SHARE
Sustainable Hepburn Association – Renewing the Earth (SHARE) is a not-for-profit, non-political community association run by volunteers. SHARE has around 500 members and is focused on the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria, Australia.
Our background
SHARE was established in 2005 as Hepburn Renewable Energy Association (HREA) with the intention to build Australia’s first community-owned wind park. This project is now being developed by Hepburn Wind Cooperative, www.hepburnwind.com.au.
Our focus has expanded to be a facilitator of sustainable projects in the Hepburn Shire, building resilient communities now and into the future. Our public name changed to Sustainable Hepburn Association (SHARE) during 2009.
Our purpose: to cultivate sustainable community
SHARE is committed to providing space that promotes the growth of communities that are environmentally responsible, socially connected and economically vibrant now and into the future.
We intend to achieve this by working together to
- use natural resources wisely & reduce waste
- grow, produce & purchase locally
- develop and share resources, knowledge & skills
- foster sustainable thinking and actions
- facilitate the uptake of renewable energy
We support initiatives that care for our environment and build strong and vibrant community.
Our vision, values and key strategies
(c) model developed by The Zone
Core Strategy 1: Create a sustainable organisation
- Build and connect with membership
- Create working groups
- Communicate regularly
Core Strategy 2: Be the ears and voice of sustainability
- Create a useful website
- Produce regular newsletters / Green News
- Connect with Council
Core Strategy 3: Connect & catalyse local sustainability initiatives
- We support what is happening by an agreed selection criteria that fit our core values
- Identify priority projects
- Get the word out
Core Strategy 4: Build capacity
- Inspiration and motivation through programs, education, forums we originate
- Connecting with community groups
- We make it happen
Our committee
Laurel Freeland, Vice Chair
Laurel is a change agent whose work spans the business and community sector. She conducts values based organisational change programs, supports groups to create alignment and action around their goals and trains technical people about the people side of training, facilitation and group management. She regularly works in leadership development programs including women in sustainability. Currently studying a Masters of Education in Social Ecology, this has been an increasing aspect of her professional work. She has trained with systems theorist and deep ecologists Joanna Macy and John Seed as well as other leaders in environmental education. She conducts a series of public and in-house programs in facilitation, leadership, coaching, personal transformation, spirituality and ecology and the business case for sustainability. She cares deeply about living in harmony with others and the planet and emphasizes the importance of making choices that enhance all life, now and in the future.
Jacobus “Koos” Hulst, Treasurer
In 2005 Koos and his wife Carol purchased the fifty hectare Sault property and restaurant in Sailors Falls and have since then secured a Council planning permit to develop the property into a well-being centre with, amongst others, accommodation, conference centre and spa retreat. Their vision statement is: A healthy mind in a healthy body, in harmony with nature.
As part of our development plans for Sault Estate, Koos has written a water management plan for the well-being centre which involves the harvesting and storage of rainwater and on-site biological treatment of wastewater by which 75% of the produced wastewater on the property will be recycled.
Koos is also Deputy Chairman of the Hepburn Community Wind Park Cooperative, establishing Australia’s first community-owned wind park in Leonards Hill, member of the Destination Daylesford Steering Committee, member of the Daylesford CFA, and a committee member of the Daylesford and District Community Bank®.
Rules of the Association
Read the association rules HREA_Rules_Oct_2005
