 Welcome
to SomerVille
Announcements
Changes to SomerVille
Scoop
With Christmas fast approaching I have decided
that this will be the last issue of SomerVille Scoop for 2006.
However SomerVille Scoop will be back again in
February and I would also like to mention that from next year
SomerVille Scoop will only be published every second month, so the
next issue will be in February 2007, and the issue after in April
2007.
Lost & Found
Over the past few years we have accumulated a
number of items in the yellow shed and it has been decided to donate
these items to charity at the beginning of next year. So if you
believe you have left something at the yellow shed that you would
like back please contact Paul Moes on
paul.m@greenedge.org or 08
9572-4550.
Requests
SomerVille
Environmental Management Plan - Assistance Required
SomerVille ’s Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
is underway. There is a lot of work to do and a number of issues to
cover. We are required by the Shire of Mundaring to produce an EMP
for the subdivision proposal. We also need to produce an EMP that
will help us achieve our long-term goals for the community and the
land, which may go beyond the government requirements. At this stage
we need to address the following key environmental issues:
-
Native flora and vegetation.
-
Weeds and dieback.
-
Fauna (particularly birds and kangaroos).
-
Pests and Feral Animals.
-
Protection of the watercourse and Avon River
catchment.
-
Groundwater management
-
Site contamination (previous and/or
potential).
-
Stormwater and drainage management.
-
Water supply, use and wastewater reuse (ie
greywater irrigation).
-
Dust and Erosion
-
Noise impacts (particularly during
construction).
-
Aboriginal heritage.
To prepare a comprehensive EMP that works for our
community, we need all the expertise we can get. Andrew Hemsley is
currently coordinating and drafting the EMP. Please contact Andrew (andrew@greenedge.org
or 0417 122 278) if you have skills, experience or a particular
interest in any of the above topics and you haven’t yet been
approached. Also please provide Andrew with any information you may
have on the natural environment of SomerVille . This could include
incidental observations from the property, site walkovers,
discussions, ideas, concerns, regional data or anything else that
would be of use to the above elements as they relate to SomerVille .
Invite to attend Core
Group and Steering Team Meetings
In order to expand the
community interface we wish to invite 2 community members
(“intending residents”) to attend the meetings as observers. So for
each meeting there will be a space for 2 members of the community to
attend.
The parameters are that:
1.
Attendees must be “intending residents”;
2.
Members wishing to attend must apply to
the contact person for that relevant group.
3.
Consent to attend will be on a first come,
first served basis;
4.
Priority will be given to any member who
has not attended before.
So if you are interested in attending any of
these meetings then you need to contact the representative for that
group and register your interest. The contact person for this group
will then be able to inform you when and where the next meeting will
be, and if there is sill a space available for you.
Cultural Social Group
paul.m@greenege.org
Enterprise
Group
helmut@greenege.org
Environment Place Group
dave.m@greenedge.org
Steering team
christophe@greenedge.org
 Sunrise
at SomerVille
Newsletter Team
The Newsletter team is putting out a request for
articles, points of interest, etc. Have your say and share your
knowledge.
If you are interested in making a contribution or
have any queries about the structure or content please visit
http://www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/newsletters and read the
Newsletter Structure, Content and Submission Guidelines, then send
any newsletter contributions to
newsletter@sev.net.au
Project Updates
Environment / Place
Update provided by Dave Moore
I’m not sure whether this belongs in this report
or not, however, I’d like to reflect on the last couple of months
and the commitments made by our (intending) SomerVille residents.
Over forty of us have committed to buy a lot in the village over the
last month. I reckon that this is remarkable given the uncertainties
that had existed. There are also some people, who had been involved
in part or all of the journey to date with us, who have decided not
to live at SomerVille . To them I bid a big thankyou for supporting
SomerVille through these formative years.
At the Shire Development approvals Committee on
14Nov06 it was recommended that our LSIP (Local Subdivision and
Infrastructure Plan), with recommended variations, be endorsed for
advertising. This will now move to the full council meeting on
28Nov06 for their consideration. The variations included: only 80
lots (as requested by minister McTiernan); a revised Economic Impact
Assessment; a minimum 60kL rainwater tank size; and a change to our
fire management plan.
Minister McTiernan has not yet approved the
rezoning of our land, and has cancelled a meeting with the directors
of GES which had been scheduled for 22Nov06.
Advertising of the minor repositioning of our
community house and a new carpark plan has been completed with no
responses having been received. This allows us to move through to
the next stage which will be developing a building application based
upon the design being fine-tuned by Econstruct.
Andrew Hemsley has continued coordinating the
preparation of our Environmental Management Plan (EMP). Some studies
in support of the EMP have been approved, including surveys of
flora, fauna, dieback, and heritage.
I’m still dragging my heels on completing the
write-up of our Mid October planning workshop. In my defence I cite:
the cryptic nature of the notes that were taken; the legibility of
Karen Moore’s handwriting; and, pre-occupation with other matters.
Studies into the quantities and quality of water
available from near-surface aquifers have continued through the
month. The results of these and other planned tests will be analysed
by the Water Management Team in the weeks ahead.
The Biolytix waste treatment system that was
installed last month should become operational during November.
It has been decided that, once our village is
operating smoothly, Walnut Cottage will be used as
bunkhouse/high-density accommodation for interns, WWOOFers, etc. A
plan of the existing structure of Walnut Cottage is being prepared
by Aaron Boultbee so that we can look into options to provide for
its interim and ultimate use.
Enterprise &
Economics
Update provided by Paul Antonelli
The Solar Power Utility Enterprise moved through
feasibility phase and the proposed enterprise and operational
strategy was presented to the Core Enterprise Group. A decision was
made that this enterprise would be appropriate and suitable for
SomerVille and can proceed. In principle agreement, based on further
due diligence, was reached for the SomerVille Ecovillage™ to be a
minority shareholder in this enterprise. This was the first
enterprise to move into this stage and a process will now unfold
relating to this phase of the exercise.
A number of other enterprises are expected to
move into this phase over the coming months.
Chris Doonan and Angela Williamson have joined
Robyn Antonelli in progressing the Education Enterprise at
SomerVille . The scope of this enterprise is outlined below.
SomerVille Open Learning
Service Enterprise
-
Provision of a physical
central learning hub servicing SomerVille and the wider
community
-
Provide insurance and
marketing
-
Networking and partnership
opportunities
-
Setting a minimum
benchmark standard for education at SomerVille
-
Attract required education
providers to SomerVille
-
Opportunity for wider
community participation and involvement - including as customers
-
Provision of a high
standard library resource centre
-
Providing a framework for
educators to offer services within SomerVille and wider
community
-
Providing business and
administrative support
The Car Share enterprise is moving along with
Alex Hyndman as the Enterprise Champion and is now starting to move
into market research and feasibility stage. Alex is keen to evolve
and develop a viable car share model not just for SomerVille but for
Perth. Watch the space for more relating to this exciting enterprise
as it unfolds.
Further activity will be undertaken in looking at
the current gaps which exist and the best way to evolve some of
these important enterprise at SomerVille .
Social / Cultural
SomerVille Sunday 5th
November
Karen Moore
The theme for SomerVille Sunday was “2006 – The
Year in Review”. When we went through what we had done/achieved in
2006 there was a fair degree of astonishment/surprise at how much we
have actually done this year. No wonder we are feeling tired!
As there were not too many of us at the start of
the day Robert suggested we do a “check in” round that we used to do
a while ago; to find out what we had been doing since the last
SomerVille Sunday. This proved successful for advertising things
for sale/disposal!
Stacey kindly led us in the SomerVille Spaceship
naming ceremony with the children. Many thanks Stacey, especially
at such short notice!
After the usual splendid fare KT updated us on
the solar power enterprise. I particularly liked the idea of
metering and data logging each household now to enable us to
monitor, understand and manage our own usage levels. KT advised
that the solar web page is constantly being updated – go to
http://www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/solar/ to find out more.
Robyn, Chris and Angela then updated us what has
been happening on the education front. Angela showed us a potential
education enterprise structure.
We finished off discussing a proposed childcare
framework for 2007. This document can be downloaded from the
residents section under SomerVille Information or from
http://www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/education/. Should you
have any further suggestions or would like to be involved in the
team driving this, please contact Robyn at
robyn@greenedge.org. We will arrange a meeting early in the New
Year to discuss the implementation thereof.
The day culminated in everyone enjoying a cuppa
and a delectable chocolate cheesecake supplied by the Moes’!
 The
SomerVille Tee Pee
Cultural Social Core
Group
Vida Carlino
The SomerVille By- Laws
has had another major adjustment, we have slashed and burned, added
and deleted as we endeavour to create a set of By- Laws that have
teeth and are sensitive and flexible to the needs of the community.
We have engaged a highly respected By-laws lawyer who will be
working with us closely on this project. Draft 2 By-laws will be
hot off the press and ready for discussion in the New Year. I bet
you just can't wait!
As we move into the next phase of the SomerVille
Journey it seems appropriate that we develop a more comprehensive
introduction for potential residents. It is important that new
members are welcomed and have the opportunity to intimately engage
with the community. It is equally important for new members to be
well informed before committing to join the SomerVille Community.
This will be further discussed with the community in the New Year.
I would like to clarify some
misunderstandings in regard to casual participation in core groups
and the Steering team. Each meeting will hold space for 2 member’s
of the community to attend. If you are interested in attending a
meeting please contact the relevant group and make a booking. If
more than 2 people book in for the same meeting the person that has
not attended the meeting previously will have preference, otherwise
first in best dressed.
Cultural Social
Group
paul.m@greenege.org
Enterprise Group
helmut@greenege.org
Environment
dave.m@greenedge.org
Steering team
christophe@greenedge.org
At the last Cultural
Social Group we were privileged to have Christophe attend as a
casual participant. Christophe's presence further enriched the depth
and value of the groups' interaction. Thank you Christophe.
Recently Dominic, Paul and
I went to Adelaide to visit with Stephen Poole at Aldinga Arts. We
were fortunate to spend time with residents and intending residents
and had many opportunities to discuss the leanings from the Aldinga
experience. It is through this sharing and learning that we
strengthen the ecovillage movement. It was once again obvious that
the environmental aspect of an ecovillage is perhaps the easiest to
get right, the enterprise and social aspects are definitely more
challenging. It is with this in mind that I say WE
ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
On behalf of the
Cultural Social Group I would like to say THANK YOU for your
participation and support throughout the year.
Great communities just
don't happen- they are created, nurtured and sustained by caring and
involved people.
And guess what WE HAVE
A GREAT COMMUNITY!
Love, Light and Joy to
you all
Young Adults Group
Christophe Bouyac
There is not much to report in relation to the
young adults group apart from reminding everyone that on Saturday
the 9th December we will be having the End of Year
Celebration & Campover.
The official party will start at 5:30 with a
Shared Dinner at 6:30, so bring a plate of your favourite Christmas
food to share. After dinner we will continue the celebration
throughout the night with a dance floor, lights and music provided
by DJ's (T.P.Sam, logrythm and Rocksteady Bebop) with a possible jam
(live music) and a late night barbeque (about 11pm). There will even
be a chi and cake stall.
A special effort has been made to choose a
variety of music styles throughout the night to reflect the
diversity of our community.
If you are interested in becoming more involved
with the Young Adults Group or would like to help set up for the
camp over for the open day please contact Christophe on
christophe@greenedge.org.
 The
SomerVille Ecovillage™ Stall – Chidlow Show Sunday 12th
November
Chidlow Show
Christophe Bouyac
On Sunday the 12 November we had a stall at the
Chidlow Show. It was a great day, with lots of people and lots of
entertainment.
I would like to thank, Stacey August, Di Lesley,
Marianne Attfield, Helmut Hilz, Karen Moore, Mechtild Moes and
Rebecca Macleod who volunteered and helped out on the day, Thank
you.
Coming Events
Nearer to Nature – Summer Program
2007
Activity Bookings – 9295 2244
Web site –
www.naturebase.net/nearertonature
Sat 13 Jan 07 /
7:30pm – 9:30pm
$15pp or $12.75DC – All ages
Nocturnal Delights
Uncover nature’s nocturnal secrets and get a new sensory
perception as you discover the forest at night. Meet some of the
forest’s nocturnal inhabitants and enjoy a traditional supper of
damper and Billy tea.
Mon 15 & 22 Jan 07 /
10am -12noon
$12.50pp or $10DC – 3 to 7 years
Creature Feature
Kids come & hold & learn about native animals & take home your
own painting of your favourite one.
Fri 19 & Tue 23 Jan
07 / 10am – 12noon
$12.50pp or $10DC – 3 to 7 years
Buzzy as a Bee
Meet our native bee Buzzy! Do the Buzzy Bee Boogie and collect
pollen to take back to your nest before you make your own special
Buzzy Bee card.
Sat 27 Jan 07 /
7:15pm – 9:30pm
$17pp or $14.50DC – 8+ years
Karakamia Nights
Enjoy a twilight walk through the beautiful bushland of
Karakamia Sanctuary. Bring a torch and encounter the many animals
that live in this special place.
SomerVille Calendar
of Events
Please note that events in this calendar are
tentative. We will try to adhere to advertised dates but they may
change depending upon circumstances. We will email you in advance of
events if we have your email address. Alternatively please check the
calendar located at:
http://www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/calendar.htm .
Saturday 9th December 2006
End of Year Celebration /
Camp Over Party
3pm
(Ecocom members) 5:30 main party. Please bring along a plate of your
favourite Christmas food to share.
Note: Chidlow Markets occur on the last Saturday
of every month. For the latest list of all the coming events please
visit
http://www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/calendar.htm
My Story
My Story of
SomerVille
Andrew Hemsley
 Growing
up with my family on our horse farm near the sleepy town of
Dunsborough I would never have guessed how my life was to pan out.
We left the farm when I was nine and travelled around Australia in a
big landcruiser and caravan. That was my first recollection of
falling in love with this wide brown land. The diversity in our
landscape, animals and people has never ceased to astound me since
that trip. Needless to say, we didn’t settle back in Dunsborough but
found a new life in country Victoria where Dad continued to educate
and breed horses. Before long my parents got itchy feet again and we
moved to another horse farm near the town of Camden in the south
west of Sydney.
Unknown to my parents, they sent my sister and I
to a high school smack bang in the middle of one of the most violent
and drug ridden suburbs in Sydney. My sister toughed it out but I
couldn’t cope with constantly having to be on my guard and fight to
keep my lunch. In year ten I transferred to a nearby country school
which was a bit better. By that time I had been to four different
primary schools and three different high schools. Major life
changes were pretty standard by then. I found my place with a decent
and pretty close group of mates, although I always felt like an
outsider and struggled to be appreciated.
I was pretty good at science and maths so when
high school finished, I applied for a Bachelor of Applied Science
majoring in Coastal Management at Southern Cross University in
Lismore, northern NSW. After some letter writing and promoting, I
was finally accepted and deferred the degree for a year to earn some
money labouring. During that year I had my strangest job yet packing
boxes with practical jokes, costume gear and sex toys for a company
called Weirdo Imports & Distribution.
University was fun, a bit too much fun as I
remember. My degree turned out to be everything that I wanted and
more. It was based in the environmental sciences but included
subjects on cultural heritage, economics, law, land use planning and
a final integrated project to tie things together. With Lismore
being in the hills just inland from Byron Bay, I had my first real
taste of an alternative lifestyle, without all the hype and
stereotypes. I hope the little hippy communities that were dotted
around the hills of Northern NSW are still alive today. With all
that to distract me plus the beautiful waves and girls at Byron Bay,
it was a miracle that I finished my degree at all.
My parents moved back to WA half way through my
final year of university so when I finished it was big decision
time: stay in northern NSW, move back down to Sydney, or lob over to
WA. In the end it was my family and old roots in WA that won out.
Bunbury was to be my new home, but not for long.
My first professional job with the Water and
Rivers Commission didn’t work out so I ended up working for the
Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury for a while. For a few months I
was the Swim Tour Operator, taking visitors on a boat out into the
bay and leading them into the water for an interactive experience
with wild dolphins. It seems like a dream and I gotta call it the
best job I have ever had.
After two years in Bunbury I got the travel bug,
probably inherited from my parents. I bought a round-the-world
plane ticket and took off for 10 months to Thailand, Britain, Italy
and Canada. That trip is another story in itself so I won’t
elaborate. Lets just say it was cultural, challenging, unsettling,
uplifting, soul-searching and a real eye-opener. When I left I
thought my eyes were already pretty open, surprise surprise. I feel
that my spiritual journey began in Canada during my trip and has
continued to this day, with a few hiccups and turns on the way. On
returning from overseas, the choice to expand my consciousness and
perspective led me to Perth in 2003 to pursue my environmental
career and meet new people. The self-development experiences of
Ascension, The Grail and Avatar have helped me to better direct my
life, relationships and behaviour.
I spent three years in Perth cutting my teeth in
the harsh world of corporate environmental consultancy before
something else hit me just this year. I fell in love with a
beautiful woman, found my dream job coordinating the Environmental
Management Plan for SomerVille Ecovillage™ , and made a commitment to
purchase a lot at SomerVille . Right now there is nowhere else I want
to be.
That is my story in a nutshell. I hope you gain
something from it.
Sincerely
Andrew Hemsley
Products and
Services Available
Avon Fibretech
Anything in Fibreglass. Fibreglass materials,
products (tanks, children's slides etc) and repairs - Peter and
Kathie Weatherly trading as Avon Fibretech – Northam
Peter Weatherly
Phone: 08 9622
1453
email1:
fibretec@bigpond.net.au
Flower Essence
Consults
 Stress
and Pain Treatments with West Australian Flower Essences.
Using acupionts on the ears, sprays and foot baths Flower
Essences can help lower your stress levels and reduce pain in
your body. Flower essences have a powerful healing effect on our
body and mind and treatments will help you manage your pain and
stress better.
I am offering half hour
treatments at your home or office for $25
Debbi Targett
Phone: 08 9299
6776
Mobile: 0413 153 071
email1:
rubysound@hotmail.com
Miracle Wash
Distributor for MIRACLE WASH® Laundry Balls:
Environmentally Safe – cheaper than commercial detergents. Turn
off your rinse cycle, save water and electricity. Excellent for
Eczema sufferers and babies. Please contact me for more
information about this excellent product (developed and
distributed by a West Australian Mum).
 Gabi
Hilz
Phone: 08 9299
6524
Mobile: 0412 412
098
email1:
hilz@iinet.net.au
MYOB Accounting
MYOB Accounting for starting businesses.
Using MYOB in our own manufacturing business.
“Let me mind
your business – LMMYB”
 Gabi
Hilz
Phone: 08 9299
6524
Mobile: 0412 412
098
email1:
hilz@iinet.net.au
SomerVille School
Farm
 School
Farm for 9 to 12 year old children
Enrol now to
secure a place for your child!
Jörg Unseld
Phone: 08 9295
4053
email1:
unseld@westnet.com.au
web:
www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/ssf
Thermomix
 Thermomix
consultant: smallest and smartest kitchen in the world.
Healthy food fast. A must for busy and health
conscious households.
Call me for a
demonstration
Gabi Hilz
Phone: 08 9299 6524
Mobile: 0412 412 098
Email:
hilz@iinet.net.au
Tread Gently
Hemp Clothing, Stained Glass and IT Services
Goddess
cushions now available! We have reconditioned Dell desktops and
notebooks in stock at unbelievably low prices!
 Sarah
and Neil Robertson
Phone: 08 9572
3172
Mobile: 0414 491
459
email1:
sarah.robertson@treadgently.com.au
email2:
neil.robertson@treadgently.com.au
web:
www.treadgently.com.au
Wormgirl
 Serving
in many realms: Worms &Castings, Water Saving Plants, Sign
Writing, Massage, Patterning
Catch me at
the Chidlow Markets on the last Saturday of the month 9-1pm
Stacey August
Phone: 08 9572
3368
email1:
wormgirl@sev.net.au
Xooma Worldwide
Xtreme X2O is the premium fuel for the body's
daily needs
Take advantage
of the low cost starter pack!
 Mechtild
Moes
Phone: 08 9572
4550
Mobile: 0432 362
255
email1:
mechtild@xooming-health.com
web:
www.xooming-health.com
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