Bathurst Green Drinks
This listing was last updated by the Bathurst organiser on: 2024-03-18
WHAT IS GREEN DRINKS?
This is an event for environmentally-minded Bathurstians (and other local people) who meet for a monthly drink to socialise, network and explore collaborations. It is a space created for those interested in environmental sustainability and eco-efficiency, and is hosted by Greening Bathurst.
Bathurst Green Drinks is your must-attend monthly hub for meeting other people doing important things, and learning about other events happening around the Central West of NSW.
Essentially, the aim is to be a social think-tank with the environment as the common denominator.
Green Drinks is agenda-free and non-politically aligned.
Individuals from businesses, not-for-profits, government, academia, and community groups welcome, as well as those with personal projects, or simply with a passion for the environment who want to get more involved!
Each week we will be asking you to make sure to spread the word and also to try to bring along someone new. The larger we grow, the more impact we can have!!
Date: The fourth Thursday of each month (Except in April 2024 - please see below)
Venue: The Greens on William.
Start time: 5:30 pm for a 6pm talk, then a short Q&A session.
RSVP: Not required, but handy so that the venue knows how many people to expect. RSVP to greeningbathurst@gmail.com
Cost: There will be a $5 entry fee for people who are waged or otherwise able to pay.
The fee covers the cost of the venue and nibbles. For students or those who are less able to pay, a gold coin donation would be appreciated. PLEASE BRING CASH as we do not have an EFTPOS terminal (although the venue does and you can withdraw cash when you buy a drink from the bar). Drinks are pay as you go - available at the bar. There will also be a donations jar for anyone who feels like donating. All donated funds will be used towards travel and accomodation for future speakers.
60 Second Soap Box:
If there is something going on that upsets you, and you want to "name and shame", you can have 60 seconds to jump on the soapbox and proclaim it loud and clear (but please keep it respectful and otherwise appropriate)! Likewise if there is something really good, or an event that you want to publicise - feel free to let everyone know. Just remember - you only have 60 seconds!
APRIL SPEAKERS
As the fourth Thursday in March is the day before Good Friday we have decided to forgo a Green Drinks event this month. However, to make up for that we are planning to hold two Green Drinks events in April.
On Thursday 18 April our speaker will be Dejan Simovic. Dejan has a Masters in Architecture and Planning from Belgrade University, Serbia. He is also a certified Passive House Designer and Circular Economy Advisor. Dejan has over 30 years of international experience and more than 20 years local Australian experience in research, planning, design and development management on various projects, from individual houses, subdivision plans, and master planned developments, to large residential towers in Sydney CBD. He started DESIM with his partner Tatjana, as their own architectural and planning practice five years ago and is specializing in sustainable and high-performance design, planning, and research.
At Green Drinks, Dejan will be presenting his innovative approach to developing sustainable urban precincts which has its foundations in the work of Walter Burley Griffin, and uses the concept of the Circular Economy. The Circular Economy approach is all about design:
designing out waste;
designing flexible places/buildings so that they can accommodate multiple uses through their lifetime;
designing regenerative places and regenerating natural habitats where possible.
Degan will explain his design ideas by showcasing one of the two case studies he is currently developing at North Arm Cove (Port Stephens).
On Wednesday 24 April our speaker will be UNSW Professor Greg Leslie. He has been invited to Bathurst by BCCAN and the evening will be co-hosted by GB and BCCAN.
Professor Leslie is the Director of the UNSW Global Water Institute, and the Director of the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology. Prior to joining UNSW, he worked in the public and private sector on water treatment, reuse and desalination projects in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the United States. His experience includes work on the NEWater recycling projects for the Singapore Public Utilities Board and the Groundwater Water Replenishment System at the Orange County Water District (OCWD) in California. He served on the World Health Organisation Technical Committee that developed guidelines for desalination, the Water Issue Committee for the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and the Independent Advisory Panel for the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment Project.
Professor Leslie will speak about the work of the Global Water Institute and also what’s it’s like to participate in a Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting on climate change. He attended COP 28 in Dubai 30 November to 13 December 2023.
PAST SPEAKERS
24 May 2023 - Ashley Bland, President of Greening Bathurst, talks about Greening Bathurst's rather controversial support of the proposed Yelholme pumped hydro project. https://youtu.be/XD3FL6LnVYE
28 June 2023 - Paul Robb, Activist. Video: On Vimeo, The Lights of Oakajee at https://vimeo.com/92178322
Paul provided some tips about being a successful activist. These included:
1. Stay positive in life and 'don't let the bastards get you down.' Stay focused on your passions and beliefs and prioritize what will help you to achieve them. If you stick to your path others will follow when they see you being positive, driven by passion to do the right thing and leading by example.
2. Retain integrity by sticking to the facts of the issue, derived from credible sources and evidence. i.e. don't exaggerate.
Dont get dragged into personal tiffs - focus on actions and outcomes rather than words or personalities.
3. Use talk back radio and the media to raise and expose issues, lies and mistruths. Don't be afraid to create alter egos or characters (real or otherwise) who can run the media gauntlet and put forward progressive ideals to stimulate discussion challenge the 'old school' and educate those who might be misinformed and misguided.
27 July 2023 - Norman Wise spoke about the history of Bathurst's water supply including the historic Bathurst Council water tunnel built over 24 years from 1889 to 1913, and in use until the 1950s. He also spoke about the impact that changing weather and rainfall patterns are having on the security of Bathurst's water supply
24 August 2023 - John Fry spoke on “Managing Water in a Drying Climate”. John presented a short overview of how we can manage water for landscape and climate restoration using proven regenerative rehydration methods to rehydrate soils, subsoils and flood plain aquifers. John’s work with a wide range of land managers and community volunteers over the last 30 years in the Bathurst watersheds has included restoring the natural functions of wetlands and creeks, repairing erosion gullies, and establishing tree corridors.
28 September 2023 - Mick Callan spoke on the topic "The Hollow Crisis". Mick Callan is a local ecologist and ornithologist who specialises in hollow dependent fauna. Mick’s presentation covered the loss of tree hollows globally and the types of animals that are being impacted. Mick also discussed the various artificial habitat solutions currently available, the pros and cons of each, and how his research led to the development of the Habitech modular nest boxes. You can find Mick's website here: https://www.habitatinnovation.com.aus.
26 October 2023 - Joel Little gave a wonderful presentation about the wildlife sanctuary “Conmurra” which he and his wife, Andrea, own. Joel’s presentation “A journey to conserve local endangered wildlife” was both entertaining and thought provoking. His property is also an Airb&b. If you decide to stay at Conmurra, Joel is happy to take you on an evening stroll through the property to introduce you to the animals he is in the process of breeding and reintroducing into the local area.
November 2023 Dr Meredith Brainwood (Senior Environmental Scientist and Managing Director, Applied Ecology P/L) and Caroline Forest (Consulting Arborist/Arborecologist and Restoration Ecologist, Applied Ecology P/L.) gave an interesting and amusing talk entitled "Ecological restoration – it’s not just a job!" which covered some of the amazing natural areas they have worked in, what they did and the important ecological restoration lessons they learned along the way.
February 2024 - Professor Sebastian Pfautsch gave an inspirational talk about the cooling functions delivered by green infrastructure, and how the choice of surface and building materials and engineered shade can help to keep urban environments cooler as we experience more extremes of summer temperatures. He also had a meeting with relevant Bathurst councillors and staff earlier in the day to discuss how Bathurst could become a "Tree City of the World". https://treecitiesoftheworld.org/ Sebastian's presentation was attended by more than 70 people which indicates the degree to which the people of Bathurst are concerned about the effects of global warming.