World Animal Day: Promoting Respectful Cohabitation
The Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative is hosting its first World Animal Day Event on Saturday 5 October at the Planetary Health Precinct (former Katoomba Golf Course at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba). It will be a fun-filled and informative day with stalls, presentations, storytelling for children by Sharon Baldwin and Naomi Crew, children’s craft by Julie Refferty, a Wildlife Exhibition including work by Merryl Watlkins and Holly Jayne, live music by Mem Davis, Joe Flood and Duck Keegan, plant based food provided by Bibi’s Kitchen and Clean Cravings, and a Plant Based Cheese Degustation to launch the Plant Inspired Community Cooking Project.
Bookings for this free day via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/world-animal-day-promoting-respectful-cohabitation-tickets-1029328889417?fbclid=IwY2xjawFsWudleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfQljbAvQcfctuKYPkkEJ3yzogW_ghnl1ObZUDvBjq2y_SSbd2pVayEqdQ_aem_StP4l_PVc8iEqIRHI_Ci-A
Stalls and presentations will run from 9am to 2pm but a highlight before the event will be a Breakfast with the Birds, led by Paul Nagle from the Blue Mountains Bird Observers. People are encouraged to bring binoculars for a guided bird walk around the Planetary Health Precinct, visiting different habitats on the site to observe and talk about the birdlife that are resident and those that visit the site.
The Blue Mountains Bird Observers will also join WIRES, Wombat Rescue, Action for Animals Blue Mountains, the Blue Mountains Conservation Society and others to provide more information on how we can best live with the many species that share our common home.
During the day the Women’s Shed will demonstrate how to make a Possum Box and provide suggestions on how to manage possums that have chosen our roof spaces for their homes. There will be a session on Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design which will include actions everyone can take to support more biodiversity in urban areas. For those who’d like to get hands on experience doing this there will be an opportunity to observe and learn more at the Planetary Health Bushcare Group from 1.30-4.30pm.
Guest speakers throughout the day will include Elizabeth Ellis, lecturer and author of Australian Animal Law; Hal Ginges, a local lawyer and animal activist from Action for Animals who advocates for animal rights and raises money for sanctuaries; Mark Berriman who has been President of the Australian Vegetarian Society NSW since 1989, as well as Co-ordinator for Animal Liberation NSW, Director of the Natural Health Society of Australia and the World League for Protection of Animals; and Teya Brooks Pribac, a researcher in the area of animal studies and the award-winning author of Enter the Animal. She’s also published Not Just Another Vegan Cookbook and will be sharing her culinary skills with the community in the Plant Inspired Community Cooking Project.
- Contact Name: Teya Brooks Pribac
- Contact Email: pribact@gmail.com
- Location: Katoomba NSW
- Organised by: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative