Katoomba Area Local NewsStrengthening community, healing Country, and restoring the health of our planet.
Give Peace a Chance
In a moving call for peace on Anzac Day, over 80 people gathered in the golden afternoon light at Peace Park in Katoomba to reflect on war and ask the hard questions about its grim reality. The day was interspersed with reflections, poetry, a minute of silence, and songs by The Bearded Ladies Choir.
MC Jon Atkins, from the Blue Mountains Peace Collective, emphasised that we need to “learn from past military disasters so that we can minimise them occurring in the future … an important way of honouring our war dead.”
Jon Atkins
He stressed that tributes paid to the victims of WW1 (and other wars) need to be inclusive. These victims include the 250-300 Indigenous Australians who lost their lives in WW1 (out of an estimated 1,000-1,300 who enlisted); “those that returned with debilitating psychological or physical injuries”; those that suffered on the home front when their loved ones were killed, maimed and traumatised; as well as those who campaigned against the war and opposed conscription and who were then “vilified and punished by the State for the principled stand they took.”
Dharug man Chris Tobin
Dharug man Chris Tobin recognised the sacrifice of those Indigenous Australians who lost their lives: but with sadness, not pride. He pointed out that Australia’s terrible past treatment of Indigenous people is still happening to Indigenous peoples around the world and “just because you take something doesn’t mean it’s yours”. Despite this, he urged people to put down their guns: “We’re going to win by love and education.”
“When we acknowledge Country,” he continued, “we’re dismantling the nationalism that is so destructive around the world.”
Rev. Mark Hillis
The importance of questioning the Anzac narrative was reiterated by Rev. Mark Hillis from the Leura Uniting Church, who read from Australian historian Henry Reynolds in Pearls and Irritations, and historian Dr Naomi Parry Duncan, the co-author of New South Wales and the Great War, who described herself as “a pacifist who wrote a book about war”.
Dr Naomi Parry Duncan
What is clear from history is that Australia in 1915 “was one of the most democratic, prosperous and well-managed societies in the world; the product of over a hundred years of nation building … The war opened up deep and damaging divisions in Australian society that were at best latent in 1914. Class division and resulting industrial strife intensified. The conscription debates of 1916 and 1917 tore communities, families and friendships asunder.” (Reynolds)
Naomi elaborated on this: “War sucked the life out of our economy. Sixty-two thousand people were killed; one hundred and fifty thousand were maimed … it’s not defence, it’s war mongering.”
She spoke with deep emotion about waking early that morning and seeing an incredible dark moon in the shape of a sickle and thinking of all those living in conflict today: “We are all people under one moon and one sun. Down with nationalism and up with collectivism!”
Rowe Morrow
Quaker Rowe Morrow spoke of how the impacts of war go on for generations, starting with the dispossession of Indigenous nations. It’s something she’s seen and felt as she’s worked in refugee camps around the world over the last 50 years. She recalled that even as a child she’d been haunted by “the terrible things they do to young men” when she visited convalescing returned soldiers at the Sunset Home in Perth.
She went on to speak of the “immorality of destroying peace for gain”, and the ‘fake news’ that sends young men to be maimed and die so that some may profit.
Rowe then read the poem Weapon by Judith Wright, which highlights the self-destructive nature of the types of power and ambition that drive this ‘fake news’: the power and ambition which take countries into war and destroy our compassion for those we kill.
“We will have to find a way through this age of untruth,” she urged.
Weapon, by Judith Wright
The will to power destroys the power to will. The weapon made, we cannot help but use it; it drags us with its own momentum still.
The power to kill compounds the need to kill. Grown out of hand, the heart cannot refuse it; the will to power undoes the power to will.
Though as we strike we cry ‘I did not choose it,’ it drags us with its own momentum still. In the one stroke we win the world and lose it. The will to power destroys the power to will.
Tom Coley’s ‘Peace Memorial’ in Peace Park, donated to Blue Mountains City Council by the sculptor in 2009.
Poets Brian Bell and June
Peace Building
The Anzac Day Reflection was organised by the Blue Mountains Peace Collective. This local group formed in June 2023 when Don McGregor, Bruce Cornwall, Kathie Herbert, Eunice Goodberg, and Rev. Mark Hillis and Rev. Myung Hwa Park from the Uniting Church in Leura, met to see what they could do to advocate for peace. Their first event, a Vigil for Gaza, attracted around 70 people on 18 October of that year.
In his last reflection, Jon Atkin recalled an Anzac Day address in 2013 by the former Governor of Tasmania, Peter Underwood AC, who said:
“All our remembrances and honours are meaningless, unless we also vow to become resolute about peace because that is what those whom we remember and honour on this special day thought they were dying for.“
“At the time, Peter Underwood also called for a Peace Institute to be created – not a bad idea!” said Jon.
Jon then went on to outline the Peace Collective’s recommendations for peace building.
1. Support official recognition of the Frontier Wars and the impact they had on Indigenous dispossession.
He quoted historian Henry Reynolds who has said:
“Our National Day of Lament is for those that died overseas in wars chosen for us by our great and powerful friends, most of the time against enemies who would never have been able to threaten Australia.
How is that commensurate with frontier wars fought in Australia about ownership and control of the continent itself? For us, this must be of far greater significance than the balance of power in Europe or the scramble to carve up the remains of the Ottoman Empire.”
2. Call for substantial reform of war powers by the Commonwealth Parliament
The Peace Collective supports the Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR) and their long campaign to democratise existing war powers.
In response to the parliamentary report on how Australia makes decisions to send service personnel into international armed conflict, which was tabled in Parliament on March 31, 2023, Australians for War Powers Reform argued that the outcome of the review was very disappointing.
While the Committee recommended some changes by promising better transparency and accountability, Australians for War Powers Reform criticised the report for refusing to adopt a fully democratic system where MPs are able to vote before Australia joins an overseas war.
Compared to many European parliamentary democracies, Australia can still be classified as having weak powers related to parliamentary action required for the deployment of military force overseas.
3. Back the signing and ratification of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (also known as Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty)
The Treaty has been signed by 94 nations. Of these 73 nations have proceeded to ratify it.
Australia has yet to sign and ratify the Treaty.
4. Call for independent foreign and defence policies
As Paul Keating has argued, both the Coalition and Labor’s commitment to the AUKUS pact diminishes our security and compromises our sovereignity.
Do our policies serve to defend the nation or are they geared to serving the hegemonic interests of ‘a powerful ally’?
Given Australia’s membership of the United Nations, and in accordance with the UN Charter, do the policies serve to maintain international peace and security and uphold international law?
5. Support genuine ‘remembrance’ on Anzac Day
How can we protect Anzac Day as an occasion devoted to reflection and mourning and prevent it from becoming a political tool or a justification for future bloodbaths?
Learn more about history as well as future predictions to inform your decision making in the present. You can do so at these upcoming local events; Blackheath History Forum: 24 May 4-6pm, Blackheath Public School. Historian Stephen Gapps will be in conversation with Dr Naomi Parry Duncan about his latest book Uprising: War in the Colony of NSW 1838 to 1844. Dr Keith Suter’s presentation on Global Directions, 5pm Sunday 25 May, Leura Uniting Church
Blue Mountains City Council has joined ‘Mayors for Peace‘: a global movement calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting world peace. Help grow this Reflection on Peace into an even bigger annual event. See similar actions being taken in Marrickville by the Marrickville Peace Group: https://marrickvillepeacegroup.org/ )
Thanks to everyone who contributed to deliver a fantastic Disaster Risk Awareness Expo and Family Day yesterday. @mark_greenhill_mayor opened the event at which we celebrated the 13th birthday of Betty the Asbestos Education House; @firecoat_au demonstrated and launched its range of fire retardant products that can help protect homes, gardens and even electricity poles; the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit was launched; Santa arrived and delighted young and old; and @plantinspired99 and Action for Animals fed us all with a delicious plant-based sausage sizzle. The day was filled with talks, workshops, stalls and the sharing of a huge amount of expertise to keep us, and the other species we share our planet with, safe and healthy! @southkatoomba.rfb @nswses @fireandrescuensw @nswrfs @redcrossleura @redcrossau @shelter.building.design @firehalo.au @asbestosawareness @amelie_ecology @bbagsbluemtns @wireswildliferescue @handsheartfeet
Our marquee is up and we`re excited about our Expo and Family Day tomorrow (Sat 22 Nov). There`s something for everyone from a free sausage sizzle, plants from Santa and drumming and pollinator workshops, to sessions on keeping you and our community safe from extreme weather events and hazardous substances like mould and asbestos. Learn how intumescent paints can slow the spread of fire and pick up a sample pot; check out all our emergency service organisations; learn how to dispose of hazardous materials; paint a native orchid, make some seed balls or sew a boomerang bag to give as plastic-free Christmas presents this year; enjoy coffee and locally made sweets; and get tips on how to retrofit your home safely and beautifully to be prepared for future extreme weather events. View the full program and register here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
There are so many new and innovative ways of doing things, like the new cooking techniques being explored by Michael from Good Fat Pastry, and the new fire protection methods being launched at the Planetary Health Centre`s Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 Nov. Check out Michael’s recent presentation at the Food Security Fair in our video here: https://bit.ly/4pnXbIg (link in profile) and come along to taste his delicious carrot cake and pastries at the Expo on Saturday. Check out the program and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
In 2006 Peter Joseph’s son Michael suicided after a 14-year episodic battle with mental illness. Peter is now the Chair of the Black Dog Institute which is working to achieve better outcomes for all those struggling with mental health issues. Journalist Emma Rossi will engage Peter in an intimate and moving conversation about a life of purpose and mental health advocacy. As a Rotary scholar Peter will also reflect on how Rotary helped shape his values and sense of purpose as a young man - and how those early lessons continue to guide his work today. This free event is being hosted by the Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary Club and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative on Saturday 29 November from 2-4pm at the Planetary Health Centre at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Learn about intumescent fire retardant paint and a range of other strategies to prepare for extreme weather events, and to manage hazardous materials, at the upcoming Expo and Family Day at the Planetary Health Centre on Sat 22 Nov. You can register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J We checked out how intumescent paint works in this video.
When temperatures reach a certain point the intumescent paint begins to swell and expand, often up to 50 times its original thickness. It forms a thick, carbonaceous "char" that acts as an insulating barrier. This layer slows the rate at which heat reaches the structural elements and buys valuable time for people to safely exit a building during a fire. It makes the structure safer for firefighters and rescue teams. #intumescentpaint #fireretardant #bushfire @firecoat_au...
Mould, lead paint, asbestos, silica dust from engineered stone bench tops and a wide range of chemicals, are amongst some of the many hazardous substances entering our environment and negatively impacting our health. Asbestos is found in over 3000 products including textured paints, moulded garden pots, brake pads and clutch linings in older cars, floor and ceiling tiles, lino, fibro, roofing, pipes and gutters, hot water systems, backing for switchboards and insulation boards in air-conditioning ducts, insulation, sealants, fillers, caulking and adhesives, gaskets for industrial and lab equipment and more. We’ll have information to take away and Blue Mountains City Council and the Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Consultants Association (AHCA) will be running free workshops on how to identify and manage these hazardous substances at the Planetary Health Centre`s Disaster Risk Awareness Expo in Katoomba on Sat 22 Nov. Find out more and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Are you ready for the next bushfire, heatwave or flood? Why not take steps to prepare at the Planetary Health Centre`s Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 Nov. Award-winning Hempcrete designer Kirstie Wulf from @shelter.building.design will share 10 steps to build or renovate for sustainability and resilience; engineer Mark Liebman will share how you can build a green roof to reduce stormwater runoff and cool your building; Dr Agnieszka Wujeska-Klause will share research results on the most appropriate actions to lower heat in summer and help you use a thermal imaging camera to identify which surfaces retain the most heat; Frank Inzitari will introduce you to the @firehalo.au which can help reduce ember attack; and a team from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will work with you to use the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit to design your own personal bushfire plan. We`ll also be launching Firecoat`s new Bushfire Home Protection Kit. Learn more and register to attend here: https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
There are so many extraordinary volunteers keeping us and wildlife safe all year round! Come along and meet them at the Expo and Family Day at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on Saturday 22nd Nov. Learn what you can do to be ready for emergencies, and how you can volunteer or help in some other way. Together we can be more prepared and reduce the risk of disaster. There`ll be a free sausage sizzle so help give us an idea of numbers by registering here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Thank you Blue Mountains community for the generous donation of 11 sewing machines which we`ll be using for our free sewing workshop with Boomerang Bags at the Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 November at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. It`s an opportunity for the whole family to make free Christmas presents that `don`t cost the earth`! Register here if you`d like to attend (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J (and you`ll get a free fire retardant plant from Santa while you`re there!)
Did you know that Australia has the world`s highest incidence of asbestos-related diseases per capita in the world, killing more than 4,000 Australians every year - three times more than the annual road toll; and that asbestos-related deaths are predicted to rise! Asbestos isn’t just in fibro homes and sheds - it was used in the manufacture of more than 3000 asbestos containing products with many of these products remaining in any brick, fibro, weatherboard, clad home or apartment built or renovated before 1990. Asbestos was used everywhere in homes - lurking under floor coverings including carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, garages, roofs, around hot water pipes, fences, home extensions, garages, outdoor toilets, backyard and farm structures, chook sheds and even in dog kennels. Exposure to asbestos fibres during home renovations has been linked to 51% of mesothelioma deaths. There is no cure for mesothelioma. The average survival time following diagnosis is just 10-12 months. Homeowners, renovators and tradies are most at risk of exposure if they disturb asbestos containing materials. On Saturday 22 November, “Betty – The Asbestos Education House” will be a prominent feature of the Blue Mountains City Council’s Disaster Risk Awareness Expo to help educate local homeowners and tradies about the dangers of asbestos that remains lurking in 1-in-3 Aussie homes including many throughout the Blue Mountains region as part of National Asbestos Awareness Month (November). There will also be workshops and stalls on asbestos and a range of other hazardous materials and how you can manage them to protect youreself, your family and your community. Find out more and register here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Emily from @handsheartfeet will be leading a free drumming workshop at the Planetary Health Centre Expo and Family Day in Katoomba on Sat 22 Nov. It`s suitable for all ages and so much fun! Places are limited so reserve your spot here: https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J (link in profile)
The Planetary Health newsletter is now out! Read it here: https://bit.ly/4o1FflK (link in profile)
It includes: • Expo and Family Day on Nov 22 • A Story of Purpose & Mental Health with Rotarian Peter Joseph AM from the Black Dog Institute on Nov 29 • How to Use a Sewing Machine Workshop on Nov 29 • Qigong, Upper Mountains Seed Saving & Gardening Group and Planetary Health Bushcare on Dec 6 • Legalising human composting as a sustainable death care option in NSW • The Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan for the Blue Mountains
As global food insecurity increases, research suggests that the ‘planetary health diet’ is one solution. This calls for a shift towards a plant-based diet and more local food production. Local social enterprise Farm it Forward is showing how this can be done in school yards and one backyard after another.
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