THE INTER-NANNATIONAL CONFERENCE

The Lismore Nannas, those intrepid and undaunted founders of the Nanna-lution, hosted a wonderful conference for Knitting Nannas Against Gas in the Lismore area from March 6-8.  Sessions were held in the village of Eltham and in Lismore.

Eleven Grafton Nannas attended all or part of this inspiring conference.

Some of the Grafton Nannas

 In addition to the Nannas from around NSW, we were delighted to be joined by two amazing Nannas from Cairns who inspired and entertained us. They were Nanna Dotty Dropstitch and Nanna Purl Stockingstitch (AKA Nanna Brunhilde).

The mild-mannered Nanna Purl recording events

Warrior Nanna Brunhilde

Another impressive group of Nannas were from Gloucester - those staunch Nannas are engaged in a strong campaign against gas company AGL's  invasion of their area.
 
 The Conference was opened on Saturday by Lismore Mayor, Jenny Dowell, who has been a stalwart in representing and supporting her community in the campaign against the invasive gas industry.

The Saturday program provided the Nannas with a wealth of information on the coal and gas mining industries, their hazards and the complicity of governments in assisting them despite these industries' very negative impacts on communities and the environment.  Speakers included author and activist Sharyn Munro, whistleblower Simone Marsh, Environmental Defenders Office solicitor Sue Higginson and Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith from the National Toxics Network.  All that these women told us has strengthened our resolve to campaign against the invasive and toxic gas industry.

A lighter note was introduced by the Lismore Nannas in a series of short segments late in the afternoon just before Nanna nap time.  These included a description by two Nannas of how they assisted simmos at the Bentley Blockade and a hilarious Wonder Woman segment by Nanna Frances. 

And Grafton's Nanna Dianne was lucky to be awarded the "under the seat" prize (an interesting variation on a lucky door prize in which a prize notice was taped under a chair.)  The prize was one of Nanna Louise's wonderful Chooks Against Gas.

Louise and Chooks Against Gas

 During the weekend the Nannas had plenty of opportunity for plotting and nattering and for enjoying each others company.  And there were two magnificent dinners - on Friday night at the Eltham Pub (a great venue) and on Saturday night at the Eltham Hall (which was catered for by the tireless Lismore Loop.)

Some of the Nannas dining on Friday evening

 During the Saturday dinner the various Loops gave presentations on their activities - which proved both varied and interesting.  The Grafton Loop's presentation consisted of a collage of photos taken over the last two plus years - from Glenugie onwards- and a video of Nanna Poet Dorothy declaiming her Nanna poem.

As well as planning the event and organising dinners and transport the Lismore Nannas also provided accommodation for most of the out-of-town visitors.  This gave visitors a wonderful opportunity to get to know their hosts and to develop links which undoubtedly will be very beneficial in furthering the nanna-lution.

The weekend concluded with the viewing of Dayne Partzky's movie Frackman at the Lismore cinema. The Nannas were there, yellow-bereted and sitting in a block, in a cinema which was completely full. 

Some of the Nannas at Frackman

 Everyone should see this movie because it clearly shows just how ruthless the industry is and how devastating it is to local communities and the natural environment.

It was a great conference and those Grafton Nannas who were there for the whole program returned home absolutely nanna-knackered.

GREENS CANDIDATE MEETS WITH GRAFTON NANNAS

The Grafton Nannas were pleased to meet with Greens candidate Janet Cavanaugh at their knit-in on Tuesday March 3.  Janet has a wealth of knowledge about the gas industry as she has been a CSG campaigner ever since the industry reared its ugly head in our area.  She played a prominent part in the many information sessions which the Clarence Alliance Against CSG conducted around the Clarence Valley some years ago and she continues to be a strong campaigner against this invasive industry.

A happy bunch of Nannas with candidate Janet Cavanaugh.

The Nannas were also eagerly discussing their upcoming Nanna Conference.  They viewed the presentation Lynette has put together of the Grafton Loop's two plus years of campaigning, a presentation our Nannas are taking to Lismore for the conference.

Jay joins the Nannas in checking out Lynette's Nanna history

And we welcomed Jay who filmed Dorothy's reading of her Nanna poems. And a great job he's done in recording the two poems.  The most recent of these poems is a celebration of the Grafton Loop's birthday.  And Dorothy's reading of this will form part of our presentation at the conference.

Nannas have fun at knit-ins but sometimes there are serious matters to discuss!

Nanna poet Dorothy knows how to flirt with a fan!

A knitted Knitting Nanna

THE NSW GAS PLAN - NANNAS WRITE TO LOCAL MP

The Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas Against Gas has recently written to their local State Member of Parliament, the Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis MP about their concerns about his government's Gas Plan.  Below is the text of the letter:

The Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas Against Gas has major concerns about the NSW Gas Plan which the Government is assuring us will protect the community from the many ill-effects of gas-mining.

The concerns elaborated by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer in her report have not been properly addressed - nor has the Government implemented some of her most important recommendations.  We mention just two as examples:

• comprehensive environmental monitoring, including baseline monitoring, is needed with data to be held in a publicly accessible data repository (Recommendation 10)
• further research into the fate and transport of chemicals and their biological reactions (Recommendation 12) 

Neither of these measures has been enacted and it seems that they are unlikely to be dealt with as the Chief Scientist recommended.

The Chief Scientist's Report also referred to the many health risks at all stages of CSG extraction and listed adverse health outcomes - respiratory, genitourinary and digestive diseases, skin diseases, some cancers, hormonal disruption, and fertility and reproductive effects.  Just how does the Government propose to deal with these very serious impacts of gas-mining?  We Nannas are particularly concerned with the likely health impacts on our children and grandchildren. 

Since the Plan's release we have seen a number of publicly-funded advertisements attempting to "sell" the plan to voters. Both the advertisements and the spin produced by the Government and various Ministers have been totally unconvincing. 

Local MPs had the opportunity to stand up for their constituents when the Government came out with this Plan.  Local MPs could have stood up to the Government and said, "No gas-mining in my electorate."  The Nannas think it is shameful that MPs who are members of political parties toe the political line rather than serve the interests of their electorates.  In our view it is no wonder that many electors feel as they do about politicians and the major political parties.

If the Baird Government retains government after March 28th we fully expect it to encourage gas-mining - including fracking - throughout the Northern Rivers.  Nothing it has done in the past - including its ineffective Gas Plan - gives us any confidence it will be otherwise.

The Nannas assure you that they will, along with many other citizens concerned for the future of our area, continue to oppose this invasive and toxic industry.