Tag Archive for: recycling

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CECSY UPDATE: Brighter times in the making

Sitting at my new temporary ‘office’ desk at home takes adjustment. Like everyone else, I am learning to live a safely isolated lifestyle and discovering the benefits of having time at home. Apart from the obvious and practical things like cleaning out the shed, there are opportunities to seize whilst being restricted, including thinking of new ideas for the development of Canning Exhibition Centre & Showgrounds, the evolution of the Canning Show and CAHRS events that will positively impact more people’s lives in brighter days to come.

A few updates since last we spoke include:

 

CANNING SHOW AND EXHIBITION 

At this stage, it is not wise to jump to conclusions as to whether the Canning Show will run on the planned date of 6 & 7 November, but I recommend that you continue to prepare and create your Exhibition entries. Have a go at the fantastic craft challenge by making an article featuring an insect, spider, snail or creepy-crawly.

The Canning Show Exhibition schedule of entries will be given an early online launch this year and will include some special items specifically designed to celebrate the International ‘Year Of Plant Health’, the theme for 2020, with a number of classes now being announced.

 

INSECT HOTELS

Applauding the world focus of this very important topic, the Show is hosting a special competition suitable for all ages and skills levels; to build an insect hotel. The winners will be the homeless bees and bugs of your garden. After the Show, the hotels can be set up and become home to very happy insects that will propagate your flowers, fruit trees and generally make your garden a better place.

On a recent trip to Bunnings, I did discover that the shelves of seeds and vegetable seedlings were bare. I think perhaps that everyone has already heard how much fun it is to exhibit flowers, fruit and veg and the Show, and have decided to give it a go nice and early. I hope the insects (that currently don’t have anywhere to live) are able to do their work in time.

 

RECYCLING MATERIALS

We also need to re-think our attitude towards recycling materials used for handicrafts. Traditionally we have expected handicraft items to be made using new materials, but, with art and craft supplies in high demand as parents rise to the challenges of homeschooling, this year we encourage and welcome items made with repurposed materials. Please think carefully about the materials’ previous lives and don’t use items that are not clean and safe. Fabric can easily be re-used if it has been thoroughly washed. Consider what might be suitable if you want to use containers that have been used for storage, if they held chemicals, for example, make sure they are very thoroughly cleaned first and never use treated pine for crafting.

 

AGM UPDATE

Following the annual general meeting, I am pleased to advise that Ray Porter has been returned as President and Maxine Wylie as Vice President. Ray, Maxine and the other members of the Committee of Management guide the direction of CAHRS. They are a valued part of the team committed to working together to achieve the best possible outcome and ultimately return to normal operations with the least possible disruption or loss. Day by day, the staff continue to manage the venue, looking after the essential maintenance and operational tasks, as well as preparing the plans for re-opening.

 

VENUE DEVELOPMENTS

Also at the AGM, details for the new venue developments were on the agenda. The members that attended the meeting voted with confidence on the plans and endorsed support for progression to the next stages of planning. We are currently reviewing these, guided by a commitment to enriching communities with perhaps different needs to those we identified pre-COVID-19.

 

MEMBERS TRIP

Thank you for your support and I am excited by the prospect of seeing you all soon. A spring-time bus trip to Penguin Island is just what we need. Keep posted for confirmed dates of this event and others when normal service is resumed.

 

THANKS

This is a troubling time for many. Our organisation is made up of 100s of wonderful volunteers, members, friends and family, who put their heart and soul into giving back and inspiring others. We wish them all the happiness and health we can during these challenging periods, as well as everyone all around the globe. Now, more than ever, we all need to band together and look after, respect and help each other as best we can. Our very best to all, and we look forward to opening the doors to the public again as soon as safely possible!

On behalf of the Committee, Members and staff, I wish you a safe and happy Easter.


Dianne Begg

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CAHRS

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A GREENER SHOWING

Recently our Canning River Gardeners group (one of the many groups we run that are free to members of CAHRS) took a trip to Total Green Recycling, who are one of the leaders in providing complete sustainable e-waste solutions in WA.

Our Events Coordinator, Joanne Reavell, put together a few interesting facts from this visit:

  • In 2018 they recovered 2356 tonnes of e-waste which accounts for 500,000 items diverted from WA landfills.
  • They have also refurbished over 50,000 items.
  • Old computers and TV’s contain a lot of gold (!) and copper, which is now being reused, saving the need to dig it out of the ground, which takes 5 tonne of soil to be removed for every 100 grams of gold!
  • They take phones, computers, network infrastructures, batteries and lighting and electrical items.
  • They save 62% of E- Waste from landfill and employ 40 FTE staff
  • Want to help make a difference? Please sign this petition to get government to stop E-Waste going to landfill

A GREENER SHOW

Also, inspired by a desire to leave less of a negative environmental imprint on this earth, last year CAHRS put into motion a new Single Use Plastic Policy. We’ll be continuing to focus on this for this year’s Make Smoking History Canning Show, so we look forward to having more people at the Show this year, yet having a more positive environmental impact!

Policy as follows:

This policy sets out CAHRS commitment to eliminate single use plastics at events hosted by CAHRS, including the Make Smoking History Canning Show.

As event organisers, CAHRS is committed to playing a key role in educating and guiding its event staff and audience on single-use plastic free practices. This includes considering whether single-use plastic items are needed in the first instance and promoting reusable alternatives.

  • At any event hosted by CAHRS, event staff, contractors and vendors will be required to work to eliminate single-use plastics.
  • CAHRS encourages use of recyclable, re-usable or compostable products. Products such as paper bags, re-usable bags, paper/bamboo straws, cups, plates and cutleries and containers.
  • Single-use plastic such as plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic bottles and disposable cups, plastic utensils and balloons may eventually be banned from the Showgrounds.
  • Food vendors will be asked to consider selling drinks that are not in plastic bottles.
  • Food vendors/stallholders who meet these requirements may be given preference when engaging services.
  • Event materials are to be reused where possible (including event signage and promotional banners and flags);
  • Bottled water is not to be provided, sold or distributed by CAHRS. Alternative, free access to water will be provided;

The policy applies to all attendees, volunteers, staff, stallholders, food vendors and entertainers. The policy will be recommended to venue hirers to adopt.

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