What's on
Features and highlights
Click here to download the Festival program and remember to check this page for program updates!
Click on the image to see the festival map, or click here to download the image:
How to make Ethical Investments
Ethical investment isn’t just a feel-good exercise. It makes good business sense. The companies who do well environmentally and socially are also those who will increasingly do well financially. James will introduce the Climate Advocacy Fund, a ground-breaking way to influence corporate behaviour in Australia. The fund will pursue improved climate change performance from Australia’s largest companies principally through resolutions at annual general meetings. Come along to find out more at the Ethical Investment stall and catch the Ethical Investment talk at 10am on Sunday morning.
Guilt-free holidays
Love to see the world but want to do it more sustainably? Find out how at 2pm on Saturday at the Wesleyan Church.
Underwater Basketry
Weaving workshops with local artist Aly De Groot. 1HR DURATION all materials supplied, SAT, SUN, 10.30am & 3.30pm, cost-$20, Call 0416363950 or see Aly's stall at the Festival.
Local fibre artist Aly de Groot regularly exhibits throughout Australia as well as facilitating workshops in Darwin and nationally . She values the inspiration and knowledge gained and exchanged through formulating ideas and projects which can inspire and educate people, using readily available materials that may other wise be a pest or environmental threat. Learn contemporary basket making techniques using recycled fishing nets and locally sourced plant materials to make a basket . All materials supplied.1 hour workshops, Sat and Sun, 10.30 am and 3.30 pm, cost-$20
COOLmob
Top Ten Energy Saving Tips and Money Saving Bulk Buy Programs. Learn how you can save money, feel great and help reduce global warming. Find out about products that you can purchase more cheaply thanks to COOLmob’s Bulk Buying power. Check out COOLmob’s Power Generating Exercise Bikes at the COOLmob stall. Presented by Robin Knox, Michael Cauce and Adrielle Drury. Saturday & Sunday, 12 - 1pm "On the Green" Main Stage
Change Agents: An emerging vision for a sustainable future
This interactive and engaging series of stunning short films reflects on where we're at as a people and planet, how we got here, and most importantly, where we can go from here. Experience how people everywhere are stepping up to create a more sustainable, just and fulfilling future.
Sunday 6 June, 11.15am - 1.45pm Green Living Wesleyan Church
Ideas Exchange – Creating the Future Together
Been inspired by this Festival? Want to turn a thought into action? Bring your ideas or just your ears – connect, engage and collaborate to create a sustainable Top End.
Sunday 6 June, 2.15 - 3.00 ABC "Think" Tent
Green Living workshops and demonstrations
From growing natives like Gingers and Bromeliads to sharing ideas about
sustainability at the Ideas Exchange, the festival workshops will give you plenty to think about. Get hands-on with a permaculture blitz! Various locations at the Gardens, Saturday and Sunday
Sustainable Futures
What will your future look like in 2030? Join the Top End’s best thinkers in sustainability
and discuss the hot topics - water, climate change, energy, infrastructure, tourism,
biodiversity, sustainability. Sunday 10am "On the Green" Main Stage
Food, Native, Urban and Sustainable Gardens
Got a question about your backyard? Experts on all forms of gardening on hand to answer
your questions, help find solutions and offer advice and tips.
Renewable Energy
The best options in solar and clean energy on display throughout the weekend. Expert
advice on hand to help you set up for solar.
Invest in a Greener Lifestyle
Want to find out more about guilt-free travel, environmental careers and ethical
investments? Heaps of information and talks on ways to green up your life. Head to the
Ideas Exchange to have your say! ABC "Think" tent and Green Living Wesleyan Church, Saturday & Sunday
Green Gig Jess Ribeiro & Barry Brown & the Get Down
Celebrate World Environment Day on the Main Stage from 5pm on Saturday. All flights have
been offset, and the gig is powered by GreenPower. Get down for some Top End sunset
grooves! Saturday afternoon from 4pm, "On the Green" Main Stage
Landscape Olympics
Don’t miss the 2010 Landscape Olympics, with new green-powered teams. Teams design &
construct their own mini landscape design in 20 minutes. Get involved with your own team!
With Thanks to The Plantsmith for supporting this event. 11.30 & 2.30, Saturday & Sunday.
The Great Environment Debate “Renewable energy will be our saviour, not nuclear”
Palmerston High and Taminmin High tackle one of the Territory’s most contentious
issues - Nuclear energy. Not to be missed. Saturday 3pm, "On the Green" Main Stage.
Northern Territory Government (NRETAS)
Visit the Greening the Territory display to discover how easy it is to contribute to a
greener, cleaner Territory. Save money and help the environment with the Territory
Government’s Energy Smart Rebate and Rainwater Tank Rebate. Find out more about new
Territory Government initiatives such as Cash for Containers and the Plastic Bag Ban. See
you there!
Recycled Jewellery
Learn how to turn trash into treasure. Workshop jewellery experts will guide you through all stages of jewellery-making. All material supplied. See program and signs for times. Sat & Sun.
Power & Water How to make your household a little greener
Power and Water invite you to stop by and check out the latest ideas on how to save
money, reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. You can check your
homes energy use via the Virtual Energy Audit to find out how much carbon dioxide your
household produces. Kids can also get involved in saving the planet through our interactive
online education resources. Power and Water staff will be on hand to answer questions and you can pick up a range of fact sheets and booklets.
Darwin City Council
The Environment & Climate Change and Parks team will be displaying a representation of a
sustainable naturestrip including recommended trees and shrubs in a feature display at their
stand. There will also be an audio display with Capital Works and Operational (Parks) Works,
the my 0800 project (City Revitalisation Project) and the Duke Street Rainforest - Draft
Management Plan - for comment.
There will be a display on waste and recycling including composting with the chance to win
a compost bin by filling out an entry form and answering a simple question (there is one to
be won each day over the two days).
Charles Darwin University Horticulture
This year seven Garden Design students from CDU have designed seven gardens along the
sustainable theme which will all link together to form a Rainbow Serpent through the
Coconut Lawn at the Botanic Gardens. You will see Japanese style, low water use, NT Native
bush food and dye plants, a formal veggie plot, a grassland, water gardens and creative use
of recycled and sustainable materials.
105.7 ABC Darwin Talkback Gardeners
For as long as most Top Ender’s can remember, the talkback gardeners on 105.7 ABC
Darwin have been providing advice and tips for better backyards. See the Gardeners live on
Saturday morning with presenter Richard Margetson from 8.30am live from the Gardens. ABC "Think" tent from 8.30am, Saturday morning.
Mix 104.9 FM
Roving reporters from Mix 104.9 will be on-site at the event, chatting to gardeners and
sustainability experts throughout the day. This is your opportunity to tell the world why and
how we can all live more sustainably!
Melaleuca Awards
Check out the winning entries in the 2010 Melaleuca Awards, Power & Water’s annual
awards to recognise outstanding achievement in environmental excellence. Power & Water
tent.
Eco House and garden tours
Guided tours of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Eco House and community
gardens as well as the new terraced permaculture gardens that are currently being
developed with the assistance of the Nursery & Garden Industry NT.
Wild NT short film competition
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and what better way to celebrate the
‘fabric of life’ than through the medium of film? Winning films debut at the Festival,
then go on to feature on the Fist Full of Films festival program. Screenings Saturday
and Sunday.
Arts in the Park
Roving artists, a silent art auction, outdoor art for your garden, sculpture, weaving,
recycled fridge art and jewellery making.
Children’s Playground and fun stuff for kids
Get up close and personal with snakes, crocs, lizards and birds! Learn about
KidsGrow@Home, face painting, recycled jewellery making, balloon artistry, plant
potting and seed planting. Visit the children’s playground at the gardens, it’s full of
interesting plants, pathways, play equipment, a sandy beach and much, much more…
Chantal the Fairy
Internationally renowned Australian artist, Chantal the Fairy has been Darwin’s most
popular children’s entertainer for nearly 20 years. Magic, juggling, uni cycling, trickbike
riding, plate spinning, singing, story-telling, balloon modelling, and world class
face painting.
Walking Tours - National Trust
The National Heritage Trust will take small groups on a walking tour to the Myilly Point
heritage precinct.
Meet Leonie Norrington
Author, journalist, feature writer and third generation tropical gardener Leonie
Norrington is Gardening Australia’s presenter in the Northern Territory. Born in Darwin,
Leonie is the third of nine children and spent much of her childhood on a remote
community south of Katherine.
Charity Auction
Your chance to pick up a bargain display item and help out a worthwhile charity.
Proceeds are donated to community groups and charities. 4.00pm Sunday, Main Stage.
Volunteers
NT Scouts plant holding service and volunteers on hand to lift heavy stuff and take
care of your big purchases. The NT Scouts are a great support to our site holders at
the Tropical Garden Spectacular and Top End Sustainable Living Festival. A gold coin
donation would be appreciated for their efforts.
To and from the festival
Mindil Beach reserve has parking for 800, with access off Maria Liveris Drive. The
Gardens are off Gardens Road and Gilruth Ave with a special entrance on the Northern
side of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. Look for the coloured flags.
There’s plenty of space for parking your bike, and we encourage you to walk, catch a
bus, car pool or skateboard.
