Knittin' In

The gals settled in for a nice knitting time this morning out the front of Chris's office.

Creativity was the order of the day!

Mmmmm what to do next week, no more decorations on the handrail we are told . . .

What is happening here? Is there a Nanna fishing - no its those little cherries on a needle.

Flag of KNAG - on top of things?

Triangular trail of trial and tribulations . . .

A significant piece - drill holes being blocked by many, many triangles!

Yarn bomb

A couple of little cherries :)

NANNAS CONCERNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT'S NEW PLANNING SYSTEM

Grafton Nannas once again carried their chairs and needles and settled outside the office of Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis to knit, plot and chatter AND to deliver a letter outlining their concerns about the NSW Government's proposed new planning system.

The Nannas enjoying working with the yellow yarn.

The Nannas' letter, delivered to the office with the usual yellow flower, urged our MP to speak to the Minister for Planning about making the proposed new planning system more community-friendly.

(We did not deliver the letter personally to Mr Gulaptis because he left the office and was away for such a long time that we thought he was avoiding us.  Hard to believe that our MP would want to avoid talking to such charming, harmless Nannas!  However, we were SO pleased that he returned just as we were about to leave and had a brief chat with us.)

The Nannas believe the Government's proposed changes give too much power to industry and development interests.  We want to see:

1. The principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) incorporated in the new system.
2. Rights for the ordinary community to access judicial review to remedy unlawful decisions made under the legislation for State Significant Development - including for coal mines and gas fields.
3. Removal of restrictions on third party merit appeals.
4. Incorporation of the environmental protections in the current planning system in the new system.

We hope to hear that Mr Gulaptis is lobbying enthusiastically on our behalf and the behalf of all the kiddies who have to live in the world that we are shaping.

In the meantime the Nannas will continue their regular knit-ins.  We enjoy so much our Nanna companionship, exercising our fingers, discussing our projects and chatting with the passers-by.

Speckledy, a Chook Against Gas, and a new friend kept the Nannas company.

GTown Knit-In

Well the gals were out and about today outside you know who's office. Muffled noises were coming from the inside, but the door was locked with a sign saying no-one was home :(

Interesting that you-know-who and that other National Candidate sped off in the big sign-written van upon sighting the Nannas.

Maybe it was the sight of all that yellow . . .

What a scary bunch we are!

QLD Nanna legends

 Queensland Nannas, Erica and Marianne with the stunning Ms Tara and progeny!

I did hear on the grapevine that these lovely nannas and friends were last seen leaving the gasfields of Tara for the cleaner surrounds of Warwick!

WOW these Nannas sure know how to create!!!

TARA (from the QLD Nannas)
Tara is a popular tantric deity of Tibetan Buddhism. She is an emanation of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and she represents the female aspect of compassion.

Tara manifests in many forms. Two common forms are White Tara, who brings peace and long life; and Green Tara, who overcomes obstacles and saves beings in danger.
 
Photos courtesy Erica & Marianne

Ms Tara of QLD

GRAFTON NANNAS TRAVEL TO LISMORE FOR KNIT-IN

Four Knitting Nannas from the Grafton Loop travelled to Lismore on Monday 9th May. 

After stopping off in Casino for coffee, we visited the new Casino Environment Centre.  What a good  job those volunteers have done! The Centre is centrally located and has been beautifully decorated.  We Nannas particularly admired the comfy lounge chairs in the room adjacent to the shop - just the place for a tired Nanna to have a gentle snooze in the afternoon!  And there were some attractive local products on sale including soap "handmade in Nimbin by clean hippies", wooden photo frames, earings, and macadamia oil.

At Lismore we joined our wonderful northern compatriots, the Lismore Nannas,  for a knit-in outside the office of Lismore State MP Thomas George.

 The needles clicked and the tongues clacked as the two groups enjoyed a chat about their knitting projects and the current status of the coal seam gas campaign.  One passer-by, after assuring us that he supported our anti-CSG stance, asked why we were still campaigning as we had won the battle.  We pointed out that the battle was  far from over, that the CSG industry would be back and we were remaining vigilant.

The cool breeze encouraged Dorothy to don her knitted coat of many colours which was admired by the Lismore ladies, some of whom have been inspired to make a  knitted coat their next project.   Dorothy also performed her wonderful poem"Knitting Nannas" - which was greatly appreciated by the Lismore ladies.

Lynette has been very active and creative since our last knit-in and had some interesting products to show - crocheted bracelets, a very modish crocheted necklace and a smart phone cover sporting a Nanna logo.

We of the Grafton Loop really enjoyed our knit-in and will bring our needles to Lismore again. The Lismore Nannas indicated that they would travel south for a knit-in at Grafton some time  in the future.  We look forward to that.

REFLECTIONS ON GLENUGIE

Glenugie drill site on  8th February.  Traumatron to the right.

All has been quiet at the former Metgasco drill site at Glenugie now for about three weeks.  The drill and all the infrastructure have gone - except for the double fence.  Even that dramatic machine - the traumatron - which held up Metgasco's removal from the site, has gone.

The traumatron

It's interesting to look back on those from elsewhere who joined  Clarence Valley locals in the vigil and blockade.  Some of these supporters were day visitors but others camped along the side of the road or on nearby properties. There was some fancy accommodation (caravans and campervans), while some slept in vehicles and others in tents - many of these being makeshift shelters. Some  campers stayed for weeks; some remained for days, then took a break back home before returning to Glenugie.

Amonst the visiting supporters the Grafton KNAGs enjoyed meeting were our northern Nanna mentors - who showed their talents in knitting, crafting decorations and then displaying these on the protesters' Christmas tree.

Glenugie was visited by a number of politicians - Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham and Federal Member for Clarence Janelle Saffin.  Another Greens MLC, Jan Barham from Byron Bay, joined the Knitting Nannas for a knit-in while she was at the site.

The Mayors of Lismore and Byron also visited as did several of their fellow councillors.

Interestingly most local politicians did not seem to think the Glenugie action of sufficient significance to rate a visit - even though they did not have far to travel!  Clarence Valley Councillors Margaret McKenna and Jason Kingsley were the exceptions.

Regrettably our local state member, Chris Gulaptis, did not visit the site.  When the Nannas spoke to him outside his office in Grafton on  January 25, they offered to escort him to the site so that he could see it for himself and talk to the  locals there.  He declined.  Later, in a letter to the Nannas he said that he would visit the site a a time mutually suitable to him and the property owner.

The Nannas don't know whether that happened - but his visit should have been made when Metgasco was working at the site.  A visit after they had left was pointless.

A sign left across the road from the deserted drill site says it all

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!