The Springers Discussion Groups were started while we were in lockdown. Meetings in public venues had been cancelled and even our weekly meetings in each other's houses were stopped. In frustration, we turned to Zoom.

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...and found a whole new world of speakers who were willing to talk to us, often from their homes, though in their official capacity as members of professional and government entities. We set about educating ourselves while we were in lockdown.

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The resulting set of discussion groups provides a broad range of educational resources, from data specific to the Blue Mountains - how many days above 40 degrees would you expect in Katoomba? - to Australia-wide legal actions to bush walks in the shockingly depleted Newnes State Forest area. You will also find some great information regarding energy efficient housing and electric vehicles.

 

Anyone can use this resource directly by watching the videos, or more broadly by using the references provided and going further.

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Things that have come, directly and indirectly from these discussion groups:

- Many of us have added solar panels to our rooves, some of us are now driving electric vehicles.

- We hope to see a community bulk buy of Electric Vehicles in the Blue Mountains and surrounding areas.

- Resilient Blue Mountains has been established, drawing together input from the Blue Mountains City Council and community groups.

- A community battery in Winmalee is on the cards.

- We are making our way through 2020 with hope but with our eyes open to the reality of the Climate Crisis - we are still on track for 8 degrees of global warming. We will hold our government to account while making what changes we can in our own lives.

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Many thanks to the talented people from the Blue Mountains and beyond who gave their time to speak.

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Many, many thanks to all those who helped in these discussion groups. Liz was the steadfast, reliable organiser, reminder, administrator. Kelvin was the brave first go (when Zoom was rather new to us and even novel - remember that?). Rick nabbed the Mayor as a speaker, which lifted our spirits noticeably. Noni connected us with like-minded people throughout the Blue Mountains. James did a huge amount of research, and happily had his talk put back and back again behind others as we juggled the schedule. And many people turned up to listen on a Friday night, even when lockdown was over. It took all of us to get through lockdown and keep these discussion groups going.