TropEco News - Seventh edition

Your hot spot for a cool campus

TropEco NEWS

www.jcu.edu.au/tropeco

How can we live and eat

sustainably

in the tropics?

Find out about JCU’s inaugural Sustainability Symposium Friday 8 March 2013

Issue 7 January - March 2013 100% recycled paper

Letter from the Editor

Sustainability starts with YOU Issue 7 January - March 2013 Editor: Adam Connell Sub Editor: Suzy Keys

Contents 3.

What’s happening?

4. JCU Sustainability Awards by Adam Connell 6.

Sustainability Symposium & Fair

6. Transport to JCU by Adam Connell 7.

Meet Rebecca Tuma by Avril Robinson

8.

JCU Permaculture Society

by Leon Van Wyk

9.

Environmental Volunteering in the Dry Tropics by Penny Claringbull

10. BUGS by Adella Edwards & Lania Lynch

Contribute to TropEco News If you have a sustainability related story or event you want to talk about, please send it to tropeco@jcu.edu.au with any relevant pictures and we may put it up on the TropEco Facebook page or publish it in TropEco News.

TropEco News is published on 100% recycled paper and is also available online. Limited copies are printed to minimise resource consumption.

Front Cover: The Photo was taken by Suzy Keys at the 1998 Innisfail Wine and Food Festival, The selection of Tropical Fruits was part of a fabulous display of tropical fruit grown in Far North Queensland.

I’d like to welcome all new and returning students and staff and our local and wider community to what I'm sure will be a fun and productive year, with so much planned for 2013 in the sustainability space.

We have already seen the launch of the Action for Sustainability Fund, calling for projects from staff and students at JCU that enhance the sustainability of the University. Grants of between $5,000 and $30,000 are available in this year’s round of funding and we hope to see many inspiring and innovative projects. For more info see page 3.

The first major event for the year will be the Sustainability Symposium and Fair at the Cairns Campus on Friday 8th March. This is the first symposium of what will be an annual event focusing on sustainability challenges in the tropics, worldwide.

This year’s theme is How can we live and eat sustainably in the tropics?

There’s a great list of speakers and most sessions will be video linked to Townsville so everyone can get involved. Check out page 6 for more details.

TropEco will be holding more FREE movie nights in 2013, with at least three showings planned for the Townsville Campus on 1st March, 17th May and 6th September at the Medical Lecture Theatre. The movie nights are a great way to meet new people, learn something, be inspired and just enjoy yourself.

2 TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

Don’t forget to visit our stall for O-Week Market Day, held on Wednesday the 20th February in Townsville and Tuesday 26th February in Cairns.

Before I finish, there’s often a lot of confusion around what sustainability means and there are lots of definitions out there that can be useful, confusing and sometimes even misleading.

Because sustainability is such a big concept it can be hard to grasp, often alienating people because they don’t know what it means to be ‘sustainable’.

The three ethics of Permaculture simply and eloquently sum up what sustainability means - “earth care, people care and fair share”.

The Permaculture design system and ethics can be used by individuals, households, communities and businesses to design a holistically sustainable life for all and I think this is an excellent system to use as a basis for understanding what true sustainability is. Have a great 2013 and remember a sustainable world starts with YOU.

Adam Connell Manager, Environment Estates Office Division of Finance and Resource Planning, James Cook University, Angus Smith Dr, Douglas, Qld 4811 P: +61 7 4781 5060 Mobile: 0459 097 253 E:adam.connell@jcu.edu.au

What’s happening?

TropEco Movie Nights are back for 2013 Join us for a special screening of the award-winning Sundance documentary, Connected: An Autoblogography about Love, Death & Technology, directed by Tiffany Shlain.

When: Connected will be held on Friday the 1st of March.

Food and drinks from 6:30pm with a 7pm screening.

Where:JCU Medical Lecture Theatre (Building 45) (see link for map) http://www.jcu.edu.au/maps/townsville/interactive/?location=45

This is a free event and everyone is invited to attend!

Bring your friends and family for a fun night out Have you ever faked a restroom trip to check your email? Or become so overwhelmed that you just unplugged from it all?

How reliant are you on being connected? In this funny, eyeopening, and inspiring film, Director Tiffany Shlain takes audiences on an exhilarating rollercoaster ride to discover what it means to be connected in the 21st century.

From founding The Webby Awards to being a passionate advocate for The National Day of Unplugging, Shlain’s love/hate relationship with technology serves as the springboard for a thrilling exploration of modern life…and our interconnected future. After centuries of declaring independence, perhaps it’s time to declare our interdependence instead.

"Examining everything from the Big Bang to twitter...a cinematic clickstream...touching" - The New York Times "Incredibly engaging! ..Like High Definition Terry Gilliam...So lively and so fun, I could not take my eyes off of it!" -Bits: Tech Talk, The New York Times Check out the trailer here: http://connectedthefilm.com/ Food platters and drinks will be provided on the night.

Sustainability Symposium & Fair Friday 8 March 2013

See page 6

Action for Sustainability Fund The JCU Action for Sustainability Fund provides funding for projects that result in a sustainable outcome for JCU and help raise the sustainability profile of JCU. Grants of between $5000 and $30,000 may be awarded for any one project, depending on availability of funds.

Information sessions will be held on the following dates: Thursday 21st February, 12 - 1pm (at Cairns - B1.107, Townsville – AV Services (Building 9) Room 001, Singapore - TBA)

Students and staff are encouraged to apply.

Have you got an exciting sustainability project or idea you’d love to get off the ground at JCU? Apply for up to $30,000 in funding through the JCU Action for Sustainability Fund NOW!

Hurry, applications for 2013 close on Thursday 21st March.

Innovative and high profile projects that can demonstrate a sustainability benefit to JCU will be looked upon favourably.

The JCU Action for Sustainability Fund is administered by the Sustainability Advisory Committee and Sustainability Action Group at JCU.

Thursday 14 March 12- 1pm (at Cairns - B1.107, Townsville – Marine & Tropical Biology (Building 23) Room 038, Singapore - TBA) For more info on applying for a grant go to: www.jcu.edu.au/tropeco

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia 3

CommunityAward Highly Commended: Prahlad Dahal (JCU student and President Cairns Bhutanese Community)

JCU

Tr o p E c o Sustainability

AWARDS Curriculum Award Winner: Dr. Colin MacGregor (School of Earth & Environmental Sciences)

2012 James Cook University recently held the second annual TropEco Sustainability Awards to recognise individuals and groups that have had a significant impact on sustainability at JCU and in the wider community.

Over 40 nominations were received for the five award categories and the winners and highly commended entries were presented with their awards in Cairns and Townsville last week.

“We had an excellent response from the JCU community in nominating people for the awards and the calibre of nominations was exceptional, which made judging very difficult”, Adam Connell, JCU Environment Manager said.

The TropEco Sustainability Awards help to recognise JCU staff and students that are going above and beyond in their efforts to make JCU a more sustainable institution as well as acknowledge the great work being done in the wider community.

This year saw five awards presented.

TropEco Excellence Award Highly Commended: Lena Taylor (Faculty of Science and Engineering) and Sustainability Officer

Community Award Winner: Leon Van Wyk (Student – Bachelor of Sustainability and President JCU Permaculture Society)

“JCU is focusing on the four C’s that make up a sustainable institution, so we based the awards on these which are Campus, Curriculum, Culture and Community,” Adam commented. “In each category we look at the impacts the nominees have had on the triple bottom line of social, environmental and economic sustainability.”

The TropEco Excellence Award was also presented, which recognises someone who has had a major impact on improving the sustainability of JCU. Adella Edwards, president of the JCU Bicycle Users Group took out the TropEco Excellence Award as well as being highly commended for the Campus and Community Awards.

Adella has worked tirelessly for many years to improve cycling facilities, assist students and staff to obtain affordable bicycles to get to and from JCU and has enhanced the community aspect of cycling on the JCU Townsville Campus.

On winning the award Adella commented, “To say that I am shocked to win the award is an understatement. I am very proud to receive such wonderful recognition from TropEco and JCU for my work as a cycling advocate on campus.”

4 TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

“As lovely as the award is, the real prize is working for a university that places such a high value on engaging with sustainable practice”, Adella added. “The good will and investment in cycling infrastructure, like the shed and the new end of ride facilities in the medical precinct and Cairns campus, show that JCU really gets it.”

TropEco and the Division of Finance and Resource Planning would like to congratulate the award winners and thank everyone that submitted a nomination and attended the awards ceremonies.

Culture Award Highly Commended: Lisa Westcott (Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

The full list of award winners and highly commended entries are as follows: TropEco Excellence Award Winner: Adella Edwards (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and President JCU Bicycle Users Group) Highly Commended: Lena Taylor (Faculty of Science and Engineering) Highly Commended: Dr. Colin MacGregor (School of Earth & Environmental Sciences) Campus Award Winner: Dr. Ian Craigie (ARC CoE Coral Reef Studies) Highly Commended: meYOU.com.au website (created by Business student Ryan Vasta) Highly Commended: Alice Donne (JCU student and College Green Rep) Highly Commended: Adella Edwards (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and President JCU Bicycle Users Group)

TropEco Excellence Award Winner: Adella Edwards (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and President JCU Bicycle Users Group)withTricia Brand (Executive Director, Finance and Resource Planning)

Curriculum Award Winner: Dr. Colin MacGregor (School of Earth & Environmental Sciences) Highly Commended: Peter Jones (School of Arts and Social Sciences) Highly Commended: Dr. Madoc Sheehan (School of Engineering & Physical Sciences) Highly Commended: Dr. Michelle Lasen (School of Education) Culture Award Winner: Student and Academic Services Office Highly Commended: Lisa Westcott (Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Highly Commended: Deb Cavanagh and Ginni Hall (School of Arts & Social Sciences)

Culture AwardWinner: Highly Commended: Deb Cavanagh and Ginni Hall (School of Arts & Social Sciences)

Community Award Winner: Leon Van Wyk (Student – Bachelor of Sustainability and President JCU Permaculture Society) Highly Commended: Prahlad Dahal (JCU student and President Cairns Bhutanese Community) Highly Commended: Rebecca Tuma (Medical student and student rep for JCU Bicycle Users Group) Highly Commended: Adella Edwards (School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and President JCU Bicycle Users Group) TropEco Shield - College Sustainability Competition Winner: University Halls - Second Semester, St Marks College - First Semester For enquires related to the awards please contact the Environment Manager, Adam Connell - adam.connell@jcu.edu.au or 4781 5060

Curriculum Highly Commended: Dr. Madoc Sheehan (School of Engineering & Physical Sciences)

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

5

Sustainability Symposium & Fair How can we eat and live sustainably in the Tropics?

FREE ENTRY Everyone welcome

Fri 8 March 2013 Tropical Sustainability Matters at JCU Symposium In seeking a brighter future for people in the tropics worldwide, JCU is working to ensure that its actions today do not limit the range of social, cultural, environmental and economic options of future generations.

This annual Tropical Sustainability symposium and fair at Cairns JCU campus is one of the ways JCU can contribute to a brighter life in the tropics and share with the FNQ community, the contributions that the JCU community of students, academics and staff are making to Tropical Sustainability locally and world wide.

The symposium, which is a joint initiative of JCU Sustainability Advisory Committee and Sustainability Action Group, will feature a free public lecture by noted Australian communicator, and authour of The Coming Famine, Julian Cribb who will address the topic, Is it possible to feed 9 billion people without destroying tropical nature?

The former mayor of Cairns Regional Council, Val Schier will officially open the Symposium at 12 noon and JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding will give an opening address.

For more information see the back cover of this edition of TropEco.

Programme of events 7.00am - 8.30am Alternative transport breakfast 10.30am - 2.00pm Sustainability Fair & Soapbox stage 12.00 pm - 12.50pm Welcome & opening address 1.00pm - 1.50pm Transition Towns 2.00pm - 2.50pm JCU perspectives 2.00pm - 2.50pm Community based responses 3.00pm - 4.00 pm Panel discussion 4.00pm - 4.30 pm Summary comments 4.30pm - 6.00pm Bio bar & Soapbox stage 6.00pm - 7.00pm

Public lecture with Julian Cribb

Getting to JCU Getting to JCU can be a stressful time for students, especially in the first few weeks of semester when there is a high demand for car parking. Here are some hints on how to transform your transport problems into opportunities.

YOU should not expect to get the park you want, especially in the busiest times, so if you choose to drive come prepared and expect at least a 5 minute walk to your class.

Avoid the stress

Carpool

There are some simple ways you can avoid the stress, whilst also saving money, keeping fit and reducing your impact on the environment. Just following these simple suggestions and your commute can be hassle free.

Chances are you will have friends in your course with the same timetable as you. Find out who lives on your route and set up a carpooling group. It will save you money on fuel and parking and let you socialise with your friends.

Ride a bike JCU has bike parking close to most buildings on campus and bike parking is free. Cairns and Townsville are great places to ride a bike with very few hills on the route to the campus and great weather for most of the year. If you get sweaty, shower facilities are available in most buildings.

For information scan the QR code or visit: www.jcu.edu.au/tropec/sustainatjcu/tras port/

Catch the Bus if you live near the major bus routes to JCU, catching the can be a cheap and hassle free way to get to campus.

TropEco provides 2000 subsidised weekly bus passes to students each year that allow students unlimited travel on Sunbus for as little as $10 per week.

Check out the TropEco website for more info or scan the QR code (right) for time table and route info for Townsville or Cairns.

6 TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

Meet Rebecca Tuma

Graduate of the JCU Professional College Since attending a Ride2Work event in 2012, JCU student Rebecca Tuma has been encouraging other students to experience the beauty of a bike. Avril Robinson shares her story.

As a second year Medical student in 2011, Rebecca Tuma attended the Ride2Work Day, an initiative set up by Bicycle Victoria to motivate people across the nation to cycle to work.

They raised $3000 for charity and had a truly incredible experience over their 30 day adventure, meeting some awe inspiring people and witnessing touching generosity of people along the way.

At the breakfast at the Townsville Hospital to celebrate this event, Rebecca realised she should get more JCU University students involved in this cause. This prompted her to get actively involved in the JCU BUG (bicycle users group) and was elected as the student representative.

The group were entirely selfsufficient and environmentally friendly, carrying tents, sleeping gear, camp cookers and food. They camped most nights and mainly cooked and prepared their own food.

Among many aims, her primary was to encourage her fellow peers to get involved in cycling and experience the beauty of a bike. She managed to get 120 students to sign up for the 2012 Ride2Work Day (utilising the power of free home-made cookies to encourage people to sign up).

Approximately 45 students showed up to the breakfast JCU BUG organised, many whom were riding for the first time or leaving their car at home and using alternative forms of transport. At the event, Rebecca took the initiative to sell raffle tickets for a bike to raise money for the Townsville BUG. Pleased with the student turn out this year, Rebecca hopes she can make this event next year even bigger and better!

At the breakfast, Rebecca was also informing people and seeking support for the action bikes are having in impoverished countries in empowering women. She designed and displayed pamphlets promoting breaking the cycle of poverty in African countries where bicycles are helping women collect water, travel to health care facilities and children to ride vast distances to schools.

As part of her elective 'Human Rights and Health', a group of six ladies from 'Med2' held a public awareness campaign called 'Kites4Rights' on The Strand in October 2012. They had six interactive stalls, each highlighting a different issue regarding woman's rights. Rebecca's stall was about 'empowering women with a bicycle' and she was encouraged when people seemed very interested in this issue. Rebecca commented “It was a big day involving the loss my voice by the end, but it was such a special day and we really felt like we influenced many people to consider rights of women less fortunate than us.”

But by far her greatest achievement must be in mid semester holidays 2011, when Rebecca and a small group of student's set off on a 2400 km cycle from Townsville to Sydney along the coast raising money for Angel Flights charity and raising awareness for cycling safety.

This year Rebecca also participated in the 'Run to Better Days', a charity run from Hervey Bay to Townsville to raise awareness of the power everyone has in solving global poverty. A team of 16, comprising mostly of students from JCU, took turns running approximately 10km each for 12 days. Speaking to approximately 60,000 people along the way, their mammoth charitable efforts raised $24,000 for Caritas and Rebecca plans to participate in the run next year.

If this wasn't enough, Rebecca has recently been elected as the JCU representative for ‘Doctors for the Environment’. Next year she plans to attend the student conference in Adelaide and set up a JCU medical ‘Doctors for the Environment group’.

For her wonderful voluntary participation and contributions to charities, James Cook University Professional College is proud to recognise Rebecca for her exceptional extra-curricular activities with a certificate of completion of the Community Engagement module through the College.

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

7

JCU Permaculture Society ‘The Way’ by Leon Van Wyk Lao-tzu starts his book, The Tao-Ching, with the following sentiment: The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.”

Greetings, once again.

Here we shall speak of how to sustain.

The opportunities of living, of breathing, of working with one’s mind and with like-minded others.

Here we shall learn about networks and collaboration making light work with many, many hands.

Indeed this is where the root of all value is given as a gift given in trust, with rights and responsibilities recognized, is a must. leon.vanwyk@my.jcu.edu.au

In light of Lao-tzu's lesson above, I believe we would be wise to avoid using the term sustainability in any absolute or totalitarian manner. Can we expect anything less than constantly changing circumstances? …and what about the attitudes of one another?

realized the applicability of their permaculture design thinking to the transformation of much more than just agriculture.

In fact, due to the dynamic interdependency of agriculture with health, technology, finance, education and ecology, it would actually be impossible to transform agriculture and not transform the other sectors of society too!

Why would we believe that what was called “sustainable” yesterday will still be considered so tomorrow.

This is great news because all the wicked problems we learn about in studying sustainability – which cannot be solved separately – are merely symptoms that disappear when the root causes are resolved.

Perhaps the essence of sustainability literally lies in the transition or process of adapting and evolving; which is a radically different definition to the steady-state “destination” model that many people and organizations are chasing.

Therefore with an honest and holistic appraisal of our situation, from the global to the local, systems-thinking can and is being applied to transition away from win-lose-lose situations (benefiting the elite by degrading the environment while the poor get poorer).

As was covered in my previous column in the TropEco News, I strongly believe in the value of shared ethics which prompt us to act with responsibility – towards the environment and other species, towards one another, and towards equitable redistribution of surplus resources – summed up as:

Permaculture is the active application of designing strategies that transition us from wherever we are towards more winwin-win situations, thus benefitting the environment alongside people's economic and social well-being.

1. Earth Care 2. People Care 3. Fair Share These ethics are the foundation of the permaculture concept, which is a design system. There is an international social movement also associated with the word “permaculture” and that has been growing faster and faster since it originated in Tasmania during the 1970's.

Initially coined as a contraction of “permanent agriculture,” the co-founders Bill Mollison and David Holmgren quickly 8 TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

The scientific revolution was catalyzed by “natural philosophers,” but now it is designers who are catalyzing the economic/social/environmental revolution already underway… but that is not the enduring and unchanging name.

To learn more, visit our Facebook page or get in contact with the JCU Permaculture Society at: permaculture@jcu.edu.au With gratitude, Leon van Wyk President, JCUPS

African children, Australian Land, Student volunteer JCU Education student Zoe Daniels worked with NQ Dry Tropics last year as part of her placement. Her work included dressing up as a Dugong on World Animal day and introducing African children to the joys of tree planting.

Written by Penny Claringbull, NQ Dry Tropics There aren't any sugar gliders in African refugee camps and snakes are an object of terror. You certainly don't pick them up and put them round your neck and you definitely don't hold baby crocodiles in your bare hands.

So it was a challenging experience for a bunch of African children when they got to do all of those things on World Animal Day. Fortunately, 'Hands on Wildlife' know how to introduce strange beasts and everyone quickly shed their fears.

The children joined Conservation Volunteers Australia and NQ Dry Tropics at the Bohle Wetlands for a tree planting activity in October. CVA has been working at the Bohle Wetlands since 2006. In that time they have planted 70,000 trees and helped create a nature refuge and wildlife corridor through to the Town Common.

Also present on the day was Zoe Daniels, an education student at JCU. Zoe worked with NQ Dry Tropics on a student learning placement.

The placement was tailored so Zoe

could work with several environmental organisations on a range of activities.

'I've alway been interested in the environment,' Zoe says, 'and I want to bring that knowledge into the classroom.

NQ Dry Tropics arranged it so that I got involved in different opportunities. I loved it and I got a lot out of it.'

During the placement Zoe was able to work with Permaculture Townsville at their community garden plot in Railway Estate, with students at Maidavale State School in the Burdekin and on revegetation projects with Conservation Volunteers Australia. She planned and implemented lessons on biodiversity and monitored water health with Creekwatch.

The World Animal Day event was a memorable part of Zoe's placement. 'I've never seen children so excited by environmental activities,' Zoe said. 'It was a beautiful example of children giving back to a place that is giving to them.'

The children were extremely enthusiastic about the day – so much so that Duey

the Dugong, a beloved local mascot – was knocked over in the rush. Zoe (who was inside the suit) didn't mind. 'My feet were waving around in the air,' she said, 'but I was protected by padding!'

Apart from enthusiastic dugong hugging, the children took their responsibilities very seriously. 700 young trees were carefully planted and everyone wanted to do it again when it was all over. Zoe thought it was a great experience.

‘We have to undertake service learning for sustainability as part of our education degree,' Zoe says. 'It's invaluable, both at the professional and the personal level.

The passion and the dedication of the groups was amazing and I loved working with them and NQ Dry Tropics.

I highly recommend it.'

For more information on a volunteer placement with NQ Dry Tropics and a range of community groups, contact Laura Dunstan Ph: 4724 354 or E: laura.dunstan@nqdrytropics.com.au

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

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There’s no

without U Townsville campus JCU BUG bike facility for repairs & parking

Left: Ride to Uni cyclists at Cairns campus enjoy a free breakfast.

Riding to Uni is a great way to keep fit, save money and meet new friends while helping the environment. But it takes U to do it. Adella Edwards from JCU Townsville and Lania Lynch from JCU Cairns tell you how to put U in BUG in 2013.

The JCU BUG in Townsville had a busy 2012 promoting and facilitating cycling. With the help of volunteers the bike shed finally got up and running with tools purchased and some workshops held to strip or repair old bikes. We managed to sell about a half dozen bikes, gave away another 5 or 6 to students who repaired old bikes we had collected, while holding onto another three as short term rentals. The bike lockup finally got emptied of old bikes until we had to admit that what was left was pretty bad, and they went for recycling.

The library bike facility was well used this year. Most of the lockers were claimed and a new ice cold water cooler was appreciated by all. The library bike shed is a medium security facility that is available to all staff and students for free. You just need to visit the Security Office in building 29, fill out a form and supply your JCU ID. A card will be issued to you that opens the lock. It’s renewed annually, so don't forget to visit the Security Office and have it renewed for 2013.

What's planned for 2013 for JCU Townsville BUG? In 2013 the BUG has installed two bicycle repair stations in public areas thanks to funding from the Entertainment Books and the Student Services Amenities Fee. One station is located outside the library bike facility and the other is outside the new Medical end of ride facility opposite the Medical Lecture Theatre.

This year the BUG hopes to win funding to develop a fleet of rental bikes for visiting scholars who come to JCU for up to 3 months. This is a much requested service, and we never have enough bicycles in good repair. Top Brand Cycles donated a 12 speed step through commuter bike to us last year, and it has been very popular with all who rented it, so we would like to buy similar bicycles and kit them all out so they are ready to go with lights and a bell. We will continue to have helmets available for sale at a discounted price to complement this initiative.

This year we will be opening the BUG workshop at the library for one hour a day with a mechanic on duty to help with small repairs. The times are yet to be set, but it will be at the end of the day, allowing anyone who has experienced trouble on the 10 TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

way to the University to get some help and ride home safely.

We would like to have several bike maintenance workshops throughout the year, teaching the basics of repairing a tube, changing a tube, cleaning your chain and then oiling it properly.

A quiet bike is a happy bike! If there is enough interest we could also host weekend sessions for those wanting to convert an old bike to a 'fixie', or work on other projects. Please email adella.edwards@jcu.edu.au to express interest if you would like to be involved.

The BUG will be giving away maps and cycling tips at the Oweek markets. Following O-week we will hold an Annual General Meeting, which is open to all. Make 2013 your year to get involved with the cycling community on campus.

There is no BUG without U.

What’s planned for 2103 for JCU Cairns BUG? The JCU Cairns BUG had a ride to uni breakfast on 17th October which was well attended by staff and students – the bacon and egg muffins were enjoyed by all. TropEco encourages sustainable transport and the major prize of a $250 voucher for Discovery Cycles in Smithfield was won by student, Ramiro Salvador.

Discovery Cycles were also generous sponsors of the breakfast, Barry Fitzsimmons (student) and Neil Gribble (staff) won a $95 service and Tasha Sanders and Tara Belthouser, (students) won a $50 voucher.

The JCU Cairns Bug will be holding its first ride to uni breakfast for everyone who rides, walks or catches public transport on 8th March starting at 7pm at the Boathouse. If you would like to avail yourself of a free breakfast and travel to Uni in a low carbon way, please register at https://alumni.jcu.edu.au/TropSustainability by 6th March.

We will also be signing up members on Market Day on 26 Feb, so if you are interested in riding and sustainable transport in general, come visit the JCU Cairns BUG stall.

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia 11