Seasonal celebrations

This is the last Southbank Sustainability Group column for 2024. The year is fast coming to an end, bringing with it various events and celebrations. 

November saw lots of planting in the garden and there will be plenty of leafy greens and herbs over the next few weeks.

Some members made a late-night excursion to Geelong Botanical Gardens to look at and experience the unique smell of the flowering corpse flower. The unique large flower was worth the five-hour queue. Not so much the “perfume” of the flower; something akin to rotting rubbish and ammonia!

We will be running a workshop to learn how to breathe new life into old garments using block printing as well as making Christmas gift wrap and decorations on Saturday December 7 between 10.30am and 12.30pm at the Boyd Community Hub. Check our Facebook page for details.

We will also be one of the many community groups participating in Southbank’s Very Merry Friend-Mas event to be held on Saturday, December 14 from 11am to 3pm at Boyd. The day is being organised by Southbank3006 in partnership with the City of Melbourne for all Southbankers.

There will be plenty of fun events throughout the day for all ages. This special occasion offers a perfect opportunity to meet other Southbank locals and make new friends. 

With the holiday season fast approaching, you may be thinking about how to reduce your environmental footprint. This is an ideal time to consider how to reduce, reuse, repair or recycle as you participate in various events and celebrations. 

If you are planning on putting up Christmas decorations, select or make your own from natural and reusable materials. Remember that if you are considering giving gifts, handmade presents and items that are practical and reusable help reduce our environmental footprint.

If you need to buy presents, look for gifts made from recycled materials and are locally sourced. Visit the many local op shops as a source of goods to be repurposed. Look for alternatives to battery operated toys.

Such an approach is not only good for the environment but can be a lot less expensive. Wrap your gifts in reusable or biodegradable materials. Make use of fabric scraps, scarves and tea towels and make your gift unique.

We can all also look for ways to extend a helping hand and offer support to those in need, especially at this time of year. You can donate unused items, volunteer your time, or support local charities. Instead of presents, make a donation on behalf of family and friends to local charities.

The Southbank Sustainability Group continues to meet up fortnightly for some gardening, food harvesting and conversation. These meet ups are open to all. Our dates for December and January will be Saturday, December 14 and 28, 2024, and Saturday, January 11 and 25, 2025, between 10am and noon.

About the group: Southbank Sustainability Group is a solutions-focused community group of Southbank residents working to bring positive change in sustainability practices. Reach us at [email protected] or via facebook.com/SouthbankSustainabilityGroup

If you are interested in getting involved with Southbank Sustainability Group, send us an email or come to one of the upcoming meet ups. •