GRAFTON KNITTING NANNAS TALK TO MP

 The Grafton Loop of Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAGs) held a knit-in outside the Grafton office of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis on Friday 25 January - our first knit-in outside the MP's office since our pre-Christmas knit-in.  Over the holiday period the Nannas have concentrated their activities around the Glenugie drill site.

 

The Nannas were pleased to have an opportunity to talk to Mr Gulaptis about their concerns about coal seam gas mining and the drilling at Glenugie.

These Nannas are not convinced.

New KNAG recruit Glenugie resident Sarah Fletcher presented our MP with a letter – and the customary yellow flower - from the Nannas.  She then took the opportunity to inform him about the impact Metgasco's test drilling was having on her life and the life of others near the drill site.

 One of the Nannas' current concerns is that our local member has not visited the Glenugie drill site. Such a visit would have given him an opportunity to talk to the locals and to see for himself why they are so concerned about Metgasco's activities in their neighbourhood.  In our letter we said that that our representative needed to listen to the views of a wide range of people on an issue as divisive as this is.  And obviously the views of those directly affected are particularly important.

From what Mr Gulaptis said, it seems that many local people have not contacted him about their concerns.  The Nannas hope that more people do so by either writing to or emailing him or by making an appointment and speaking with him at his office.  Actually getting on to our representatives about this issue should be part of our campaign against this invasive industry.  Protesting is one part – and lobbying is another.  Both are necessary.

Contact details for Chris Gulaptis MP, Member for Clarence:

            Email: clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au

            Phone:  (02) 6643 1244

            Address: 11 Prince Street, GRAFTON,  NSW  2460

With the drill rig about to move from the Glenugie site, there will be relief for local residents – at least in the short term.  However, there is concern about just what the future holds.  The Nannas and many other locals are concerned about whether this site, and other parts of the Clarence will become part of a gasfield like that around Tara in Queensland.

It pays to advertise!

DRILL RIG ON SITE AT GLENUGIE

Today Metgasco finally managed to get a drill rig and other equipment into the Glenugie site.  It took them many hours and the efforts of around 60 police - mostly riot police - and the Police Rescue Squad.  We Knitting Nannas suspect that getting the equipment onto the site proved more difficult than it would have been some weeks earlier.  Protesters, from the Clarence Valley and other Northern Rivers areas  - including Knitting Nannas - gathered from before 7 a.m., prepared to peacefully protest at the mining company's plans.

Protesters gather at outside the Glenugie site early on 7th January

The riot police gradually moved protesters from the area in front of the access gate.  Then they had to remove those protesters "locked on", including one brave man perched high in a tripod and another lying locked on just in front of the gate.

The Knitting Nannas did not do much looping or purling today as they were too busy singing, watching, and photographing than to do more than brandish the needles and pull on the yarn  occasionally.

NANNERLY CLICKS OF THE GLENUGIE ACTION

Girls Against Gas about to be moved from the area in front of the Metgasco Gate

 The Nannas hope that these lasses will not be called on to 

become Knitting Nannas Against Gas in another 30 years or so.

We want CSG mining cast off NOW! 

Some Knitting Nannas can identify with 

the sentiments on this lad's T-shirt.

Our T-shirts could say "We knit because we were 

needled into doing it!" 

The Angel shows Riot Police the song words so that they can join in.

 "What is this weird woman doing ?  If we don't look,

maybe she'll go away.  Or maybe we could arrest her for distracting police 

from the lawful performance of their duties."

 "Whew! It's been a long morning.  Thank goodness for this sculpture.  

My feet are killing me and my ears are sunburnt.  This crappy regulation 

cap isn't doing the job.  I wish I had one of those Knitting Nanna 

yellow bandannas to wear on my head."

There it sat, lonely and sad-looking, until it was given a nannerly treat, 
a knitted and knotted makeover. Look at those eyes peering 
coyly from under the yellow bandanna!

 

SIGNS OF THE GLENUGIE BLOCKADE

The unmissable sign on the Pacific Highway south of Grafton

Since it began more than forty days ago, the Glenugie protest has grown.  The site has been visited by people from across the North Coast and the area occupied by the protesters along the roadside has expanded.  What has also expanded is the signage.  The Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas has been fascinated by these signs. New ones seem to be there each time we visit.

Below are a  few examples of the signage near the Metgasco drill site.

Will Metgasco giet the message?

Barry doesn't look happy with what's happening at Glenugie

 

 And then there were the seasonal signs -

...or next year  ... or ever!