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CERES Global

Vic & NSW Road trip

Report from our travels We had a wonderful adventure, connecting to indigenous, sustainable, and alternative

communities; to land, and our incredible local environment.

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Map Showing places we visited

Map showing Indigenous Languages of South East Australia

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Community Partner Visits:

Agari Farm – Kinglake:

Agari Farm are involved in building the first council

approved Earthship in Victoria, and we headed out

there to help out! There had been a team working

away on it for a while so we were given a quick

orientation and then a got to work on a cob slip

mix and earth render. www.agarifarm.org

This was the first camp site on our trip. As we pulled the coaster bus into a side street in town, wheelbarrows and

orange clay abound, although the build itself was not apparent. Instead, we were greeted by wide grins- eager hosts

who seemed very glad to finally meet us and share with us their work. The fist permitted Earthship in the State- its

passive solar design and closed systems- a truly resilient gem hidden behind the tyre, clay and water tank wall it was

being built into.

Taking a tour of the property we glimpsed at an exciting future- a property harvesting its own food and water, a

home, a hub full of learning and community, a sharing economy. We also glimpsed at the effects of the utterly

devastating 2009 Black Saturday bushfires now synonymous with the township. Everything about this build- from

the design to the community fostered within Agari and further into Kind Lake at large- is a direct and constructive

response to that fateful disaster. And how fruitful this building- through clay and through relationships is proving to

be.

We spent two nights camped in a field behind the local pub down the road, learning about Earthship principles and

techniques, being nourished by the generous and delicious food, and connecting with each other and the Agari crew

around the fire at night. The highlight, of course, came when we got to get our hands and feet dirty, stomping down

cob and mixing clay slip. Many hands and feet made light work. It was a very satisfying day cobbing a couple of

walls- our contribution to the build we all look forward to returning to in the future as it nears its completion, and as

it solidifies its place at the centre of resilient community life in a recovering King Lake.

Jess

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Yandoit Farm - Castlemaine:

Yandoit Farm is a beautiful 140-acre natural farm in

Central Victoria focusing on diversified small-scale

animal husbandry, annual and perennial food systems

and broad scale regenerative agroforestry. Our

wonderful hosts Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson (yes,

that’s right) were absolutely gorgeous opening up their

home, hearts, and minds to challenging conversation

on natives vs permaculture crops and a whole range of

permi-topics.

http://permaculturenews.org/2014/10/30/broadacre-farm-design-regenerative-agriculture-work-australia/

“After leaving the earth ship in Kinglake, we drove to Yandoit to spend a couple days with Michael and Lisa Jackson.

I didn’t know what to expect, but was absolutely overwhelmed by their hospitality and enthusiasm. Although

Michael tended to ‘speak a lot’, his enthusiasm and passion and knowledge was simply oozing from every cell of his

body. He was keen to include us, teach us new things and give us full use of ‘everything’... Even his lounge room!

As for Lisa – I could not believe she was for real! Not only did she cook for us, bring us coffee, give us fresh produce

from the garden, take someone to the train station in the middle of the night, but it was all topped off by her

saying... “and if you have any dirty washing, just leave it at the back door, I’ll do it and hang it out for you”. Oh wo-

man. Where do we go from here?It was truly amazing. Thanks.

- Jonathan Levin, 2017 participant

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Tarnagulla

“Wonderful to visit the weekender of a fellow CERES GoLocal crew member, we had become like family by this

stage. Tarnagulla is a little town in the Goldfields - Wikipedia notes it as at the heart of the Golden Triangle and it

was a perfect lunch stop on our way to Boort. The gold history is staggering - in 1865 the town had peaked with a

thousand Chinese migrants and had groups of Greek and Italians, and in 1906 a 26.6 kg nugget was found at

Tarnagulla!

It was magic to welcome our little band of travellers by playing an LP record in Colin's 1860 Miners cottage -

awesome to see its mud bricks have stood the test of time. The visit really personalised the trip. We could see

how Colin had sustainability challenges and goals regarding waste management and general wear and tear on the

old cottage (termites for instance).

Really heartening to see the forest looking healthy, as I recall passing by the town often over the past few years

and the forest seems often to be suffering a succession of insect plagues with unhappy stressed looking trees.

Always pays to slow down and be amazed at what you can learn - to my amazement Izzy found a Sugar Glider tail

nearby, highly likely it had been nipped off by an Owl. Impressive Tarnagulla! So on the road again and we headed

across Jarra country toward its North West corner at the amazing wetlands of Boort and Jida Gulpilil's tour.”

- Donald Butcher, 2017 participant

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DjarDjar Wurrung - Boort:

Our CERES indigenous educator Jida Gulpilil was very excited

to show us around his country, and share with us some very

special stories of the scar trees in the DjarDjar Warrung region

of Boort in central north Victoria. Jida welcomed us with a

traditional smoke ceremony and introduced us to significant

sites around the lake. We sat up late in to the night listening to

important stories with some of us drifting off by the fire after

some incredible indigenous dance and didgeridoo.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/into-the-aboriginal-

world---victorias-secret-emerges-from-lake-and-creek-20161229-gtjok8.html

Leaving the Jackson's farm in Castlemaine, the gypsy cuddle bus headed off on a long journey to Boort in Central

Northern Victoria. Boort is the home of Jida Gulpilil, the larger than life character we were greeted by when we

finally rolled in. Following a quick stop we trailed Jida's 4wd to the big lake for an information session on the local

fauna and flora revegetation and subsequent Welcome to Country smoking ceremony. Many of us who had never

experienced a smoking ceremony were swept up in the excitement. So much so, we learned we had left one of our

own at the previous stop! Whoops! Ben saved the day by heading back and collecting our lost family member,

returning her to a group of red faced and abashed travel companions.

The Welcome to Country smoking ceremony was a fantastic experience. We covered our skin in ochre and bathed in

the smoke whilst the sun set behind us. The group sat and listened to tales about Jida's people, the land we sat on

and his big plans for Boort. Jida shared that he believes that Boort deserves the recognition for its heritage and

environmental diversity that Kakadu enjoys and is on a mission to ensure he delivers. The energy and determination

felt from our friend couldn't be faltered. We set up camp, fed the group and prepared for our campfire session of

music and stories with Jida and his brother Andrew. Jida once again regaled us with tales of his people and even

brought his own beautifully designed and painted possum skin rug for us to admire. Stunning!

The next morning was a busy one. Jida had plenty to show to the group and we were eager to learn. We started the

day on the big lake on Jida's boat. Jida impressed us with his boomerang accuracy and spear throwing technique.

We were lucky enough to walk through country and view sacred scar trees and historic campsites only known to the

well-trained, culturally sensitive eye. It was amazing to see ancient clay balls pressed together for use in camp

ovens. Jida pointed out that all of the rocks we saw were clay balls as there are no natural rocks in that area. He was

right! It was starting to become apparent why Jida has such a vested interest in protecting the sites of Boort with

signposts and shelters. There are tens of thousands of years’ history in all directions. Unfortunately, we had to set

off quickly following the morning session given there was a new location and experience awaiting our arrival,

however we did manage to fit in plenty of exciting activities. Activities that will be cherished for many years to

come. I think we all agreed it will be thrilling to watch Jida's progress and negotiation with council unfold over the

coming years.

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Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY):

Hosted by Ali & Matt, we learned about a

community group bringing together people

passionate about the notion of powering

their town with 100% renewable energy,

and aiming to achieve “energy sovereignty”

for Yackandandah by the year 2022 through

community owned energy that will

decarbonize, decentralize and democratize

their energy supplysystems.

http://totallyrenewableyack.org.au/

Yackandandah's beautiful township is nestled in-between mountains, forests and sits close to the border

of Victoria and New South Wales. It is located far from any main townships and more importantly - very

far from power generation plants. The township aims to go completely renewable energy by 2022 -

setting its own target in the face of climate change.

As a township that has supply issues when bushfire, storms or flooding hits the lines; power companies

have jumped aboard their enduring enthusiasm more than a year down the track. To get aboard this

target, Ausgrid are trialling micro-grid technology with TRY, which has been in development for years. The

final aim of this is to reduce the burden of the major grid network to meet remote township needs, while

remaining financially efficient; this will in turn reduce the need to run huge supply lines through

mountains and precious land spaces prone to nature's wrath.

At the moment the township is being supported by the corporate interests with low cost investment and

infrastructure; but as a trial town, where their data is being fed back to the company to gauge profits,

costings and income - there is a mixed sense of hope that power companies will begin to march forward

with renewables but this is tainted with their persistent desire for increasing mega-profits which does not

bode well for communities and people.

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From Yackendandah we headed right over the Alpine Ranges to Bega! An epic trip with some stunning scenery

and rolling commentary from Co-facilitator Don Butcher, what a treat it was to have Don share his knowledge

and passion for our watershed forests as we travelled through such a beautiful environment – not just over the

Alpine Ranges but on the entire trip! Thanks Don for being amazing.

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The Bend – Bega:

An eco-neighbourhood in the small town

of Bega on the far south coast of NSW,

Australia. Bend is an incredible success

story designed using permaculture

principles that value environmental

sustainability, social diversity, food

production, and energy conservation. As a

community the residents share

conservation areas and certified organic

agricultural land, as well as neighbourhood

fire fighting, photovoltaic, and grey-water

recycling systems.

http://bend.org.au/

It was an absolute pleasure to be hosted by the wonderful Pip and Peter staying in their earth brick guest quarters

and having a really good sticky beak around the neighbourhood inside residents homes, right in to check out their

composting dunnies, in the garden, checking out solar passive lighting and temp regulations; such an incredible

community to allow us in to learn and be a part of their home spaces – thanks so much for having us stay!

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Goolengook & Jill Redwood:

Goolengook forest in the far eastern corner of

Victoria was the centerpiece of a campaign to

protect all of the regions old growth in the

1990’s to early 2000s. Jill Redwood lives in

Goolengook and for the last 30 years has lived

a completely an off grid life. Living on around

$80 a week, Jill has over sixty animals and an

abundant garden right outside her doorstep.

Generating all her own solar power and

collecting water from the local creek Jill lives a

totally self-sufficient life.

http://www.naturalhomes.org/permahome/offgrid-jill-redwood.htm

Visit to Jill Redwood, Goongerah.

What a treat it was to visit legendary forest activist Jill Redwood at her home in Goongerah. We camped

next door (alongside G.E.C.O’s citizen scientists) and Jill welcomed us early despite having been up until

1am. “Best time to save the planet” she said, “less distractions!”

It seemed to me that Jill hasn’t lost her concentration on planet-saving in all the time she’s been in this

patch of beauty. She’s been honoured by an Environmentalist of the Year Award from Bob Brown, but

what we witnessed was Jill’s more domestic care for this small patch of her own, purchased over 30 years

ago and single-handedly rescued from blackberries and erosion. Jill lives fairly self-sufficiently amid her

orchard and gardens, complete with guinea fowl and guinea pigs, chooks, geese, dairy goats, horses,

vegetables, herbs and numerous fruit varieties, all organically managed.

We visited Jill’s original bark hut, built and inhabited pioneer-style after she moved out of her tipi in the

early days. Also the solar systems, compost-warmed propagation trays and the ingenious, stream-driven

water wheel that pumps to a header tank. Stepping under the wasp-comb decorated verandah and into

her more recent home, we admired Jill’s impressive self-stocked larder … “There’s more food grown here

than I can eat, but I can’t waste it” … her crocheted rag rug in progress and her own feral tanning efforts…

“A flat cat’s a good cat!”, finishing off by riding the bicycle-driven juicer and pressing Jill’s apples –

enjoying fresh juice with a hint of mandarin.

Jill is a true pioneer. Much of what she’s built here was gathered on site or scavenged secondhand and

it’s all happened alongside countless hours at the computer for Environment East Gippsland, agitating for

forest preservation. “How do you manage it all?” one of us asked. “I really don’t know” she said, “If you

find any stray wives on your travels send them my way!”I reckon she might just have some applicants

amongst our mob.

– Ilka, 2017 participant

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Wurruk’an Traralgan – Gippsland:

Wurruk’an is a humble but beautiful body of

land, water, and forest in the Gunai district of

Gippsland. In recent years it has become an

inclusive gathering space for people seeking to

pioneer and demonstrate a ‘simpler way’ of

living based on permaculture principles.

Although these are still early days, the emerging

vision is aglow with promise and potential. As a

strategy for social change, their small and

evolving community is trying to build a new

world from within the shell of the old.

Wurruk’an signifies an act of defiant positivity.

http://www.wurrukan.org

Wurruk'an is a comparatively new and young community in Gippsland, built around shared ideals and

spurred on by a documentary covering the first year; "A simpler way: crisis as opportunity". On arrival, we

were given a warm welcome followed by dinner, and a cello and video performance. The next day we

were given a tour of the flourishing permaculture gardens, and a variety of dwellings and alternative

building techniques. There is a small earth ship with an adjoining cob pizza oven, an earth bag house, a

mobile tiny house, a cob round house, a tiny shack built for $425 and a big community house.

An amazing and inspirational community visit to experience!

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And finally a lovely lunch on the way home to CERES at the incredible Peace Farm, an active market garden

with food box scheme, seasonal permaculture gardens, propagation, weekend workshops, tiny house, 3

families, and a community with a huge heart for welcoming guests and sharing a delicious hearty soup lunch.

We’re heading off on another road trip March 2018, we’d love to have you come along.