Media pack at Bastion Point

Events took a dramatic turn this morning and the media arrive, at Bastion Point, Mallacoota. The GPM staff started work this morning, and the development site was not checked before proceeding with equipment. A vehicle operator was stopped, with only a 5 metres buffer, alerting them to the presence and running over Melinda Beacham, a passionate Mallacoota resident. Melinda had erected a personal shelter around herself due to the current atrocious weather conditions, which visually made it hard to find her, her safety person made the operator aware of her location. According to sources, at 4am Melinda dug a hole, poured some concrete, which is dried with a chain through a loop in the concrete. The progress for the development has been delayed for this morning, I would expect the police to arrive and the equipment bought in to cut Melinda out, she will likely be charged. The massive equipment move in again and development will continue. We will continue to monitor the situation. ...

Today at 5.30am peaceful protesters began gathering at Bastion Point, Mallacoota. The emotional protesters were present to display their disgust in Democratic process. Jenny Mason and Christine Liedtke present a community proclamation to a GPM company employee. The massive equipment arrived on site for the development of a road, a parking area, 2 lane boat ramp and 130m long and 3 m high break-wall, and toilet and fishing cleaning facilities. Three police officers were in attendance. The police at around 8am asked protesters to move on, fences were erected across the road to block access to the site and equipment was prepared to start work.

The Director of Operations for East Gippsland Shire, Steve Waites, dressed similarly to GPM company workers, he could not be identified amongst them. The large equipment arrived, with remnants of dirt from the last job, this is known to have potential consequence of damaging seeds or viruses adversely effecting loc...

Aardvark: All About Really Determined Very Amazing Rocking Kids

Aardvark is a not-for-profit organisation that gives young people who have experienced long-term or serious illness the opportunity to develop their music skills and be part of a fun and supportive artistic community through writing, recording and performing original songs. The Aardvark Sessions 2013 is an exciting program for young people aged 14-24, held weekly between July and December on Tuesday nights in Kew Court House, Melbourne. Creative Director Monique Brumby and Music Therapist Meagan Hunt take the participants (Aardvarkians) through every step involved in song writing, music arrangement, recording, music production, public performance, the creation of a CD and CD launch. Those involved in the program develop invaluable musical skills, friendships and self-confidence. "What makes Aardvark such a unique and life changing experience is our passion, our attitude of abundance and inclusion and the ...

As a follow on I have included an email sent from Amelia Young, of the Wilderness society regarding the progress on the logging in Victorian state forests. 12,000 people signed a petition to stop this bill being passed. Amelia has great suggestions to make a difference to future choices by consumers and companies. Last week, the regressive Sustainable Forests Timber Amendment Bill passed the Victorian Parliament. The Wilderness Society raised concerns with many MPs, arguing that it’s irresponsible to vest in Vic Forests more power to make decisions about where and when they log, without enough environmental and governmental oversight. And that it’s especially impetuous to do so, while Vic Forests is in the Supreme Court of Appeal over allegations that they’ve logged the habitat of the state animal emblem, the Fairy (Leadbeater’s) Possum! We met with Liberal MPs to explain why we’re concerned about the Bill. None of them tried to convince us that logging in native forests is good, nor ...