SADIES THE CLEANING LADIES

A group of talented Nannas, inspired by the politics to the north of us, have created an entertaining short movie about cleaning up the political pigsty.

There are certainly messages there for Queensland - but the messages apply to NSW as well - AND to our federal politicians who are so determined to do what the mining companies want  - to the detriment of local communities.

If you haven't already done so, check it out   -     SADIES MOVIE.

THE KNITTING GOES ON IN GRAFTON

Grafton Nannas are continuing their knit-ins outside the office of Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis.  Numbers have been down as many nannas have been away but each week a few stalwarts have been clicking their needles, flashing their crochet hooks or winding their french knitting dollies.  And the nannas have enjoyed having supporters join them.

RECENT  KNIT-INS

Dorothy returned from a northern sojourn looking after a grandson with two nearly complete vests-of- many-colours which she was commissioned to crochet.  Wonderful colourful jackets - just the thing for a nanna knitter to go out on the town in!

Supporter Steve has been entertaining the nannas, and startled passers-by, with his remote car which was recently joined by Tweetie Pie.

LISMORE NANNAS JOIN THEIR GRAFTON COMPATRIOTS

When Nannas from the Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas set up their chairs today

outside the office of Chris Gulaptis, MP, they were delighted to welcome Margaret and Mary,  two members of the Lismore Nannas to their knit-in.

 Another newcomer to the local knit-in was a very junior Nanna who was keeping her grandmother company and very adroitly working on her french knitting. The future of Knitting Nannery is being ensured by the stalwarts of our movement who are showing the youngsters what needs to be done to protect our land and water.  

As usual the Nannas had plenty to talk about as they clacked their needles. 

Some of us envied Dorothy in her coat of many colours which kept her very warm as the day cooled down.  And we all admired the colourful vest she has almost completed.

 

 

 

Dorothy's vest

Another admired object was the Lismore chook badge made by the talented Louise of Chooks Against Gas fame.  Some of us are hoping that  Lismore Nannas will bring chook badges with them when they next visit - as some  of us would love to add one of these to our Nanna badge collection.

Before we left our Crocheter Extradordinaire tied a little gift to the rail outside the office - one of the many varied yarn bombs which has been left  after most knit-ins for our local member.  We hope that he is collecting them as mementos of our visits. 

ANOTHER KNIT-IN - ANOTHER LETTER

The Grafton Loop of the Knitting Nannas held their weekly knit-in as usual outside the office of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis on Thursday 22nd August.

Nannas pause for refreshments.

It was time for another letter to our hard-working parliamentary representative Chris Gulaptis.  The reason  - another move by the NSW Government to disempower local communities and help their mining friends.  The Government is proposing to amend the Mining State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) so that community groups have less chance of taking the government's planning decisions about mining to the courts.

The Nannas' concerns in their letter to Mr Gulaptis

The Knitting Nannas are writing to you again because we are appalled that the Government is proposing to disempower local communities even further when it comes to mining development.  We object very strongly to the amendment to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries).

 The proposed amendment means that the "significance" of the "resource" (be it a coal or gas resource or whatever) to the economy becomes the central consideration in the approvals process.  This means that other matters of importance to the local community – such as their amenity, health, water resources, and the natural environment – will be downgraded to minor considerations.

The Knitting Nannas fear that the Government is forgetting the importance of those people they are supposed to represent – the general community.  We also note that many people are becoming increasingly concerned about the continuation of governments' anxiety to promote mining despite public unease.

We believe that this amendment to the SEPP should be abandoned in the interests of the general community and our children and grandchildren.

 Letter Delivery Team with letter & flower.

A couple of determined Nannas.

(No messin' with us!)

Every time the Grafton Nannas deliver a letter to Mr Gulaptis' office they present him with a charming yellow flower.    By now he should have a sizeable bouquet - or maybe a wreath - to decorate his office and remind him of Nanna concerns!

 NANNAS  LIKE  TO  LEARN  NEW  SKILLS

French knitting

NANNA  CREATIVITY

 

And then there was the little memento of our visit - not a yarn bomb this time.

Non-yarn Bomb

KNITTERS DECORATE GLENUGIE CHRISTMAS TREE

Along with  other community members from the Clarence Valley and supporters from elsewhere in the Northern Rivers, the Grafton Loop of Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAG), has been in regular attendance at the Glenugie site where coal seam gas miner Metgasco plans a test drill.

Junior KNAG

Today the Grafton KNAGs were joined for their knit-in by KNAGs from Kyogle and Lismore as well as Jan Barham, Member of the NSW Legislative Council.  We were again serenaded by a guitarist from Brunswick Heads and watched two youngsters show their expertise with French knitting.

MLC Jan Barham (L) and KNAGs from Lismore and Grafton

Then the Lismore knitters produced their Christmas decorations and added some KNAG class to the Christmas tree in front of the Metgasco gate.

GRAFTON NANNAS ACTIVE AT GLENUGIE

Since their launch - their first knit-in - on October 19th the Grafton Loop of Knitting Nannas has held a further two knit-ins and has had discussions about coal seam gas (CSG) mining with the Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis MP.

Two Nanna representatives met with Mr Gulaptis at his Grafton office on November 28th and presented him with a yellow flower and a letter outlining some of their concerns with Metgasco's Glenugie activities.  The discussion was predictable with Mr Gulaptis expressing his support for the CSG industry because of the economic benefits he claimed it would bring. He also stated that fossil fuels such as CSG were still needed because renewable energy was still not cost competitive.  He ackowledged that the Government was well aware of the degree of opposition to the industry in the Northern Rivers.

The two recent knit-ins have been at the Glenugie protest site on Avenue Road south of Grafton in the Clarence Valley.  CSG mining company Metgasco has prepared the site for drilling and is waiting on the arrival of a drilling rig.  Protesters from the local area and further afield have been at the site since 20th November.

Glenugie Drill Site

Amonst those supporting the Glenugie vigil have been Knitting Nannas from Lismore.  Visits to Glenugie from these stalwarts and the Grafton novices did not coincide until yesterday when one Grafton Nanna was delighted to meet a Lismore Nanna.  These two were able to compare their anti-CSG yellow knitting products.  The Grafton Nannas look forward to further contact with their northern colleagues.