SDN Newsletter – December 2021

How’s life? Such a big question in so few words. Each of us will answer in different ways at different times in our life, but always most likely a mix of gains and losses. For me, the gains still outweigh the losses and I hope it’s the same for you.

Gains continue with my SDN work and this year I’ve also been given the chance to re-visit my early career working with Aboriginal elders in NSW. To my surprise and delight, the younger generation wants it all back - photos, tape-recordings, reports and notes. This has turned into a repatriation project involving SDN, NED, Community Development and Restorative Practice, which I hope will become recognised in other regions.

It was Ned Iceton who introduced me to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in the 1970s. I Googled it for more information and found this colourful diagram. Many of us in SDN are lucky to have lived through the best of times and now we can fill the top-level needs - Cognitive, Aesthetic and Self Actualization. (Transcendence is a wonderful but distant goal and something I only know in theory. When I find out how in practice, you’ll be the first to know!)

The Wikipedia entry also suggests that when we decide to make personal development a part of our lives, we need to meet those higher levels of need in whatever ethical, meaningful and authentic ways we can find: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs

Workshops

The April 2021 Annual SDN Workshop at Armidale was very successful (see photo). For more information see the report at www.sdn.ned.org.au The 2022 Annual SDN Workshop is from 21-26 January at Guthega Ski Lodge (see flyer). Please consider attending as it is building to be an excellent group of attendees.

The SDN Survey A survey of all 482 SDN members was conducted between August and October using SurveyMonkey and responses were received from 51. A majority of respondents are aged between 60 and 80, 58% are women and 42% men. 74% had been to an SDN workshop. 38% are interested in hosting a workshop in their area. 65% would like to be invited to an SDN Zoom in future. 70% read the SDN newsletter (30% do not).

Some of the 22 questions requested long-form answers:

• What do you think of the SDN and workshops?
• What do you enjoy about the newsletter?
• Apart from workshops, Zooming and e-newsletters, what else could we be doing?
• What are the top issues of concern to you (personal or political or both)?

Picking a selection of answers is a challenge - there are too many good ones! However, in the order listed above:

• I love the community feeling. I come away from every workshop renewed and strengthened.
• SDN is a great place to connect and see the value of relationships. A place where lifelong connections can be found.
• SDN is an unusual mix of grass roots and hothouse flower, a democratic forum and opportunity for anyone to have their say.
• It needs refreshing with clear aspirations, goals, more diversity and welcoming people with goals for change.
• Excellent networking and change group.
• Gaining confidence in presentation, sharing and understanding ideas, making connections.
• Sharing, drawing mutual support, reflecting.
• Keeping up to date with what the network is up to, its activities etc.
• Well put-together and informative, easy to read.
• I glance through. Good to see people connecting.
• I haven't received an SDN newsletter for at least a year.
• Supporting local initiatives for reconciliation and the environment.
• Inviting Australia's leading change-makers to 4-day workshops. o Forums around topics of interest.
• Engaging better with younger communities.
• Incubating 'change in real time' ideas; social action in emerging areas.

Climate change was by far the most pressing issue for respondents. Other issues included: Australia’s future, government lacking accountability, corruption, neoliberalism, social justice, inequality, environment, ageing, mental health, community engagement and neighbourhood development.

I have completed reports on the survey in two PDF files. If anyone would like me to send these, just get in contact by email - harry.creamerhotmail.com

Hydrogen for beginners by Andrew Gunner*

I was excited about hydrogen, but many proposed uses of hydrogen are far less efficient than the alternatives. For example, a hydrogen car will use about 2.3 times more energy than a lithium-ion battery car. Heating a house by burning hydrogen/methane blended gas will use about 6.8 times more electricity than air conditioning. Cooking with hydrogen uses about 3.1 times more electricity than an efficient electric stove.

Green hydrogen will play a role where electricity does not work, e.g., making ammonia fertilizers and powering ships. However, hydrogen’s inefficiency will limit its uses. Don’t be fooled by the government’s ‘technology not taxes’ election slogan. What they really care about is a gas-led recovery to make hydrogen. I hope that Australia can become a renewable energy superpower. See my website www.feedbackreigns.net

* Andrew Gunner is an SDN member living in Melbourne. He worked for 20 years in the petrochemical industry, then as a counsellor gaining a Master of Social Work by researching addictions counselling. Andrew attended the 2020 SDN workshop near Melbourne.

40 Critical Thinkers in CD

Who are the great activists, thinkers and writers who can inspire us in our community work? Check out this book called 40 Critical Thinkers for Community Development: https://www.booktopia.com.au/40-critical-thinkers-for-community-developm...

Jottings

• Resilience - the ability of an individual, community, organisation or system to absorb, withstand and bounce back after an adverse event.
• Worth a look: https://www.australiaremade.org/
• Pippa Fox from Adelaide sent this link to a wonderful song from Songs for the Great Turning: https://songsforthegreatturning.net/going-forth/we-shall-be-known-by-the...

 

 

Wishing you all seasons’ greetings and a happy and successful 2022.