Food Matters: Scenic Rim Food Miles ClimateSmart Business Cluster

Dr Sally MacKinnon presented an entertaining talk to the QWESTNet workshop on 14 September about how 16 tourism businesses from the Scenic Rim embarked on this unusual journey which not only dramatically reduced their food miles carbon emissions but also built support for local and regional farmers. Voted by delegates as the top presentation of the Forum. Listen to Sally's presentation.  Thanks to DERM's QWESTNet for making this presentation available.

Read more about this project

“The Rim” Community Arts Project

visit the Project Blog

"The Rim" an arts and ecology community-based project that is enabling the world-renowned landscapes of the Scenic Rim region to speak and be celebrated through painting and poetry. Much of the work that is developed through a number of project phases (see below) will be included in a community art exhibition and publication in mid 2012 at The Centre, Beaudesert. There may also be potential for part or all of the exhibition to tour other venues in the region. When the project is fully completed, it is intended that the community-created artwork will be donated to the Beaudesert And District Community Arts Project (BADCAP) so it can be lent to regional schools and other venues for ongoing display.

“The Rim” Project Partners

• The Regional Arts Development Fund which is a Queensland Government and Scenic Rim Regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture;
• The Regional Arts Fund which is an Australian Government initiative supporting the arts in regional, remote and very remote/isolated Australia.

Phases of the project to date are:

Scenic Rim Regional Council Regional Arts Development Funding for:

1. 4 community workshops in poetry and painting during 2011 – Arts in the Olives May 8; Boonah World Environment Day June 5; Bird Week at Mt Barney Lodge September; Goat Track Theatre Youth Workshops Term 2 & 3

• Community discussion paper about the ecology and ecosystems of the Scenic Rim;
• Project Blog;
• Recorded Yugambeh stories about some of the Mununjali Elders’ connections to Country;
• Community art exhibition including:
  • Works by project arts;
  • Community-developed works from festival and youth workshops;
  • Ecosystem Service maps relevant to the Scenic Rim;
  • Multi-media documentation of the project;
  • Stories from Yugambeh Elders;
  • Community discussion paper.

“The Economics of Happiness” – launch and screenings (2011)

Collaborative partnership with the International Society for Economy and Culture (ISEC) and Helena Norberg-Hodge to help launch this inspirational movie in South East Queensland about the power of “going local”, including collaborative partnerships with local organisations Food Connect, SEED International and Scenic Rim Regional Council. Find out more at www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org

The film was very well received when shown recently at the Binna Burra Lodge at Beechmont, Australia, on Friday 27 October 2011.