By Lesley McCarthy
Sixty-six people attended the ESRAG Action Summit on May 25 at the Melbourne Town Hall! Our first guest speaker, Prof David Karoly, Australian world leader in climate dynamics and climate change science, spoke on climate change and how Rotarians can be involved in solutions. Chris Brace, General Manager of Growth Futures, Yarra Valley Water, gave the second talk, on the environmental efforts they are implementing to ensure a clean, green organisation.
Seven Rotarians then gave five-minute briefings on their environmental projects:
- Salvador Rico: Rivers of the World
- Christopher Puttock: Mangroves Restoration
- Rob Anderson: the Rotarians for Climate website
- Clari Nolet: Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling
- Colin Scobie: Oyster Shell Reef Restoration
- Phil Lyons: Trees for Survival NZ, and
- Pat Armstrong: Light up Timor Through Enterprise.
Attendees then worked in small tables to share their project ideas and agree on one to take back to the audience. These discussions were facilitated by ESRAG Oceania members who transcribed the ideas for future reporting. Table spokespersons then shared the discussions and project ideas.
This event was very well attended and engaged those with a variety of ideas, activities and planning issues.
Photo: ESRAG Oceania Chair Ted Waghorne addressing participants at the Action Summit