All BREAZE

Getting to know our volunteers –

Ruth Bentley is the Membership Officer for BREAZE and has been since joining in 2007. This volunteer role suits Ruth because she can pick and choose time to work on the list in-between juggling her family of six, four children, husband Rob and of course Ruth.

Q&A by Tarn Kruger with Ruth

The BREAZE board has now the infrastructure to support the application for grants.

Recently the board were reluctant to apply for grants because we could not secure resources to support the ongoing work required within the grant.    While volunteers are crucial  to any organisation like BREAZE  it is unreasonable and unsustainable to expect the commitment required over an extended period to manage many of these grants.  As we have now established contractor panels to support projects and major events we have and will continue to investigate funding opportunities that are available and meet BREAZE's environmental principles.  

Read about our latest grant application Bio-energy Briquette Supply Chain

We are currently looking at several other oppurtunities.    If you woulkd like to help in this process please let us know.

BREAZE has submitted an application to the New Energy Jobs Fund for the Bio-energy Briquette Supply Chain project.  This project will prepare a business case for a briquette supply chain, based in the Ballarat area, that uses waste wood & sawdust to make briquettes and subsequently uses those briquettes for commercial and industrial processes.  The application is for $71,140 which will be match with a $69,840 in-kind contribution from project partners, BREAZE, BRI, PINARC and Federation University.  BREAZE is also contributing $2,500 in cash to the project.

The key objectives of this project are to

• design systems for the transport, manufacture and distribution of briquettes and their associated feed stock;
• establish fixed & variable costs, as well as break even points & sell prices, for briquettes;
• demonstrate how existing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems can be converted to run on briquettes;
• clarify labour inputs associated with these processes and the extent of new job creation
• facilitate knowledge sharing of the findings.

We are currently looking at several other oppurtunities.    If you woulkd like to help in this process please let us know.

In recent weeks BREAZE has been highly active with so many sustainability events, media opportunities and projects being planned. Last week ABC Regional Radio sought BREAZE's views on the changes to the domestic solar feed in tariff announced by the Essential Services Commission which come into effect on 1/7/17. This was a great opportunity to promote BREAZE's objectives of transitioning Ballarat to 100% renewable energy. Our members were active at the Smart Building and Living Expo providing advice and assistance to many visitors.

Althea Oliver and her husband Robert volunteer once a month for a couple of hours at the Ballarat Farmers Market run by BREAZE. They are so dedicated to helping out that they plan their holidays around the 4th Saturday in the month, so they don’t miss their turn!

Q&A by Tarn Kruger with Althea

As many of you wold know, volunteers are essential for so many activities and services across our community and likewise Breaze relies on volunteers. Breaze members volunteer for a range of activities including: organising sustainable living information and events throughout the year; advocating about climate change; keeping membership records up to date; developing and maintaining the website; writing and publicising Fact Sheets; helping out at the Farmers market; and of course participating on the Breaze Board.

We value and appreciate all our volunteers and would like to start a regular feature for the newsletter and website to highlight some of our volunteers. Stay tuned and look out for articles on volunteers starting in February/March and remember if you wold like to become more involved give us a hoy!

Tarn
Vice President Breaze

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              Event Manager (Contractor) Expressions of Interest

Role Objective

A panel of contractors is required by Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions (BREAZE) to provide event management services over next 2 years. BREAZE plans to run multiple events within the Ballarat Region which will require contractors to assist in the planning, marketing, sourcing content and support, coordination of volunteers and on ground supervision at the events. The objective is to have sufficient contract resources available to perform these roles in collaboration with the BREAZE Board.

              Project Manager (Contractor) Expressions of Interest

Role Objective

A panel of contractors is required by Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions BREAZE Inc. to provide project management services over the next 2 years. Subject to successful application, BREAZE plans to be running a number of projects within the Ballarat Region which will require contractors to assist in the planning, sourcing suitable partners, refinement of business cases and procurement of renewable energy installations. The objective is to have sufficient contract resources available to perform these roles in collaboration with the BREAZE Board throughout the year for multiple projects.