Community Engagement Team Updates
The Community Engagement Team would like to thank our members who have volunteered over the last 12 months to help achieve our strategic plan to raise awareness, educate and communicate the need of a sustainable future for our community.
Our goals for June 2023/24 include:
Creating a higher profile in the community of GBSAN goals and projects
Increasing active membership
Creating reciprocal activities with other community groups
SDRC election 2024 – ascertaining how candidates positions align with GBSAN goals and communicating this to voters.
Our dedicated team of volunteers assisted with the Caring for Nature Expo in partnership with the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery. Over 700 students attended the expo. They received important information regarding their relationship with nature and importantly the perils of cats to our native fauna. The students left with hope that simple actions can lessen this harm eg containment and de-sexing of cats.
The community response to our weekly market stalls increased new memberships, encouraged robust discussions about supporting ways to make changes for a sustainable future as well as increasing awareness of the position of candidates for our local Council elections. GBSAN had over 1200 hits on our website to see the results of candidates' survey responses. Thanks to our membership for encouraging friends and family to check out the website.
Our movie night - “Rachel's Farm” attracted a great turn out and we raised over $400 for more GBSAN projects while connecting the community and spreading the good news stories of local projects addressing biodiversity value projects in our region. Stay tuned for more movie events to come.
“Queenie the Quoll” and artworks of our beautiful native animals won the hearts of everyone at the Apple and Grape parade with GBSAN winning second prize. Watch this space for where Queenie will turn up next to spread the word about caring for our nature.
All of this became a reality due to our hard-working volunteers. The coming together of community and working locally with an eye to global issues is a real antidote to eco-anxiety and makes for positive action to enable changes for a sustainable future.
Treasurer’s Report for 4 April 2024
Congrats to the CET team and the volunteers for the GBSAN stalls. We had a boost in membership and lots of interest in GBSAN’s remit.
Also proceeds from the Garden fest and Eco of $225 boosted the bank account.
The film evening made approximately $400. We had memberships and donations on the evening- so well worth it.
The quoll float did cost but we won second prize and great community exposure with preparation workshop and float at the Apple and Grape. We did win some money but haven’t received that yet.
Big congratulations and thank you to all the volunteers who made this happen.