Sydney Nannas did not have a meeting this week due to the Craftivism Parade on Friday. But we were busy. Here’s an update with photos and videos on what we did so next week’s newsletter is not so long.
Craftivism Parade
The Craftivism Parade was a lively event that brought together our arts and crafts, our stories and our collective talents. It was a memorable Nanna day.
A small but appreciative audience learned a little about the history of the Knitting Nannas and the Nannafesto that guides us and all the Nanna loops.
Our crafts featured knitted and crocheted works of exceptional quality by Elizabeth and other Nannas as well as creative and witty banners and placards by Bron.
MC Nanna Bernie kept the show and the wise cracks rolling – drawing stories from Nannas about how and why they created the works. For some Nannas speaking in public is well outside their comfort zone, but the shared beliefs and friendly audience made it easier.
The vibe was terrific, the feedback great (we even recruited a new Nanna) and the joy and pride we all felt at being part of such a creative diverse mob working for the kiddies was lovely.
Thanks to Iselin and Tom for taking photographs and videos, to Elizabeth for carting the bulk of the works to the venue and to all those who participated. More videos next week.
Ghostbusters
Nannas dressed as ghosts were at the Lock the Gate Ghostbuster rally outside Parliament House on Thursday, singing and dancing. Nannas love to dress up.
Explainer: NSW Labor recently approved the first coal mine project of its term, the Boggabri Mod 8 coal expansion. This decision was heavily influenced by a John Barilaro-era policy (the Strategic Statement on Coal) that encourages coal mining expansions at the expense of proper climate considerations. In other words NSW planning decisions are still being haunted by the Ghost of John Barilaro.
This policy needs to be dropped before more decisions are made on the 16 other coal expansion projects now proposed in NSW.
Seniors Festival
Crowds of seniors going to the opening of the Seniors Festival Expo disrupted Sydney traffic on Wednesday morning. Three Sydney Nannas followed the crowds to Darling Harbour. They looked at exhibits, chatted to stall holders and handed out leaflets about our Craftivism Parade. They learnt about the work of the youth justice team in the NSW Department of Justice and Community. Staff told us about how they have listened to Aboriginal Elders’ advice on how the broken youth justice system can be fixed.
Nannas are watching
Call of Duty – School striker Anjali Sharma was the lead applicant in Sharma and others v Environment Minister – a class action claiming that the federal environment minister has a duty of care to protect young people from the future harms of climate change. She and her friends were elated when they won the case, and devastated eight months later when the victory was overturned. And inspiring story that’s not over yet with a Duty of Care bill to come before the Senate. ABC Australian Story
Forthcoming Events: