Come and join us on the steps of Parliament House to call for an end to all mining and exploration activities in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

Where: Steps of Parliament House, North Tce, Adelaide 

When: Monday 7th February 2011, meeting at 10am

What to wear: Orange! If you don't have orange, wear black or red. 

RSVP on the facebook event page

In 2007 mining company Marathon Resources had its exploration licence suspended after illegally dumping 22,800 bags of radioactive waste in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and stealing Fluorite from a site classified as a Geological monument.

Despite the fact that 82% of people opposed any form of mining in Arkaroola as shown through submissions to the Seeking a Balance report, the Rann Government announced a week before Christmas that Marathon Resources will be allowed back in to this iconic and unique wilderness sanctuary to explore for uranium.

South Australians have united to ask their Government to show leadership and strength by protecting this important part of South Australia. Instead, faceless lobbyists have had their way and the Government has caved in. The recent announcement opens the door for environmental destruction on a massive scale.

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is:

• on the Register of the National Estate

• a recognised geological monument,

• a Sanctuary under the National Parks & Wildlife Act

• an Environmental Class A zone under the Development Act

South Australia’s reputation is at stake - Mr Rann and the South Australian Government need to show leadership and protect Arkaroola.

In Adelaide, the festival season is February to March, when the city comes alive with the annual Fringe Festival with art, music, theatre and comedy - all kicked off with a massive parade and street party! Thousands of people flock to the streets of the Adelaide CBD to enjoy the warm weather and festivity, and each year SWAG (SA Wilderness Action Group) takes part in the opening night parade.

Each year we spend months planning concepts, building floats, designing and sewing costumes and rehearsing skits in preparation for the big event.

Adelaide Fringe Opening Night Parade

When: Friday 18th February 2011
Where: Adelaide CBD

Check out what we've done in previous years

From Occy the giant Octopus to a giant blow-up version of planet Earth, our floats each year have been weird and wonderful - and always with a clever community awareness message about South Australia's wilderness or wildlife.

Have a look at our photos here.

For more photos of what SWAG is up to, check out our facebook page here. 

Want to get involved?

Street Theatre for the Fringe Parade

Fringe 2011 will see a different theme again and we need your help to come up with some bright ideas about how to create an eye-catching display whilst communicating our message.

If you're interested in joining the SWAG team in preparation for the Fringe Parade, or being in the parade, please contact Alyssa Fletcher on (08) 8231 6586 or alyssa.fletcher@wilderness.org.au.

The annual Kings Park Festival is on again this September with a heap of spectacular events and activities.

Map of the 'Gondwana Link' in South western Australia.

Keith Bradby is the coordinator of GondwanaLink - a visionary project which aims to re-connect the now fragmented country form the karri and Jarrah forests of the Margaret River area through the south west corner to the Great Western Woodlands and into the inland deserts. GondwanaLink is also part of the Great Western Woodlands Collaboration.

Western Australian plants have a continuous biological lineage older than the dinosaur. An immense diversity of life forms and survival techniques have evolved over the past 250 million years, but it seems the fight for survival is getting tougher.

We invite you to come along to a presentation and find out about this fantastic project which is restoring farmland, protecting remaining species and reconnecting habitats across the south west.

When: 16 September, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM followed by light refreshments
Where: Biodiversity Conservation Centre - Kings Park, West Perth                              

Cost: Gold coin donation

Bookings: (08) 9480 3600

In this International Year of Biodiversity, the Kings Park Wildflower festival will celebrate both people and plants in the heart of Western Australia’s Botanic Gardens, surrounded by wildflowers in all their spectacular springtime glory.

See this event and others as part of the 2010 annual Kings Park Wildflower Festival here.

The Great Western Woodlands team is hitting the road for a number of public presentations on this amazing region and the conservation initiative.

Where & When

Southern Cross - Tuesday 14th September, Sporting Complex Lounge

Kondinin - Wednesday 15th September, Country Club Gordon Street

Lake Grace -  Thursday 16th September, Sportsman's Club Stubbs St

Ravensthorpe - Friday 17th September, Entertainment Center

Time

7pm

Free Event - Tea and Coffee provided

RSVP

Ph: 6460 4936 or email jessica.chapman@wilderness.org.au

Wayne O'Sullivan our project director will in his presentation cover aspects of the regions extraordinary biodiversity, why the area is globally significant and where things are at with the conservation initiative.

It is also an opportunity for us to hear from the community and there will be ample time for your input, questions and conversation.

Hope to see you there!

If you are an aspiring artist who loves nature & lives in the Great Western Woodlands we would like to invite you to join us for an artists retreat. This weekend will be a chance to participate in art workshops and listen to talks on art and nature all in the beautiful & inspiring surrounds of the largest temperate woodland remaining on Earth.

Lake Johnston GWW. Photo: Barbara Madden

Where: Lake Johnston
Located between Hyden and Norseman is the amazing Lake Johnston. Beside Lake Johnston is a clearing where we will be camping. To assist you in getting to the site there will be some options. Please contact us for details.

When: Anzac long weekend (23rd – 26th April)
Arrive: Friday 23rd April - afternoon
Depart: Monday 26th April – whenever you please

Workshops

Drawing workshop with Sue Kalab
Sue Kalab is a nature artist specializing in water-colour whose work brings a sense of contemplation. It is soft realism. Sue has established a studio in Bunbury and has a special interest in native birds and bush orchids. Visit www.suekalab.com

During this workshop basic helpful approaches to drawing will be explained.  We shall study and draw nature found in our location.
We will also look upon the experience as a meditation, using our senses to connect with the elements of nature.  Interpreting this into art will be the result.

Materials required:
(If anyone is unable to obtain these materials, please let me know and we can bring)

- 2 x 2B pencils
(NOT HB or B – this is the letter found along the length of the pencil that identifies the graphite quality of the pencil.  HB and B are hard, and good for writing but too hard and scratchy for drawing.  2B is softer, perfect for drawing).

- Pencil eraser  - Pencil sharpener or blade

- Cartridge paper A3 size  - Board, at least A3 size.  (Flat and smooth to lean your paper upon as you work)

- Small bulldog clips to keep paper secure on the board  - Chair, or cushion to sit comfortably on the ground

Photography with Barbara Madden
Barbara Madden is an experienced photographer who resides in Albany. She has participated in several group and solo exhibitions and is a member of the Albany based MIX Artists collective. Over the past few years Barbara has volunteered her time and many beautiful images to The Wilderness Society WA. 

Lake Johnston is one of her favorite places; she has made many visits there and is always inspired by its ever changing yet fundamentally timeless qualities.

Workshops will encourage participants to ‘tune in’ to this special place and to use your camera as a tool to express what you feel are its distinctive qualities. There will be opportunities to experiment with different  points of view, from ridge top sunset grand vistas to close ups of the wonderful vegetation and lake detail. ‘Tech talk’ will be secondary to creativity, but  you will learn the basics of  exposure, composition and focus if you don’t know them already. You will definitely go beyond only using your camera’s  ‘P’ for panic mode. 

Be prepared for some early starts as that’s when the light is special, as it is in the late afternoon also.

Materials required: Any camera will suffice, though with a digital SLR you will be able to  shoot in RAW format, thus allowing non destructive editing post capture.  A tripod is essential for low light shooting (those early starts again!) and maximum depth of field. You will gain more from the weekend if you are very familiar with your camera and its capabilities – but bring along the manual anyway. If you have a laptop with a good battery, bring it along so you can download your work and share it with the group. Otherwise, there will be a card reader and computer available for general use.

Valma Schultz - Indigenous art
Valma Schultz is a talented artist who resides in Norseman. Her work will be able to be seen at a new gallery soon to be opened in Norseman. Valma will take us through some aspects/techniques she uses. 

The Ngadju dance group will also join us for a Corroboree (www.ngadjudancers.com.au)

Materials required: Something comfortable to sit on, canvas or a workbook, brush and some paint of your choice.

Textile Dyes from Nature with Patricia Dundas & Katrina Syme
Katrina Syme & Patricia Dundas are members of the Botanical Artists’ Group of WA who share a passion for textiles. They love experimenting with natural dyes from a variety of sources, including plants and fungi. (Katrina was coordinator for the 11th International Fungi and Fibre Symposium, held in Denmark in 2003.)

They will bring all materials and equipment, including samples of wool and silk to immerse into the dye-baths. Small silk scarves will be available for participants to carry out their own dyeing, thus providing them with a tangible reminder of their time at Lake Johnston.

Talks

Scientific illustration with Katrina Syme (Botanical Artists’ Group of WA)
Members of the B.A.G. have held many major exhibitions over the past 19 years www.botanicagallery.com.au/ . They have also collaborated in projects including commissions by the Perth Mint for the Centenary of Federation for prints and coins and illustrations of WA flora for Curtis's Botanical Magazine by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK). A new book Brush with Gondwana, written by Dr Janda Gooding and published By Fremantle Press in 2008, documents the progress and history of the group and features over 100 beautiful illustrations by the artists.
Publications by Katrina and Patricia include ‘Fungi of Southern Australia’ (UWA Press, 1998), co-authored by Katrina and "Orchids of WA" co-authored by Patricia (UWA Press 2008).   Katrina is also a self-taught mycologist and vice-president of the Australia-wide organization Fungimap (Inc.) www.rbg.vic.gov.au/fungimap , who has conducted surveys of fungi in the south coast region (and discovered numerous new species) over the past 28 years.

Katrina will talk about the history and continuing importance of scientific illustration to research into Australia’s natural history with a particular focus on the fungi.

Materials:
If you wish to do some field sketches, bring along a workbook (say A5 size) pencils & or watercolour paints & brushes. Both Katrina and Patricia are willing to offer advice.

The nature of the Great Western Woodlands - Wayne O’Sullivan
Wayne O’Sullivan is the Project Director of the Great Western Woodlands initiative at the Wilderness Society WA & also has an extensive knowledge of Eucalypt diversity.

This talk will introduce you to the amazing nature of the Great Western Woodlands.
You only need your ears for this one.

Walks

The place we are going is beautiful and enchanting, we leave the walk in the woods for your creation.

Camping Lake Johnston GWW. Photo Jessica Chapman

Cost & What we will provide:
Cost per person is $80. We are a non profit organisation & your funds will go directly into making this event happen.
We will provide you delicious dinner for the weekend retreat. All food will be vegetarian on the weekend (so please bring your own meat if you would like it). 
Please bring your own breakfast & Lunch.
Please also bring your own drinking and washing water for the weekend.

Facilities: We will provide a camp kitchen that will be available for use.
Please bring your camping facilities (i.e tent/caravan etc.), plates, cups and cutlery. During the weekend two ‘long drop’ loos will be available near the camp site.

We hope this weekend will be an inspiring and relaxing adventure in one of the last wild places left on Earth. We invite you to come and experience this with us.

To register or for more info phone Jessica Chapman 08 6460 4936 or 0400 339 439

Albert Wiggan and Uncle Roy devastated at their first sight of an LNG plant (Pilbara) after their trip down from Country on the Dampier Peninsula. Screenshot from film 'Old Country New Country -- The Journey of a Raft'.

As Roy instructs Albert in Bardi raft-building, the land of their people is being destroyed by mining developments. To the Bardi people, "country" is not real estate to be bought and sold. It is the essence of their aboriginal being. But, now, Roy and Albert believe that mining “will ‘destroy our lifestyle, our culture."

Roy and Albert’s dialogue in this beautifully-shot piece revolves around not just raft building, but their thoughts on the destructive impact of “new country” industrialisation on their “old country.” 

According to George Negus, the program’s presenter and Co-Executive Producer with Kirsty Cockburn, the story highlights two countries, two Australias – “theirs and ours that we call progress.”

“This short-film asks: Do these people stay with the old ways and continue their traditional lifestyle and culture? Or do they take the new ways and give up the very thing by which they define themselves ?” he asks.

Old Country New Country -- The Journey of a Raft screens on SBS at 6pm, Monday 8 June 2009.

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