THE STORY SO FAR

Transition Town Maroondah is part of a worldwide movement where communities recognise that we live in unprecedented times, where the health of our planet, our ecosystems, and humans (including future generations) are at great risk due to climate change, dwindling biodiversity, and peak oil. TT see this as both a huge threat, but also a great opportunity to create a new way of thinking about how we coexist with each other, and the rest of the biosphere, to reduce our impact on the earth’s finite resources, and what’s needed to create a sustainable and sustaining future.
TT is a way of living, and being with each other ,and infrastructures which take a lead in creating sustaining futures by preparing for impact of peak oil* and the further impacts of climate change.
In November 2009 a small group of concerned people with support by City of Maroondah hosted a public meeting in Maroondah to raise awareness of the issues of Climate change, peak oil and introduce the concept of Transition Towns.
The purpose of the meeting was to explore the interest and willingness of the Maroondah people to work together on sustainability projects which would strengthen the community and build its capacity to transition to a low carbon future. 90 people attended, there was a strong level of interest in working together to apply the TT principles and further on apply to become an official TT.
A Core group formed, to lead the initiative overall, and to work with sub groups to develop and implement projects. Special Interest Groups established focussing on the areas of Transport, Food, water & reskilling, Communication, Community engagement and Community education. A website was developed, and is being upgraded. A small group of willing people have contributed large amounts of time and effort, and as a result TTM has been building its strength, and membership, and initial impacts.

HAPPENINGS:

* Small group of people gathered to initiate Transition Town Maroondah in March 2009
* Transition Town stall at Maroondah Festival 2009
* Information Night held at Karalyka in November 2009 (72 people attended)
* Meeting at All Smiles of key interested people – 22 people attended
* Initiating Group changed its name to Core Group Nov 2009
* Vision Workshop December 2009
* Working Groups formed focusing on Transport; Food and Reskilling; Community Engagement and Participation
* Launch of website December 2009
* Film Nights January and February 2010
* Teamed with 8 other Transition Initiative to create A Transition Town Stall at the Sustainable Living Festival February 2010
* Weekend Workshop – March 2010
* Monthly gatherings commenced March 2010 (4th Sunday of each month) and continued to the present.
* Worked with Tintern and Croydon West Primary School to create Ride2School events
* Worked with Eastwood Primary School to build community garden
* Working in partnership with LETS, OBOE, SGA POD

* Hosted film nights and presentations at monthly gatherings throughout 2011.

* Partnered with Maroondah Council to publicly host the film 'Economics of Happiness' to which 270 people came.

*Partnered with Maroondah Council to publicly host the film 'Home'  in February 2012, which was also well attended.

*Contributing to the Structure Plans for East Ringwood and Heathmont

Transition Town Maroondah had another successful stall at the 2011 Maroondah Festival. The stall was in a prime possition on a rise for everyone to see as they arrived at the Festival.  We had a steady stream of visitors for most of the day and some great conversations with fellow Maroondah residents about various aspects of transitioning Maroondah to becoming a resilient and sustainable community.   The stall held displays of achievements throughout 2011 as well as images of a sustainable Maroondah in 2020 (click on links.below to reed some futures stories)

Sustainable journey.doc
Story from 2020.doc
A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT STORY FOR 2020.doc

Check out the photos section of the website to get a sense of how the stall was so beautifully set up (thanks to Ruth, Jan, Michael and Radhika)

Here's something we can all do to play a role in creating a resilient and sustainable community - it is foundational block 101 for a Transition Town - and it is getting to know your neighbours.

There are lots of benefits

• The neighbourhood can feel safer when you know more people
• You may discover new friends
• You may hear interesting stories about the street you live in
• Opportunities for sharing skills and knowledge may open up
• And as you get to know your neighbours over time, you may discover that some are interested in sharing resources and holding working bees for each other etc etc.
• And it can be fun!!

Click on the link below to read the simply steps to make this happen

How%20to%20Host%20a%20Street%20Gathering.doc