Shuman Workshop Sparks Rush To Local Investment

Since the last post, an amazing thing has happened. In the course of one afternoon the following emails have landed from West End Community Association's President, Darren Godwell.

Thanks to everyone that gave up some hours on their Sunday & gave freely of their creativity & ideas. Boy, the results were FAST….
I’m immensely pleased to announce that this afternoon one of the participants from yesterday’s workshop & local businessperson Nick Holmes took the initiative and pledged $5,000 to kick-start a Kurilpa Investment Fund (working title) to support and seed local businesses & enterprises. Building resilient local economies means supporting what’s here now and seeding for the future.
Please consider the idea and a pledge. We’ll welcome all contributions (monetary, volunteers for admin & ideas for progress)….over to you, neighbours, local businesses & friends……

and later in the day....
PLEDGES FLOW IN TO SEED LOCAL INVESTMENT FUND
Its been an incredible afternoon. Pledges have flowed at an incredible rate. People know that the best way to build local economies is to support local businesses & the seed the next generation of great ideas. Thanks to Mary & Phil for making a $5,000 pledge. Your contribution is warmly received & I want to acknowledge your massive contribution over many years....

Pledges are now at $36,000!!!!!

Big Galloot Bikes is up and running

The start of new Social enterprise started last week with the establishment of Big Galloot Bikes. Our newest venture to get Cargo Bikes of all shapes and sizes out on the streets of Brisvegas.
The bikes are the coolest things on two wheels, and they carry stuff. Lots of stuff.
I estimate that probably 70% of car use for residents who live within 4 Km of the CBD is to go less than 4 km........ and it would be just to pick up something pretty small. A child, the milk, grab a coffee, pick up the bread, drop the dry cleaning off, etc. With a waterproof cover, there is no excuse not to experience the joy of riding in the rain.Here are a few of the inspiring things Cargo bikes are up too around the world

Our First Real Blog!

How to avoid writing a book.

It's amazing what a rain-imposed, indoor Easter weekend can turn up. A few days of sleeping, reading, cooking, tending to bored boys, and a bit of pondering in-between has led to us launching a new enterprise AND starting a blog.

The enterprise is a new bike shop with a twist, and the blog is mostly about our daily adventures. We're just an ordinary, blended family seeking to live an authentic life, living in the moment, while respecting our future custodians of the planet - four of which are our children. We're not doing without, we're living within. Within our means and within the means of our environment.

The word sustainability is a strange one. Does it mean sustaining the status quo? Sustaining the current 'business-as-usual' way of life? Most people think that a few technical solutions will 'right the ship' - but I have a feeling that Buckminster Fuller was right. We need a new operating manual for spaceship Earth, because the current one is leading us into a rather large abyss!

Inspired by our community, our children, our mentors, our role models (you'll meet all of them here), we hope you enjoy taking this journey with us, and sharing our tales of transition to a post-carbon world.

The soundtrack to this blog is John Butler Trio's Grand National with a bit of Nick Drake's Bryter Later thrown in, and of course some Miles Davis fabulous blues.