The recent "Relax Festival" in Tatura organized by "Tatura Transition Towns" was highly successful, on a comparative basis.

More than 100 people came to the town's Stuart Mock Place to enjoy free music; a free barbecue cooked on induction hotplates powered by an electric car; learn about composting; watch a karate display; book in to either see a rather special garden and visit another home and learn about making biochar; join the GV Gamers Guild to enjoy play without electric power; talk with John Laing about the damage our way of living is causing to other life forms, learn about insects (watch them crawl up your arm) and hear about the valuable work of Landcare; hear from Hilary Grigg about how we should be dealing with our waste; and get som home energy tips and ideas from Terry Court of "Zero Carbon Tatrura".

The Melbourne-based "Bicycle Network" was represented, and the idea of using an electric bike was illustrated through the display of a privately owned electric trike and a folding electric bike from Shepparton's Leading Edge Cycles.

Climate Conversations also attended and talked with two 'ordinary" people - Dave Wischer (pictured) from Rushworth and Wynan Dollar from Tatura.

Dave is concerned about the impact of climate change and encouraged others to watch "Nature Bats Last" by Professor Guy McPherson.