Voices of change

Hepburn Shire Advocate
Wednesday 23/4/2008 Page: 13

THE Hepburn University of Third Age has launched a new sustainability program in a bid to unite people with similar interests. The program was launched on Friday with about 30 U3A members involved in the program. Committee member Margie Thomas said sustainability was a topical issue and there were many people around Central Victoria doing terrific things to help sustainability who needed to be linked. On Friday, the group heard from the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association, which lobbied for a wind farm at Leonards Hill.

They also heard from Mount Alexander Sustainability Group on the work it is doing with the CSIRO to reduce greenhouse emissions. Ms Thomas said the work of these smaller organisations showed that in country areas people were finally realising and coming to terms with the need to be environmentally responsible. The group is looking at getting the council on board its program, as well as enlisting the new chief executive officer. Its next fortnightly session will see the group work out its ecological footprint and look at retrofitting.

"Sustainability doesn't only occur with our physical surroundings, but it's also about emotional and spiritual surroundings," Ms Thomas said. "It's about a total concept; how you fit in and feel comfortable, and how to make a contribution." Ms Thomas said the group was also planning to open some sessions to the wider community, so other locals had an opportunity for input. Long term, the group will take on a number of local issues, such as plastic bag issues, and harness members' interests to make a change. Ms Thomas said the Hepburn Shire Council was a "powerful area" in the region, with a huge environmental focus.