March 2011

To those of you who swelled the ranks to over 120 at the February 26 meeting, thank you for your interest. We hope you found our fine speakers interesting and informative.

 We hosted Catherine Cusack, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, Dr Shaw Mead from international marine engineering consultancy ASR, Professor Roger Tomlinson from Griffith University Coastal Management unit and Steve Cansdell, Member for Clarence.

 Also, for the first time, people from other “hotspots” attended Old Bar Beach, Belongil, Brooms Head, Lennox Head and Lake Cathie. Great to know that word is spreading and that we are forging ties with these similarly threatened communities.

 Feedback from the meeting has been fantastic I think that we are finally starting to realise that “planned retreat” from Wooli village is not a done deal and there are many options available, short and long term, to protect our beautiful beach and community.

So what next?

The upcoming elections present significant implications for our campaign. Catherine Cusack indicated that, if there is a change of government, legislation that includes extensive research into other options will relegate “planned retreat” to a last resort. She expressed interest in exploring ideas presented by Shaw Mead – his suggested “managed attack” strategy has a much more positive ring to it than “planned retreat”.

 Steve Cansdell, Member for Clarence, was a very supportive speaker too and even sported his Protect Wooli tee shirt to front the podium!

 Council has indicated willingness to work collaboratively with CCPA and Wooli community to find optimum solutions and support the adoption of available short term measures to protect the coastline. Councillor Margaret McKenna, who attended the meeting, spoke very positively of our campaign.

 Thanks to the many people who made this meeting happen. Much behind-the-scenes organisation was required, but Kristin Stubbins and Tim Heldt must be sincerely thanked for their tireless work. Peter Wise manned the camera and will attempt to put excerpts from the meeting on Protect Wooli website when editing is complete thanks Peter. Ian Rees generously provided the great meeting venue in the hotel ‘s dining area. To all raffle ticket sellers, petition gatherers, t-shirt sellers, equipment lenders, chair arrangers, minute takers and anyone else we ‘ve forgotten, thank you.

 Future newsletters will be emailed to campaign supporters, posted on Protect Wooli website and placed in Wooli businesses. Old Bar Beach ‘s report on their fund-raising event on the same day as our meeting makes interesting reading on the website.

FROM CROATIA TO WOOLI

Artist and jewellery-maker Jan Ejsymontt is visiting Wooli shortly, as a guest and friend of Leone Coper. Jan lives and works in Rovinj on the beautiful Croatian coast.  She was inspired to come to Wooli by the Protect Wooli campaign and will be working here on the “water” component of her next exhibition in Croatia about our planet entitled “Earth Fire Air Water”.

She could be talking about Wooli when she describes her surroundings: “I live in a place of outstanding beauty. I am able to use the nature that surrounds me as a starting point for my art. The pure unbridled power of the sea and the wildness of the coastline are a constant source of inspiration.”

Her vivid acrylic artworks have a lightness and sense of joy and are often highly textured, using paper, raffia, shells, sand, driftwood stones and glass polished by the waters of the Adriatic. She will exhibit in the Wild About Wooli Artshow at Easter.

Jan will display and sell her unique jewellery at a gathering on the banks of the Wooli Wooli River at Wooli River Lodges, Wooli Road, Wooli, on Saturday 12 March at 6.30pm. Come and enjoy a drink and nibbles ($5.00 entry) and see some very special jewellery from a talented artisan and artist. 10% of sales will go to CCPA-Wooli Inc.

RSVP to lcoper@attglobal.net or 0266 497860 for catering purposes. Lodge accommodation can be booked with Margy or Russ on 0266 497 750.

WOOLI ART GROUP (WAG)

 The WAG continues to meet every Monday from 10.00am at the Wooli Hotel, welcoming new members every week. Currently we are being inspired by Yvonne and drawing on her skill to create mixed media artwork even those of us who haven ‘t held a paintbrush since primary school!

Organisation of the Wild About Wooli Artshow at Easter continues. Artists are encouraged to submit their   work. Information and forms are available on www.protectwooli.com.au or from gayeshield@hotmail.com or Di on 0266 497021.