Transition Epping

TRANSITION EPPING OFFICIAL LAUNCH

After our formation a year ago and a successful series of sustainability workshops earlier in the year, our launch was held on 19 October – over 30 people attended. We had a raffle of locally produced goods such as vegetables, herbs, eggs, biscuits, mini-quiches, jam and honey – all donated by Transition Epping members or supporters! Tim Thornton, a local resident, gave a great presentation about his family’s personal journey towards achieving energy efficiency (and a reduction in power bills of 50%). We had about four tables of swap and share items and lots of information about sustainability initiatives and local businesses to support. Everyone was given an update on our projects (see below). If you expressed an interest on the night in one or more of the projects below one of our committee members will give you a ring over the next week or so to tell you a little more about what we have planned.

OUR PROJECTS

• Verge garden at the North Epping Shops: We have offered to assist John Bykerk, owner of the North Epping Shops on the western side of Roma Street, with labour and advice on revamping the verge garden along Roma Street into an attractive and functional food and native garden. John has kindly donated the narrow lawn area at the southern end of the carpark for a community garden and has included our ideas in his landscape drawings for the upgrade! Negotiations with Council are going well.
• Solar technology: We are in the process of finding a reputable supplier of solar panels to negotiate a good deal for local residents wishing to install solar technology and save heaps on power bills. We hope to have our scheme in place very shortly!
• Practical skills workshops We are calling these our TESS workshops (Transition Epping Swap and Share) and we hope to run them bimonthly next year, starting in March with a follow-up visit to Tim’s place to look at his energy saving initiatives. Each workshop will feature our swap and share table for pre-loved goods, a meet and greet session and learning about practical skills such as bicycle maintenance, composting, jam making…anything really that will be of use in the future; it depends on what skills you all have and wish to share. Please get in contact and let us know! Food garden at Epping North Public School Helpers are needed over the summer school holidays to water the garden. We’ve helped build the compost bays. Thank you to Jenni Bennet, Environment Coordinator, for letting us share in this fabulous project!
• Web presence team: We have a presence on the Transition Sydney website at www.transitionsydney.org.au and also a blog at http://transition-epping.blogspot.com. Thank you to Mark who has organised both with help from Don and Colin.
• 295 Bus We will be examining ways to improve the convenience of this service to encourage more patronage.
• MEMBERSHIP: We need members to raise funds for our projects (membership application attached with rates)! We are also considering incorporation (costly with insurance) but are currently auspiced by Permaculture Sydney North.

If any of the above projects appeal to you, please email me back so I can put your name on the list to be contacted when we need help and/or have more information. Transition Epping is about each of us doing something small to spread the load to build a more connected and environmentally friendly suburb. The committee and team members would love to meet you! Various committee and team members will be at the market events below. FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER Epping Twilight Xmas Market OLHC Oxford St 5pm to 9pm (in the hall) SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER North Epping Street Fair at the shops 10am to 2pm Kind regards Transition Epping Committee Sandra Nichols (Coordinator 9869 1351; 0438 415 715), Deborah Burt, Juliet, Munro (Treasurer), Louise Brady, Mark Cachia (Web team), Paul Taylor, Al Sibrava, Mike du Plessis (Solar team), Colin Hoving (Solar & web teams), Don Munro (Web team), Martin Nichols (295 Bus team).

OUR MISSION: To explore, promote and implement practical actions for an environmentally sustainable and supportive community in North Epping (and surrounds).