Science journalist and author Zoe Kean is among the line-up of speakers who will change the way you see the everyday at Bundanon’s Make Good Festival. Photo: Bundanon.
Whether you need an injection of good vibes or inspiration to elevate the day-to-day, there’s one place to be this weekend.
The Make Good Festival at Bundanon in the Shoalhaven is on 17 and 18 May.
At Make Good you can learn practical skills to apply at home, in the garden or in your community.
You can also discover new ways of looking at old problems, and the world around you.
Head of live programs at Bundanon Danielle Harvey said Make Good could be seen as a response to the Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
“This is for when you’ve had enough of thinking and you want to be moved into action,” she said.
“This is an opportunity to take a bit of space and time to reflect on what we do daily, what we read, watch, spend our money on, and how we can make better choices.
“But to do that you need practical guidelines and practical skills.
“No matter if you’re going to a talk, coming to a workshop or enjoying the free activities all weekend there are tangible things you can take away from Make Good and implement in your life.”
There’s a wide array of ticketed talks and workshops on offer.
Host of the ABC’s Gardening Australia, Costa Georgiadis will share ways to enrich daily routines with simple pleasures.
Rowena and Angela Foong from slow fashion brand High Tea with Mrs Woo will teach you how to extend the life of your clothing and create something unique with Kintsugi for Clothing.
Science journalist Zoe Kean will share how evolution can shape the way we look at the world and our lives.
Sharing insights from her debut book Why Are We Like This? Zoe said sometimes hard science could soften tough circumstances.
“Often when we talk about cancer, for example, we can individualise it and people are told it’s their fault in various ways,” she said.
“But you can’t tell the story of life on earth without telling the story of cancer.
“It has existed for more than a billion years, since the dawn of multicellular organisms.
“It’s something that will affect all of us, either through direct experience or a loved one.
“That perspective removes blame and opens up a whole lot of new avenues for treatment.”
She said her talk would empower listeners to engage with science reporting on a variety of topics.
They should also walk out with some very cool facts to share.
“I use Australian species as a muse, so there are some really fabulous facts about nature, animals and communities,” she said.
“The ideas are global in nature but I use everything from stick insects in the Daintree to whales that strand in Tasmania as examples.”
Although tickets to talks and workshops are selling out quickly, Danielle said there would be free activities available as well.
The exhibition Thinking together: Exchanges with the natural world will run all weekend in the on-site art museum.
“You can turn up and try your luck, or come for something you know and stay for something you don’t,” she said.
“Just being with community will connect you to a whole bunch of interesting thinking.”
For tickets or more information head to Bundanon’s website.
Make Good Festival will be held at Bundanon in the Shoalhaven on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May from 10 am.
