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We’d love you to join our conversation about sustainable living, where we share the successes and pitfalls faced by grassroots small business, volunteers and community groups around Australia.

You can contribute by commenting or tipping us off with stories that show how we can balance local community needs with business success and jobs, without the expense to our natural and cultural heritage.

Let’s take control of our own future!

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FISH And WA’s Junjuwa Community Looking To A Sustainable Future

Last year PWF introduced The Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Housing. FISH has just launched its own website and in early 2012, in association with Landcorp and The Summit Homes Group, it will build a ‘charity home’ in Broome.

The Annual Sustainable Home Project

The construction of a charity home will be an annual project, using the opportunity to train Indigenous tradespeople, and the sale of these homes will raise funds for the ongoing activities and administration of FISH.

This year there will be:
• An architectural design competition with donated services and materials, and
• Sustainable housing including appropriate technologies and systems will be showcased

Socially and environmentally sustainable construction and engagement methods will be developed over time which will contribute …

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Practical Valerie Seeks Work In The Kimberley

Valerie Lee tells us she is a very practical person who would like to find some casual or short term work, especially in the Kimberley. She has previously owned and worked on a small cattle-sheep property.

About Valerie

Valerie is a Registered Nurse/Midwife/Women’s Health Nurse who also has experience in Mental Health and has worked as a Teachers’ Aid.

She is in her mid 60s and of good health and would be pleased to hear of any appropriate jobs going.

Contact Details

You can contact Valerie by email valerie.lee45@yahoo.com.au

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Paul Budde On Politics And The National Broadband Network (NBN)

Technology Spectator has posted the following ‘politically situational’ article on the NBN by respected telecommunications expert Paul Budde:

“With the NBN inching closer to reality it’s regrettable that our politicians seem unable to agree on some fundamental principles in relation to Australia’s telecommunications infrastructure. These principles are:

* optical fibre offers the ultimate in fixed line performance, and all other technologies converge on FTTP as they are pushed to their performance limits;

* Australia needs a long-term vision and strategy for replacing as much of its fixed-line networks as practical with optical fibre – how we get there, when we get there, who does what can be the focal point of

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Permaculture Workshops At Melbourne’s Eltham College

People involved in Permaculture, Community Gardens, City Farms and Transition Towns initiatives will be interested in the two workshops run by Robin Clayfield, Monday 20 February – Saturday 25 February 2012 at Eltham College in Melbourne’s outer northeast.

1. Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning

This creative facilitation 6 day training course is offered to people who would like more skills, tools and confidence to work and play with groups:

  • Facilitators
  • Teachers
  • Trainers
  • Group Leaders
  • Change Agents
  • People in Creative, Healing and Sustainability Industries

Conducted on Monday 20 February – Saturday 25 February, 9am – 5.30pm at Eltham College, Research, all participants will be eligible to apply for assessment in two units of the Diploma of Permaculture.

2. Creative Community Governance And Decision-Making Workshop

Conducted Monday …

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Your Thoughts On Growing Grassroots Democracy In Nowra?

Graeme Gibson, from www.realoptions.com.au has emailed PWF about a grassroots forum in Nowra, NSW. With little support from elected Councillors, and public discouragement from some of them, Graeme reports that 110 people participated with a view to starting a community wide conversation about democracy, citizen participation and local possibilities.

Democracy Not Politics

In Nowra, on 28 September 2011, 110 people came to hear a panel of speakers present their ideas on community engagement, alternative democratic models and planning at local government level – leaving politics to one side.

Deliberative democracy specialist Max Hardy told of a Victorian local government dispute with disability access groups over 100 year old trees whose roots were breaking up the pavement in …

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