Recently, Kim Horner of Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN) has been out and about visiting the visitors to our region for the Bathurst Writers’ and Readers’ Festival.
Keynote speaker Jack Toohey travelled from Sydney to address a lively auditorium of literature lovers about his debut non-fiction manifesto, “Better Things Are Possible” — his rallying cry for choosing hope over apathy. He spoke about crucial current social issues like the housing crisis, mental health and climate change, wrapping it all up with his takeaway message: that we need spaces to grow local communities and avenues to reach out to one another for collective action. It was so inspiring to have a room full of people asking incisive questions, and then gather in the lobby afterwards to look each other in the eye, connect, and talk optimistically about how we can change our own local world to make a positive impact on our broader social and environmental one. It was such a rejuvenating experience to hear people speak with optimism rather than outrage, and with freshness rather than fear. That’s what we needed from each other and for our planet!
The other highlight of the Festival for our little group was the screening of environmentalist/former senator Bob Brown’s film “Giants”, an emotionally intimate yet visually sweeping epic that entwined the story of Brown’s political and personal life with new insights into Australia’s ancient growth eucalypt forests. The mood in the theatre was by turns electric, comforting and breathless: inspiring stories about standing in front of bulldozers and fording rivers on kayaks to draw attention to the plight of our wonderful natural world, homely vignettes about Brown’s old and obviously well-loved cottage, and vistas of beauty that we forget we are so privileged to have surrounding us in our beautiful country. Bob himself is a funny, well-spoken old-school gentleman who held many conversations with the locals who attended the screening, and he also attended the opening of the Festival, mingling before the film and signing his book for an excited line of fans — all the while carrying on snippets of engaging conversation. It was so reassuring and special to see people gathered together to learn and be inspired by a beautiful film. I know many BCCAN members were moved and motivated by the experience – Bob was kind enough to remember the names of many organisations active in our community, and was so interested in what was going on for us here, near his childhood home in Oberon.
As we come into the winter months, it can be hard to feel connected to community and to dig deep for the determination and dedication to make changes, especially in arenas of life that seem so challenging, such as climate change and environmental harm. These events were a timely reminder to reach out, reach up and reach harder towards our values and what inspires us to make changes for the better. Thank you so much to the organisers of the Festival; it has certainly reinvigorated, revitalised, and rejuvenated dialogue among our local groups — and if you want to join in those conversations, come find us at the Farmer’s Market or attend a BCCAN meeting (look us up on Facebook!). Let’s all join together, stronger and more resilient. Keep warm and safe!
