Highlights from over the years

  • Sculpting in Oamaru stone, and making furniture out of pallets, upholstering furniture, bike mechanics workshops

  • Public art pieces were provided to the Community eg Forces in the Dunstan Pioneer Park, The Gold Nugget, plus the Schools’ mural facing Community House, Tracey Osborne’s wonderful glass mosaic in Community House

  • Speakers like Greg Bodeker influenced our thinking.  Discussions about Donut economics were pertinent to our situation

  • Garden club featured the wonderful Helen Hillis with a tent full of plants and chock full of knowledge including the best places to forage, then speakers such as Ruud Kleinpaaste delighted the young and the old with his stories and vast knowledge of living systems

  • Local enthusiasts for local food production, in our unique climate and soil:  like Worms man Robbie Dick, Vege Marketeer Peter Brass, Ben Elms aka Dr Compost, talks about local food supply economics…  Cooking demos with local produce eg Whole plant based foods, fermented foods for health

  • The SPCA combined with us to organise the 4 paws walk and Soggy doggy swim in our local pool

  • Our Public Library picked up the challenge to start The Human Library, talks on breaking down social barriers

  • Community Groups integrated with our event:  Alexandra Library, Central Stories, various Art Groups, Garden Club, Wastebusters, Enviro groups, Men’s Shed, Spinners and weavers, ECE’s, Tai chi, Sports shops, Orienteering, cycling

  • We benefited from wonderful artists workshops and shared learning eg Public murals by Maxine Williams and school groups and old folks which are now around the district and in the old folks homes.

  • Schools were engaged by arts workshops, art tours, Enviroschools workshops

  • Busking showcased local talent

  • Sustainable building tours were a highlight, leading to the formation of the Sustainable Building Network

  • Composting and Bokashi workshops ran alongside discussions about single use plastics – stuff we are a lot more aware of now because of Dr Compost, Kate the Nappy Lady, The Rubbish Trip and more.   Waste Busters were continually supportive

  • Pecha Kucha evenings pushed our thinking, and all from local speakers

  • Learning more about our Native biodiversity walking with the Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust, and planting in our drylands

  • Cooking, dance and craft classes, walks, exhibitions and productions.  Often a unique opportunity to try something new

  • Wellness practitioners and volunteers introduced us to Tai chi, foot massage, aromatherapy, with Wellness days and taster sessions

  • This future focus on the New and innovative thinking is needed now more than ever.