Carolyn Nuttall, Permaculture in schools pioneer

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by Russ Grayson

Carolyn Nuttall based her first book, ‘The Childrens Food Forest’, on her experience with primary children in food growing projects at Brisbane’s Seville Road State School, where she was a teacher. The book marks the start of the use of the permaculture design system in schools and pointed to an alternative direction for environmental education.
More recently, Carolyn wrote a workbook for use in schools and has been guest speaker at conferences of the Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network (www.communitygarden.org.au), which hosts permaculture in schools practitioners. That ‘The Childrens Food Forest’ is still in print is testament to its value after all these years.

David Holmgren, co-founder of the Permaculture

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by Russ Grayson

The origins of permaculture can be traced to the book, ‘Permaculture One’, authored by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison in 1978.
After its release, David put his energy into developing his rural smallholding – Melliodora, at Hepburn, Victoria – into a model of permaculture landuse design and into developing his consultancy, Holmgren Design Services. Later, he started teaching the Permaculture Design Certificate there, which he continues to do.
Author of several books on permaculture, David has emerged over recent times as perhaps the leading commentator of the design system he helped create, a role accelerated by the release of ‘Permaculture – Pathways Beyond Sustainability’.
The book is a major thought piece regarded as the equivalent of Bill Mollison’s ‘Permaculture – A Designer’s Manual’ (1988). David’s public profile as a commentator on sustainability was improved by his 2006 tour with US peak oil campaigner, Richard Heinberg.
Also building his profile have been appearances on ABC television and radio, which have been enhanced by his considered, factual style of presentation. More about David: http://www.holmgren.com.au

Steve Ward and Russ Grayson

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by Russ Grayson

Steve Ward (left) was active in the early permaculture scene in Sydney in the 1980s.
For AASC – the Australian Association of Sustainable Communities – Steve, Russ, Fiona Campbell and others published ‘Evidently/Sustainability’, a press clipping service focusing on sustainability news. AASC was an early, national bioregional organisation.
Steve went on to publish ‘Village Voice’, a local newspaper in Bundeena/Mainanbar. He later published a newsletter for a community centre. An unorthodox thinker and innovator, Steve was characterised by an unusual sense of humour and spontaniety. He did his Permaculture Design Certificate at one of Bill Mollison’s early courses and attended the international permaculture convergence in New Zealand.
Steve is one of those early permaculture people that little is heard of today. He now lives with his family in Cronulla.

Morag Gamble & Evan Raymond

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by Russ Grayson

Residents of Crystal Waters Permaculture Village, Morag and Raymond teach permaculture and ecovillage design and work in environmental planning through their small business, SEED International. Morag has taught at Schumacher College in the UK.
In the early 1990s, the couple were among the crew that started Northey Street City Farm in Brisbane. Today, they are active with the Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network (www.communitygarden.org.au) and promote relocalisation, local food and local culture.

Damien Lynch, pioneer of ethical investment

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by Russ Grayson

Sydney resident, Damian Lynch, pioneered the ethical investment industry in Australia in the 1980s with his company, August Investments. At that time, the company had an office at the Permaculture Epicentre in Enmore. Damien set up Ecoforest Pty Ltd in the late 1990s, a forestry investment company with a mixed hardwood plantation in the Hunter region.
Damien was originally inspired by Bill Mollison and went on to complete a Permaculture Design Course (PDC). He taught the economics components of the Pacific Edge PDC in the late 1990s. Damien’s gift to permaculture and sustainability has been to show that we can all use our money towards sustainable ends.