Koonwarra is Changing the Dream
17 May 08
On Sunday April 13, a group of Gippsland residents gathered to participate in the Changing the Dream Symposium. The Symposium was run by Kongwak resident Carolyn Rowson who had undertaken the leader training in order to share the experience that Changing the Dream has to offer in Gippsland.
The Symposium is an event that creates dialogue between participants relating to the environmental problems currently being experienced by the planet. This is an extremely moving part of the program where participants connect with the earth and the amount of damage caused by humans to our natural eco-systems.
Alison Taylor, Manager of Koonwarra Sustainable Communities Centre said that "the meditation undertaken as part of the Symposium created in me a deeper understanding of our role as humans in destroying the many and varied eco-systems that support us all. Whilst I knew that this was already happening, the Symposium enabled me to connect with these massive changes to earth in more meaningful way."
After the morning session, participants were treated to a beautiful home cooked lunch by local Kongwak resident Becky Banks. The lunch featured two beautiful soups, local cheeses and home made bread and was appreciated by all. During tea breaks the group was lavished with home made cakes.
After lunch the group resumed discussion about the ways in which they could change the path that we are on.
The emphasis of the afternoon was local action that could be undertaken to connect and inspire people towards living more sustainably. Of great interest to many people at the Symposium was the hundred of thousands of small groups working on local issues.
Alison Taylor mentioned "Koonwarra Sustainable
Communities Centre is one of these small groups
working in the community to raise awareness of the need to live more
sustainably and also resource people in the community to be able to do
so."
Due to the success of the day, many of the members have joined an online group called "Gippsland Dream Changers" which aims to connect people interested in Sustainability. For more information on this group contact Alison Taylor on 5664 2461
Future Sessions will be run for anyone interested in participating.