If The (Rockhampton Heritage) Village Were A Trial Site For A Healthier World

Last week I suggested we might all (Generations Bb, X, Y, Z & Alpha) unite to making our planet healthier, hypothesising the more people involved the quicker and longer lasting the changes, with the journey only needing to start with small steps. So, what are the first small steps to take? Recognising that there is a problem is the first. Caring, wanting, educating and believing changes will make a difference will be among the next, along with identifying what are the attributes of a healthier planet. Clean air to breath, water to drink and food to eat; does it stop there? What about individual empowerment, not having to live in fear, respect, acceptance, access to affordable health care, not being constantly hungry, peaceful co-existence? I imagine a healthy planet has many different attributes, circumstance perhaps determining the most important attributes for each of us, be they physical, mental or spiritual. Each year Brisbane holds an Eco Expo, sub-titled ‘Save the World’, encouraging each of us to take at least one eco step towards being more sustainable. ‘If we all take one step then as a whole, we can make a significant difference’. Sounds like we are singing from the same hymn book, doesn’t it! So naturally I began thinking Rockhampton should have its own Eco Expo. But we kind of already do with Tropicana, its sub-title being Tropical Gardening and Sustainability Expo. Then there are the CQ School Savvy Pop-Up Shops next week. 1400 people would arguably view this initiative as a step towards a healthier planet, helping people by re-using school uniforms and supplying subsidised stationery. And there’s Homeless Connect, Young Change Agents and many other activities that are steps already being taken towards a healthier planet. Perhaps I’m a bit late joining the small steps journey, but I don’t think I’m alone, as a person interested in being more aware and educated on ways I can make changes, even as small as why using a refillable oil sprayer is better for the environment than an aerosol can. Perhaps rather than add another Expo to Rockhampton’s event calendar we create a healthier planet micro eco-system, where eco-sustainable practices are not just implemented but new ‘healthier planet’ ideas are continually discussed and tested as well. A place of innovation as well as sustainability. Where more appropriate than a village, the Rockhampton Heritage Village. Could it become 100% powered by renewable energy, recycle all its waste, grow its own produce, hold relevant ‘healthier planet’ workshops in the Barn, stop selling processed food and soft drinks from its shop, use refillable oil sprayers in preparing food (maybe it already does). A living museum becoming also a living trial site constantly taking steps to become healthier. Where businesses that want to highlight their eco-sustainability credentials adopt on-going relevant projects in the Village. Transform the Village markets to have a ‘healthy planet’ focus. This would breathe new life (people and money) into the Village with only minor cosmetic changes to its primary visual appeal.  Tropicana could even have a new home to develop it sustainability credentials and the Heritage Village a new relevance to more generations. Is this not a step a Smart Regional Centre would take to highlight its on-going commitment to innovation and in making the planet healthier?   What do you think?