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Pages tagged "sustainability"


The Seeds of Vandana Shiva - Screening & Panel Discussion

Posted on Check Out Our Events by Luna Prince · June 18, 2025 1:19 PM · 1 reaction

 

Please note: this event has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. A new date will be announced shortly. If the rescheduled date doesn’t suit, ticket holders will be able to request a full refund.

 

Join Social Workers for Climate Action and the North Queensland Conservation Council for a powerful evening of film and conversation as we present The Seeds of Vandana Shiva - a documentary that illuminates the life and work of one of the world’s most influential environmental thinkers and food sovereignty activists, Dr Vandana Shiva.

This compelling film traces Dr Shiva’s journey from physicist in India to global advocate for biodiversity, small-scale farmers, and regenerative agriculture. Her story is both a critique of corporate-controlled industrial farming and a passionate call to protect traditional knowledge systems, seed sovereignty, and community self-determination.

The film runs for 82 minutes. Following the screening, we invite you to stay for a panel discussion and community Q&A.

  • Emma Small, Townsville-based social worker and member of Social Workers for Climate Action, with deep experience in food banks and food insecurity
  • Dhiraj Gajera, Regional Soil Coordinator for Tropical North Queensland and a qualified agricultural scientist with nearly 40 years of experience across India, New Zealand, and Australia.
  • Permaculture Townsville, a local community group promoting sustainable living and permaculture practices in the Dry Tropics.

Together, we’ll explore how Dr Shiva’s message resonates in North Queensland - especially in the context of climate change, ecological degradation, and social inequality.

This is more than a film screening. It’s an opportunity to reflect on how power operates through food systems - and how communities can resist extractive industries and reimagine relationships with land, food, and each other.

"Those who control the seeds, control the food. And those who control the food, control the people."
- Inspired by the philosophy of Dr Vandana Shiva

Come for the film, stay for the dialogue, and leave with inspiration to seed change in your own backyard. Whether you’re a grower, an eater, a changemaker, or just curious - this event is for you.

We also have some great seed and food related lucky door prizes for you!


Event Details
Date: Saturday, July 26
Location: Grill’d, Palmer Street, South Townsville
Arrival: From 5:30pm - order food and drinks
Film starts: 6:00pm
Event concludes: 8:30pm
Tickets: $10 general / $7 student or concession / 1$ financial hardship
Kids: Children under 12 years free, parental guidance recommended, mature themes
Extras: Feel free to bring a pillow or warm blanket to stay comfortable
Watch the trailer


FAQs:

Q: What kind of food is available?
Grill’d has a great selection, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. A veggie or beef burger with small chips is available for under $22. Meals are ordered individually, so you can choose what works for you.

Q: Is the event budget-friendly?
Absolutely. We’ve introduced $1 tickets for those facing financial hardship — no questions asked. We want this space to be welcoming for everyone.

Q: Where at Grill’d will it be?
We’ll be set up in the large back space of Grill’d on Palmer Street. It's cosy and welcoming. Parking is available nearby on McIlwraith Street.

Q: Can I bring kids?

Yes, kids under 12 attend for free. The film is however rated 16+ due to its documentary nature exploring themes of environmental activism, food justice, and corporate opposition. Parental guidance is recommended.

Q: I’m not a gardener – will I still enjoy it?
Absolutely. This is about more than growing food. It’s about understanding the global forces shaping what ends up on our plate — and how our everyday choices connect to land, justice, and climate action.


GET A TICKET

WHEN
July 26, 2025 at 5:30pm
WHERE
Grill'd on Palmer St.
3 Palmer St
South Townsville, QLD 4810
Australia
Google map and directions
rsvp

Water Quality Improvement Plan Submission

Posted on Blog by Crystal Falknau · October 10, 2024 11:51 AM · 1 reaction

WQIP cover page

The Great Barrier Reef is renowned for its ecological importance and beauty. However, it is under increasing threat from a range of pressures including climate change, poor water quality from Reef catchments, extreme weather events and recent extensive coral bleaching.

The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017–2022 is a joint commitment of the Australian and Queensland governments that seeks to improve the quality of water flowing from Reef catchments to the Great Barrier Reef.

In October 2024, NQCC provided feedback to this plan.

Read more

Stories of the Wild North: 50 years of NQCC

Posted on 50 Years by Peter Hanley · August 26, 2024 11:20 AM · 1 reaction

Anniversary picture

What do Michelle Dyer (social scientist and stand-up comedian), Liz Downes (2020 Queensland Volunteer of the Year), Les Bandt (the man who invented the ute in 1933), and the Aquapella world music choir all have in common? 

Answer: they were all part of NQCC’s 50th anniversary celebration “Stories of the Wild North” held at the Drill Hall Studio on Friday the 23rd of August.

Read more

A New Chapter for the Burdekin?

Posted on Blog by Crystal Falknau · June 01, 2023 12:09 PM · 1 reaction

Burdekin River

The next 12-18 months will see the replacement of the Burdekin Basin Water Plan get into full swing, and the recent announcement of a Regional Water Assessment means that the mechanisms might just be in place to protect the mighty Burdekin from the threats of over-development.

Read more

An Open Letter to the Hon Bob Katter MP

Posted on Blog by Crystal Falknau · September 13, 2021 8:39 AM · 1 reaction

This letter was written in response to The Hon Bob Katter MP's comments in this article, published in the Townsville Bulletin. We immediately responded with this open letter, from which some statements were published about a week later. You can read the printed article here. 


Dear Bob,

Contrary to your recent claims that North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC) represents the people of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and that we’ve “never set foot off a pavement”, we have more in common than you think.

Read more

The Burdekin River Belongs to Us All

Posted on Blog by Crystal Falknau · August 28, 2021 2:17 PM · 1 reaction

Burdekin River from above

Media Release: 23 August 2021

The Burdekin River belongs to all of us

 

North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC) is on a mission to ensure that the Burdekin River can continue to support North Queenslanders for generations to come.

Read more

Plastic Free July 2019

Posted on Blog by Priscilla M Peto · July 15, 2019 9:01 AM

This is a guest post by NQCC's current secretary, Priscilla Peto. Priscilla took up the challenge of "Plastic Free July" three years ago and shares with us her experiences and lessons since her last blog post two years ago. The views expressed in this post are the author's and not necessarily those of NQCC.

It's been a good three years of trying to reduce plastic in my life, and two years since I wrote about it with NQCC to mark Plastic Free July - an initiative founded in Perth by Rebecca Prince-Ruiz. 

To my delight, I've found the practice has become quite widespread with my friends, family, and colleagues. Especially since the plastic bag ban was implemented in July 2017. It's been great to see individual efforts increase, but we must not forget our job in pressuring our Local, State and Federal Governments to legislate real change.

Read more

Plastic Free July – How I reduced plastic in my life

Posted on Blog by Priscilla M Peto · July 04, 2017 3:43 PM

This is a guest post by NQCC member and volunteer, Priscilla Peto. Priscilla took up the challenge of "Plastic Free July" last year and shares with us her experiences and lessons of the past year. The views expressed in this post are the author's and not necessarily those of NQCC.

plastic-free-july.jpg

Plastic Free July is just around the corner, so I thought I’d share my experience of reducing the plastic in my life. Last year was the first time I engaged in the challenge to make my life plastic free for a month. I started by visiting plasticfreejuly.org to see what it was all about and where I could start changing my habits.

It’s amazing how this one month challenge introduced long-term sustainable habits, most of which I continue today. Plastic Free July has significantly reduced my meat intake,  reduced the amount of products I purchase and makes me think twice before eating take away and the food outlets I pick.

Read more

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