Green living: Transition MOOKY members Prue Robertson and seven-month-old Zoe, Jean Allan, Bronwen Dunn and Christina Caleo. Picture: Ted Kloszynski
FOR Bronwen Dunn, the birth of her son four-and-a-half years ago shook up her whole life, but not in the ways she'd expected.
"I started to think what sort of values I wanted my son to have and what sort of environment I wanted him to live in," the Kilsyth woman explains.
Ms Dunn's soul-searching over her newborn son's future eventually led her to joining Transition MOOKY, a Kilsyth-based self-help and awareness group that equips people with the tools to become happier and closer to their community.
The network, which unites the communities of Montrose, Mooroolbark and Kilsyth, meets regularly to share resources and share useful skills.
"It's about local people living better with less," Ms Dunn says. "A lot of people find that after they've had kids suddenly they're trying to make one income cover what previously had been done by two."
Since forming last year, Transition MOOKY has held information sessions, clothes swappping events — with someone on hand to make alterations — and jam preserving classes.
Later this month, the network will hold a two-day training seminar for people interested in becoming 'transition leaders'. The coaching will tackle common household problems, including cost of living pressures and lack of public transport in the outer suburbs.
"It involves connecting people who have those skills with people who want to learn," Ms Dunn says.
The name Transition MOOKY was coined as on off-shoot of the worldwide movement that began in Totnes, England, five years ago. Its members say 'Transition' describes their desire to be less dependent on fossil fuels and develop ways of living that are less detrimental to the environment.
Transition MOOKY is now taking bookings for its training program this weekend at the Bridge Community House, 49 Durham Road, Kilsyth. Details, bookings: ttmooky@gmail.com or call Bronwen, 0408 538 605, or Lisa, 0478 120 479.
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