Spark Plug Sunday
Spotlighting our Shoalhaven community's week that was. One picture. One article. One podcast. One video.
Flowers for all Seasons
Chris Grounds developed this detailed "seasonal calendar" for the Bay and Basin region over 15 years of observing and recording the flowering patterns of native plants. It's worth a close long look (click to enlarge) as we ease gradually into "cool" days and long nights.
Chris is a prominent local photographer, author, ecology advocate, previous Birdlife Shoalhaven President and Conservation Officer and former teacher.
"I have always, since my uni days, had a problem with the concept of going to bed one night in one season and waking up the next morning in another season. Typical British stupidity and very disloyal to country." Chris said.
"It is a real pity we cannot adjust our environmental intellects to country, the real country. Aboriginal people have done it for so long."
Since Chris is a long-time correspondent for Birdlife, I'm calling this week's top local read Birdlife Shoalhaven Magazine. Every issue is chock-a-block with gorgeous pictures and fascinating stories. But hurry up and read this January/Summer edition because the April mag is due out any day now.
Eat well. Waste less. Share more.
I loved Barron Hanson's interview with Jess Bromley in Episode 3 of the new NOWRA.ORG.AU podcast. Jess recounts how a neighbourhood bulk-buying group chat grew into a thriving organic food movement in Nowra. She also offers up some important insights into how food is grown, stored and sold. Time to break our plastic-wrapped big supermarket habits!
"The minute you start spending in places where these corporations are owned overseas, or broadly over Australia, that money is out of your community - it never stays here. So how are we supposed to invest in our communities and build our community into what we want if we keep throwing our money out of it." - Jess Bromley
All 14 of Barron's conversations with interesting Nowra identities have dropped as part of the community-driven campaign to revitalise Nowra’s CBD through arts, culture, evening economy initiatives, and local business support. Listen via the NOWRA website and through Triple U FM.
Home Is Where the Art Is
This vibrant WIN News report from Michael Pignataro covered the fourth annual Shoalhaven Art Society show at Pyree's historic "Red Shed" which aimed to raise some money for William Campbell College, but especially funds for the Art Society's dream of having its own dedicated base to cater for more artists, especially budding young creatives.
"There are a lot more artists in the area that we want to grab hold of and get them to join. If we can get a place of our own, we can build the local arts scene up." - Colin Darley
Send your tips or suggestions for Spark Plug Sunday to spark@catholloway.com