It has been some time coming but the result has been truly worthwhile.
Since 2020 Permaculture Noosa has been drawing plans, fund-raising and building a pavilion at Cooroy Community Gardens.
On Saturday that effort was realised with the official opening of the pavilion.
“We did it,’’ Permaculture Noosa president Cr Tom Wegener said.
“I’d like to thank the people who have put thousands of hours into this building. The wicking garden beds, the worm farm and the compost.
“It gives me great pride to mention all of those who have made substantial contributions to this building.
“It should be heritage-listed today because of the amazing amount of community work that’s gone into it.’’
Project manager Sandra Guy said that during the construction process it was a matter of dealing with Covid and rising building costs as well as the day-to-day issues that come up.
“Permaculture is about living in an intelligent way,’’ she said, “… finding the best way is to live in harmony with our environment and in full health.
“This building is a practical demonstration of that in several ways.
“The pavilion has been a community project from the very start. It could not have been completed without the generous support of grants, donations, local businesses and volunteers.
“Bendigo Bank has donated 30 per cent of the required funds. To honour their contribution and our appreciation, this building has been named Bendigo Bank Community Pavilion.
“We were 15 months into the project when Trish Radge from Bendigo Bank heard that there was something exciting happening down at the end of Emerald Street.
“As a result the bank injected $50,000 which enabled the builders to put in the ironbark posts and install the roof in order to fast-track the project.’’
Noosa Council, the Queensland Government Community Benefit Fund and Bendigo Bank have all been major financial contributors. Yet so have all the volunteers and supporters who helped run very successful fundraising events.
The ethics of permaculture are: Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share.
Permaculture Noosa was formed in the Noosa Shire nearly 30 years ago by Geoff Lawton, who was to perform the opening of the pavilion.
Yet he unexpectedly had to head over to his project in Jordan where he has been greening the desert for the past 10 years.
It was up to the next generation Lawton to open the pavilion, in conjunction with Maleny permaculture consultant Morag Gamble.
Daniel Lawton’s mission is to heal the world through permaculture, Sandra Guy said.
“The pavilion and gardens are a way of bringing hope back into society for a better world.
“They will serve as a hub for re-connection, community, learning, workshops on how to care for our soils, grow survival foods and medicinal herbs, and to care for one another.
“It’s an opportunity to bring hope into the lives of our children and grandchildren, their future … our planet’s future.
“While it took just four weeks to put the roof on the building, the cob earth and walls have taken the past six months working four to five days a week.’’
The work of sustainable building designer Brett Grimly at Ecolibrium was highlighted. So was that of Elena Moctezuma.
“Fortunately we were able to employ Elena,’’ Sandra said, “…an architect from Mexico, with a passion for building with what’s under our feet. The earth.
“She was able to guide us through building the cob walls and then rendering them.
“The walls were built one handful at a time. It was a huge effort.’’
As well as being a community hub, the pavilion has school children coming in each week as part of the curriculum to learn about building with earth.
“They are learning important life skills,’’ Sandra said. “How to compost, how to build healthy soil, how to save seeds and grow their own food.
“Bob Cameron from Rockcote has been here every week for months, running workshops on how to build a cob or heat-retaining oven. He even shared his passion for making sourdough.
“It’s been very much a community project. We have created a legacy.
“If you have a look around the gardens, they have been transformed to bloom and be fruitful.
“Together, we ran monthly barbecues at the Pomona markets for the past two and a half years so huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our vision becoming a reality.’’
Bendigo Bank Cooroy’s chair Trish Radge welcomed guests to the Cooroy Spring Festival and to celebrate the 21st birthday of Bendigo Bank Cooroy as well as the opening of this Permaculture Noosa pavilion.
“We congratulate Permaculture Noosa for building this incredible pavilion,’’ she said.
“As a community bank we are thrilled to be involved with the project, one that supports the growth, sustainability and unity of our community.
“We are excited to witness the pavilion becoming a space for exchanging knowledge, sparking inspiration nurturing connections.’’
