BREAZE has simplified its membership system. We now only have Single or Family membership available for new members. If you are an existing member you can check out your membership status. Memberships can be completed online and payments made via Paypal or direct deposit. If you have any queries please contact
Come along to an informal get together of sustainably minded people at this "BREAZE Drinks" event. Continue on the the World Environment film event at the Regent Theatre at 7:30.
Where: Mitchell Harris Wines, 38 Doveton St N, Ballarat
When: 6pm on Tuesday 5th of June
Come along and celebrate World Environment Day at this special double bill screening of two great local films.
Where: Regent Cinemas Ballarat, 49 Lydiard St North
When: Tuesday 5th of June, 7.30pm Tickets $15.
Bookings at https://breazefilmnight.eventbrite.com.au/
Also, you are welcome to come along to BREAZE Drinks at Mitchell Harris Wines, 38 Doveton St N, Ballarat from 6pm on the same night. All welcome.
BREAZE will be holding a Special General Meeting prior to its next Board meeting.
Details : - 5:30 pm on the 21st May at the Ballarat Library (178 Doveton St N)
The proposal to be voted upon at this meeting is :-
That BREAZE adopts two membership types
All memberships will be due on the anniversary of membership.
All life members will continue to be life members.
All current financial members will keep their current anniversary dates.
Businesses and organisations may buy multiple single memberships. Each membership will be allocated to a nominated party. For BREAZE nominated events, upon request prior to the event, BREAZE will allow the transfer of memberships for the purpose of priority or discounts.
If you have any queries about this please call Paul Duggan on 0432 390492.
BREAZE invites children in grades 5 and 6 from the primary schools of the greater Ballarat area to celebrate World Environment Day - 5 June 2018.
Children are invited to submit 50-100 words on:
‘What I can do to help the environment.’
The best entry from every school represented will receive an award.
The competition deadline is 21 May 2018
I am pleased to let members know that at the March Board Meeting two new members were nominated and appointed to fill casual vacancies on the Board.
Mary Debrett, a retired university lecturer in media and communications, will assist us in reviewing our strategic direction, BREAZE’s brands and our communications. Mary is keen to prepare articles for print and social media.
Jeremy Hunt has been appointed to the BREAZE Public Fund Committee, an important role to ensure the fundraising and initiatives and governance of the fund is maintained.
We welcome their input and remind members that there are still other casual vacancies.
I would like to thank our board and committee members for their collective efforts over recent weeks in delivering our stall at the Smart Building and Living Expo in Buninyong, the delivery and planning of our Smart Living Ballarat monthly lunchtime workshops at the Ballarat Central Library, the BREAZE Public Fund’s successes in attracting significant funds for the Social Renewables program, the Statewide Community Power Hubs 2 day forum in Ballarat and the Ballarat Farmers Markets.
Much is happening nationwide with renewable energy initiatives and it is pleasing to see that many shareholding companies are investing heavily in wind, solar and battery storages, while none are wanting to take the financial risk investing in coal fired power stations. This week we expect announcements on the result of the Victorian Renewable Energy Reverse Auction for 650 MW of large scale solar and wind installations.
The mining industry is however ramping up political pressure to support the Carmichael Adani Coal Mine and coal seam gas extraction.
I invite members to support campaigns through #Stop Adani, Galilee Blockade, Lock the Gate Alliance.
Issued by Ian Rossiter President BREAZE 8/3/18
The Breaze Board at its last meeting made a decision to not apply to the City of Ballarat for a licence to operate the Ballarat Farmers Market at Lake Wendouree beyond the expiry of the current licence which occurs on 30 June 2018.
Breaze will manage the Ballarat Farmers Market until 30 June 2018 and does not wish to manage the market after this date due to the need for our volunteers to focus on delivering its Smart Living Ballarat monthly workshops and a number of high profile other events. BREAZE is in discussions with our current market manager, Steve Burns, who is proposing to make application to the City of Ballarat for permission to conduct a farmers market at Lake Wendouree on the 2nd Saturday of each month and at the Brown Hill Hall on the 4th Saturday of the month after expiry of the current approved term. All indications are that this will proceed, so the markets will continue, even though BREAZE will cease management.
BREAZE wishes to acknowledge and thank the many stallholders, customers, volunteers, entertainers and the City of Ballarat who have contributed to the successful operation of the Ballarat Farmers Market during the period 2014 to 2018. We wish all success for the continued operations of the market at Lake Wendouree and Brown Hill Hall
For further information or comment please refer to Ian Rossiter phone 0467 220 442
This month the BREAZE Board convened a strategic planning workshop with its retiring board members and new members. The challenge we set ourselves was to review the feedback received from the January member’s survey and focus our activities and resources to deliver the priorities identified. We reviewed our current programs (Ballarat Farmers Market, Smart Living Ballarat Workshops, BREAZE Public Fund, Social Renewables Campaign, Community Power Hub Ballarat, Advocacy and Member Services) and discussed outcomes sought for the coming year.
The workshop revealed that our primary focus needs to be on providing activities, information and advocacy that results in changing attitudes and behaviour to respond to the challenges that climate change pose the Ballarat and region communities. Actions that the board have committed to are:
• Invest more effort in Smart Living Ballarat workshops to provide audio visual highlights on social media, generate more interaction between participants and follow up resources.
• Plan, promote and deliver major forums that will benefit members and be of general interest to the broader community featuring guest speakers or films that otherwise would not be available in Ballarat.
• Undertake a recruitment drive for members and board members in recognition that a number of office bearers are intending to step down in 2019.
• Develop activities and opportunities for members to socialise and work on neighbourhood sustainability issues and create benefits that are available to financial members.
• Promote our Social Renewables campaign to continue investing in PVs and energy efficiency measures for social housing through our Public Fund.
While doing this we continue to deliver our Community Power Hub Ballarat and advocacy activities. We thank those members who contributed to our member survey and for the board members and invitees who helped shape our direction for 2018.