Dinner

Hi everyone, if you wish to come to the dinner on Thursday night, please book by tomorrow evening otherwise we will cancel as we only have 3 bookings.

Packaging

Hello good folk, I have a request.

If you have any used A5, A4, A3 envelopes or any sized padded bags that you don't need, could you keep them for me?

I use them all the time. Many thanks.

Hepburn Wind Offer

As most HRN members will be aware, the minimum investment in Hepburn Wind for locals is now only $100. In addition they are now offering a special deal to HRN members. For each new HRN member who joins Hepburn Wind in September, Hepburn Wind will donate $25 to us. If you have been planning to buy Hepburn Wind shares for yourself, your partner, children or grandchildren, do it now and be an HRN supporter at the same time.

To qualify for this offer, download the application form from www.hepburnwind.com.au by either going to the members page or filling out the "register your interest" form. You can invest any amount from $100 upwards. Make sure you tick the box "A member of HRN".

For further information ring Jack Gilding on (03)5348 6760 or email info@hepburnwind.com.au.

More Bushfire Preparation Workshops

Hello all, yesterday saw a fine group of stoic folk enjoy the first of these information sessions with practical application take place at Hepburn Hollow. David H was in fine form and attendees seemed to go away better informed about the many faces of fire preparation and management of the bush for multiple values. Many used a rake hoe for the first time and found it a very useful tool. I have made an order with Hewitt and Whitty in Ballarat (for a good price) for some rake hoes for those who wanted them. They will let me know when these are available.

There are monthly working bees and shared lunch at the Hollow to continue to make the area both fire-safe and beautiful for our enjoyment on the fourth Sunday of the month 10 - 1pm. Come and join us if you have the time and enjoy working together for our mutual benefit and pleasure. This event is the perfect opportunity for the kids to enjoy learning new skills and being part of a community project: they really shine in this situation.

The second bushfire preparation workshop will be below Su & David's place in the gully towards Spring Ck in a slightly different environment so techniques will be a little different The time is 10am - 1pm again on Sunday, September 13th and costs $15/adult. Please book and we will give you more detail about what to bring and where to meet. Also, it would be good to have an idea of numbers to help with planning.

There will be five workshops in all in different locations.

And still on the theme of fire; put Friday, October 2nd at 7.30pm in your diaries for another Fire Forum at the Daylesford Town Hall. More details coming soon.