Sustainable Neighbourhood News and Events
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Picnic in the Park
Saturday 5 December Join Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers for a relaxed picnic in Blackalls Park to celebrate our achievements in a challenging year, and see each other face to face. Find out more. 
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ReLeaf Lake Mac
Help increase tree canopy cover and green spaces across Lake Macquarie. Head over to ReLeaf Lake Mac and tell us your stories of bush champions, favourite trees, green spaces and community gardens! 
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Waste to Art 2020
Discover how our community has transformed ‘rubbish’ into beautiful, fun and functional pieces at the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art exhibition, now showing at Swansea until 13 December. Find out more. 
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2020 Annual Report
We are pleased to present the Sustainable Neighbourhoods Annual Report for the 2019-2020 financial year, detailing our achievements in what has been a challenging time. Find out more. 
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Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance AGM
We will be holding our Annual General Meeting online this year. Members of the Lake Macquarie Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance are invited to attend. Tuesday 17 November, 6.00 - 6.30pm We are seeking conscientious volunteer board members to help support and lead the Sustainable Neighbourhood network. RSVP for the AGM, and find out more. 
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Get your hands dirty
Enjoy some good company, and the joy of gardening at a local community garden. We manage community garden projects in Dudley, Redhead, Holmesville and Charlestown. Find out more. 
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COVID-19 Coronavirus update
We are encouraging everyone in the community to take a measured and precautionary approach to slow the spread of Coronavirus.
We are still active in other ways, and are keen to continue to connect with our members and the wider community. Here's some of the ways we are staying connected and caring for each other and sustainability.
We are encouraging everyone in the community to take a measured and precautionary approach to slow the spread of Coronavirus.
We are still active in other ways, and are keen to continue to connect with our members and the wider community. Here's some of the ways we are staying connected and caring for each other and sustainability.
- Holding regular meetings using Zoom, with our local groups and as a citywide network.
- We've developed a Covid-Safe plan to guide all of our future activities.
- Sharing positive, useful messages and resources on our social media pages.
- Sharing these Connection Cards to offer assistance to vulnerable neighbours.
- Encouraging creative Waste to Art entries for our exhibition planned for October.
- Continuing to promote and encourage sustainability and community resilience.
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Care for each other and keep connected
Sustainable Neighbourhoods is fundamentally a strong network of caring community members, which is so valuable in a time of uncertainty like this.
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We'll continue to keep in touch, and look forward to getting together in the same room again when we can.
Please don't hesitate to contact us on 4921 0117 or admin@sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au if you have any questions or concerns.
Follow us on Facebook, and subscribe to our e-newsletter for more updates.
For general advice about Coronavirus and protecting yourself, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/protect-yourself.
Please don't hesitate to contact us on 4921 0117 or admin@sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au if you have any questions or concerns.
Follow us on Facebook, and subscribe to our e-newsletter for more updates.
For general advice about Coronavirus and protecting yourself, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/protect-yourself.
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Pamper Care donations
You can donate personal care items, pantry food or gift cards to share with those in need through the Pamper Care Project. Find out more. 
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Do you know where your cat is?
We've recently updated our brochure about responsible cat care. Find out more. 
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Boomerang Bags workshop
Volunteers have been making about 40 bags a month at these friendly workshops. Join this friendly bunch for a sociable sewing bee each month Find out more. 
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Lake Mac Award winners
We are proud as punch to have received two awards recognising the wonderful work of Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers. Find out more. 
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Lake Mac Repair Cafe
Do you have any clothing, bikes, hand tools, small electrical items or small furniture in need of repair? Join the next Lake Mac Repair Café event on Sunday 15 March, so we can help you mend them, or simply pop in for a chat and a cuppa. Find out more. 
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Eco friendly cleaning workshop
Low-tox cleaning doesn't have to be difficult or expensive! It doesn't mean spending hours scrubbing with ineffective alternatives. Mardi Lee from French for Tuesday will show you how to make the switch to low toxic cleaning products on Sunday 15 March. Find out more. 
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NaturePlay film and discussion night
Join an evening of discussion and a screening of NaturePlay - Take Childhood Back on 15 March. Find out more. 
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Volunteer with us in 2020
Are you looking for a way to contribute to a better future? Make 2020 your year to volunteer!
Find out more about current volunteer opportunities.
Are you looking for a way to contribute to a better future? Make 2020 your year to volunteer!
Find out more about current volunteer opportunities.
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Marketing specialist
Looking for a short term project? Gain some practical experience and help us raise the visibility of Sustainable Neighbourhoods. 
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Waste to Art Coordinator
An opportunity to combine your passion for sustainability and art to help deliver the 2020 Waste to Art project. 
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Waste to Art 2019
The 2019 Waste to Art exhibition was a huge success. You can still view the online exhibition guide, and read our evaluation report. Stay tuned for details of the 2020 project! Find out more. 
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2019 Annual Report
We are delighted to present the 2019 Annual report detailing our highlights from the 2018-19 financial year. Find out more. 
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Are you following us?
Have you found our Facebook page yet? Get the latest updates and connect with Sustainable Neighbourhood activities around the city. We are at Sustainable Neighbourhoods Lake Macquarie Find out more. 
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Year Planner
We've updated our year planner for 2020. Take a look to see what's coming up and help plan your year. 
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Lake Mac Repair Cafe
Keep up to date with upcoming Repair Cafe dates by following the Lake Mac Repair Cafe Facebook page. Find out more about the project. 
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Become a Young Leader
Are you a young person looking to connect with your community and get practical experience in engagement, sustainability and other skills? We are looking for enthusiastic people to help us foster a more sustainable Lake Macquarie. Find out more 
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Help us tell our story
Can you take photos or videos at our events? Develop your experience and portfolio for an emerging career in commercial photography, or just send in some snaps from your smart phone. Find out more. 
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Strategic Plan 2018-2023
Our Strategy details the direction and actions we are taking to ensure we continue to be an effective organisation that is focused on our vision: Neighbourhoods that are empowered to live sustainably. Find out more. 
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Plastic free cafes
How is your local cafe transitioning away from single use plastics? Find out where you can get a discount for bringing your own cup, and how you can help your local make the switch. Find out more. 
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Holmesville garden gatherings
Share the joy of gardening with the friendly crowd at the Holmesville Community Garden, on the first Wednesday and fourth Saturday of every month. Find out more. 
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Celebrate!
We enjoyed a relaxed afternoon catching up with Sustainable Neighbourhood volunteers, and learning about Council's tree Replacement Program at our afternoon tea and celebration event. Find out more. 
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Value our City's trees
We got together for a morning of creative fun back in August to create some homemade signs to encourage appreciation of our City's trees. Find out more. 
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Cake, conversation and Lake Mac's water quality
We learned all about water quality at the June Sustainable Neighbourhood networking event, with the Hunter Community Environment Centre and Council staff. Find out more. 
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Nature Play Forum
The forum in May explored opportunities for school-aged children to experience nature based learning, rich in nature time, movement, culture and community. Find out more. 
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Pamper Care Project
Help us collect personal care products for those who need it most. Set up a local collection point or make a donation. Find out more. 
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Plastic free Toronto
Find out how the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group are changing their town to single use plastic free. Find out more. 
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Neighbour Day
Neighbour Day is coming up on Sunday 29 March. It's the perfect day to say thanks for being a great neighbour, connect with new neighbours, and feel part of your community. Visit the Neighbour Day website to register your event and download a free kit to help celebrate Neighbour Day. 
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Alliance Board meeting minutes
Do you want to keep up to date with decisions and actions of the Alliance Board? The monthly meeting minutes are usually emailed to those interested the day after the meeting. Please let us know if you'd like to join that email list. The approved minutes are also available here. 
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The psychology of climate change
One of our members sent through this interesting resource from the Australian Psychological Society discussing how to help people understand climate change, how to cope with it, and how to get involved in effectively addressing climate change. These fact sheets along with the climate change empowerment handbook are available to download for free. 
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Barks and recreation
We are calling on all dog owners to be mindful of their responsibilities, and have produced a brochure to help clarify and reinforce the rules about dogs in public places. 
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War on Waste toolkit
This excellent toolkit has been created as part of the ABC's War on Waste. Download the toolkit from the ABC website. 
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Social media and website policy
We have updated our website policy to include guidelines for Sustainable Neighbourhood social media pages. Download the updated policy. 
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Community gardens
We are now able to oversee community garden projects that are managed by Sustainable Neighbourhood Groups. 
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Managing grant funding
We've developed a guide for Sustainable Neighbourhood groups about:
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