July 2009

July 2009
Energy $avings and Sustainable Gardening
The month of June has been full of Sustainability Street
activities including the first session of the Sustainability
Street Approach Train the Mentor Course on June 11 at
Blackburn Lake Visitor Centre. In addition, there has
been great interest in energy reduction and sustainable
gardening at SS Hub Meetings. This will see some fantastic
Hub meetings in July with an array of guests, where
knowledge and know-how will be exchanged. Also,
Blackburn SS Hub will hold its first gathering for the year at
Neco – Please read on to learn more.
Whitehorse residents participate in the Sustainability Street
Approach Train the Mentor Course
The first session of the SSA Train the Mentor Course was held on June 11 at the
Blackburn Lake Visitor Centre. Participants of the Course were diverse in
background with a simple and common interest in sustainable living. The night
explored the power of small grassroots groups, the importance of inclusion and
connecting with the people around those through local knowledge and practical
experience. As Frank from Vox says, “the answers are out there!”
The next session will be held on Saturday July 18, where we will have an interstate
guest speaker and mentor Nicolle from Winston Hill SS to share how she started her
local DIY SS. All current Streeters are encouraged to come along and take this
opportunity to learn and share how their Susty Street can extend further in their
neighbourhood.
To learn more about the Sustainability Street Approach visit
www.sustainabilitystreet.org,au
Do you have any news stories you would like to share on sustainable living?
Contact Council’s Sustainability Officer:
Email miho.kagawa@whitehorse.vic.gov.au Call 9262 6433
Web www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au www.sustainabilitystreet.org.au
UPCOMING EVENTS
All Whitehorse residents welcome!
Vermont South Hub
When: 7:00pm, Wednesday July 8, 2009
Where: Vermont South Community House,
Karobran Drive, Vermont South
Topic: Engaging the community through
the VSCH Kitchen Garden
Guest: Whitehorse Sustainable.
Ambassador Program graduate
Claire.
Box Hill Hub
When: 7:30pm, Tuesday July 14, 2009
Where: Robin’s Home
11 Irving Avenue, Box Hill 3128
Topic: Sustainable Gardening
Guests: Liz from Wolhuter's Kitchen
Gardens and Ricki & Stacey from
the Box Hill Community Harvest
Group.
To RSVP contact Sustainability Officer.
Wattle Hill Hub (Burwood)
When: Last Wednesday of each month
7:00pm, July 29, 2009
Where: Wattle Park Primary School
(If coming by car: Enter via Somers
Street)
Topic: Follow up to How to Warm Your
Home for Winter and Save
*Bring your energy bills.
Blackburn Hub
When: 7:30pm, Thursday July 30, 2009
Where: Neco, 101-107 Whitehorse Road
Blackburn 3130
Topic: "Sustainable Shopping Night"
- Nunawading Major Activity Centre
- Opportunity for an Environmental
Fund in Whitehorse.
To RSVP contact John on 9893 6775.
SSA: Train the Mentor Program
Session 2 (continuation)
11am - 4pm, Saturday July 18, 2009
Blackburn Lake Visitor Centre
Special guest speaker: Interstate DIY Susty
Street Mentor from Winston Hill SS.
* Register NOW!
For further upcoming dates visit
www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Vermont South Community House Kitchen
Garden Project COMPLETE!
On June 10, Vermont South Streeter Graham
presented the Federal Government’s Green Loans
Program due to commence from July 1, 2009.
Following the first working bee on Sunday May 31,
which saw the construction of the kitchen garden, the
Vermont South Susty Street Hub met on Sunday
during the long weekend holiday to complete the
planting of seasonal vegetables and herbs. Thank you
to those who took time out of their weekend for the
working bees for such a great project, especially Jenni
Manager of Vermont South Community House for her
continuous support of Vermont SS Hub.
As a trained Assessor for this initiative, Graham
explained that the Program will allow households to
receive a free home assessment (primary focus on
energy) and a tailored report with recommendations.
With these recommendations, households will be able
to take an interest free loan of up to $10,000 to put
into action. If you would like Graham’s PowerPoint
notes, contact the Sustainability Officer. More info:
http://www.environment.gov.au/greenloans/index.ht
ml
The next meeting will take place on 7:00pm,
Wednesday July 8 where the group will be planning
the future of the Kitchen Garden Project – How can
we get the crèche involved; Preparation for Spring;
Protecting the Produce. Claire who completed the
Sustainable Ambassador Program will join us for the
evening to assist in planning the above and encourage
VSCH users to participate in this exciting initiative.
Some ideas for thought and discussion will be:
Watering and seed propagation with the kids
Workshops in garden maintenance
Ways to share information
Blackburn SS organise a Sustainable Shopping Night session at Neco [ALL welcome]
Blackburn SS will have its next meeting on Thursday July 30, 7:30 pm at NECO 101-107 Whitehorse Road Blackburn,
which will be a "Sustainable Shopping Night". The host for the evening NECO will talk about the latest hot and
sustainable products for use around our home.
Other activities on the night include:
Can we build the Nunawading Major Activity Centre Zero Green ? - Presentation and
discussion - Guest speaker TBC
A new "Environmental Fund" for Whitehorse - Our Guest Speaker will let you know about
this exciting new community initiative.........................and a mystery door prize!
Please RSVP to John on 9893 6775.

Box Hill SS Feasts and talks (earth) Worms
Box Hill SS enjoyed a beautiful Korean meal at SU:T
Restaurant in June to support their amazing work with
the help of Whitehorse Sustainable Ambassador
Atsushi in reducing waste to landfill by redirecting
organic waste through a separate collection. Dishes
like “Bibibab” were feasted on and the group even got
a tour of the restaurant’s waste collection. Also, there
has been a micro-working bee with Peter and Katy
assisting James to install some floor insulation, which
is great to hear.
The next meeting will be held at Streeter Robin’s
home at 7:30pm on Tuesday July 14. It will be a
special evening with the popular topic Sustainable
Gardening. The night will have special guests Liz from
Wolhuter's Kitchen Gardens and Ricki & Stacey from
the Box Hill South Community Harvest Group.
Liz explains “The suburban backyard is becoming
recognised as a great untapped resource. Paving over
our green space isn't the most efficient way to treat it.
With a bit of planning we can use our backyards to
grow a little of what we eat, cut down on "food
kilometers" and regain control over which varieties of
vegetables, fruit and herbs we eat. We can also
reclaim many valuable resources that get discarded
and use them to make productive soils.” Come and
join us on for what will be a fruitful night as Ricki and
Stacey share their story of the Box Hill Community
Harvest Group and their future plans and how Susty
Streeters and Whitehorse residents can get involved.
WORMS WANTED: After the hot summer days, there
has been some worm fatalities in compost bins
around Melbourne. There are a number of Box Hill
Susty Streeters who are in need for worms to re-boost
their compost bins. If your worm farms or compost
bins are thriving with worms and would be happy to
donate or swap for some home grown veggies or
herbs, please contact email
miho.kagawa@whitehorse.vic.gov.au.
Wattle Hill SS learn how to $ave energy and keep warm for winter
Topic 5 energy tips:
In June, Wattle Hill SS welcomed Indy from
Community Power, where he talked about energy
saving during winter. Hot topics included: Green
Power, double glazing and alikes, hot water
systems (gas, solar, on-demand), lighting options,
insulation and friendly air pockets. The Streeters
also learnt how to read various electricity meters.
Use an insence or a wet hand to see whether you have any draughts around window and door frames.
Put a protector around ceiling fans and sky lights to reduce heat escape.
Consider an energy efficient lamp when lighting a room rather than down lights.
Check your hot water settings.
Consider purchasing Green Power.
If you would like more information on Community Power and ways to best save energy and understand Green
Power visit www.communitypower.org for more information.
Next meeting, will be held at Wattle Hill Primary School on Wednesday July 29 from 7-8:30pm. This meeting will be
a follow up to the previous. Streeters are encouraged to bring along their bills and have a go at some small actions
that can be easily accomplished between now and then (even read the meter difference) and share their experience!

Free Light Globe and Showerhead Exchange Program
Whitehorse households are
able to swap their
incandescent globes for free
energy-efficient lights and
showerheads for more
water-efficient versions as
part of the new program,
LESS. How to get involved: Contact LESS directly to
make installation bookings on 1300 855 362 or visit
www.livegreen.com.au Customers should be called
back within 24 hours if they have to leave a message.
Ideally, installations should occur within one to two
weeks, depending on the availability of residents and
installers. LESS installers will also be door knocking
around Whitehorse five days a week. Households can
either take up the offer on the spot, or arrange a
more convenient time. If a resident is not at home, a
‘sorry we missed you’ calling card will be left behind.
LESS installers will always carry appropriate
identification and authorisation from Council when
doorknocking or visiting homes in Whitehorse.
In addition to the program, LESS
is offering free home assessments
to help householders determine
whether they might benefit from
solar hot water, solar
photovoltaic panels and
insulation. Residents would be
required to pay for any further
installations.
Whitehorse Sustainable Ambassadors Program participants Graduate
On June 23, Whitehorse residents who completed the Sustainable Ambassadors Program (Phase 1) celebrated their
achievements. This innovative program has involved the participation of 16 local residents who have attended an
accredited Swinburne University subject and put in the time to study behaviour change and sustainability. They
have then gone on and put this theory into practice to create sustainability projects in our local community. These
‘Sustainable Ambassadors’, have undertaken a number of interesting projects and helped to spread the
sustainability message across the Whitehorse community. Susty Street are proud to have Bill (Vermont South SS),
Peter and Daniel (Box Hill SS) amongst the graduates.
Some projects included:
Bill (Vermont South SS) and his recycling and waste reduction project at Vermont South Community House.
Peter and Daniel (Box Hill SS) and their Sustainability Commitments Register.
Ricki and Stacey’s Box Hill South Community Harvest Group.
Atsushi’s Sustainable Restaurants Initiative – Composting Kitchen Waste Program.
The Sustainable Ambassadors Program is something that clearly demonstrates the remarkable length and breadth of
sustainability projects that can be put into action when a partnership approach is taken.
If you have any project ideas that could be integrated into your local SS group, why not raise it at the next meeting?