SFFA Annual Report 2006-2007

Posted on 31. Dec, 2008 by PatR in SFFA reports on activities

DOWNLOAD…SFFA ANNUAL REPORT  2006-2007

In 2005 a group of health professionals, community workers, farmers, urban planners, community gardeners, academics and social justice advocates came together in Western Sydney to discuss local food insecurity and food systems. Identifying a raft of interconnected issues in need of a range of coordinated responses, they formed the Food Fairness Alliance. Over the last twelve months, this alliance has developed in leaps and bounds.

Notably, we determined that our overarching objective would be to work towards food security and sustainable food systems and that we would employ research, education networking and advocacy to realise this aim. We also resolved that our work would be informed by respect for sustainability, human rights, social justice and community development.

A number of subgroups were formed – including:

• Communication
• Education
• Research
• Political Advocacy, Community Development and Fund Raising

to take charge of the diverse areas of activity.

We also elected to undertake the process of incorporation and established a Management Committee to oversee the governance of what we decided to call the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance.

Along the way we saw fit to stop and acknowledge our arrival with an official launch at NSW Parliament House hosted by the Hon. Ian Cohen and the Hon. Penny Sharpe. Joanna Savill from the SBS Food Lovers Guide to Australia introduced our distinguished panel of guest speakers including Professor Julian Disney (Chair of Anti-Poverty week), Associate Professor Frances Parker (University of Western Sydney), Aunty Beryl (Yaama Dhinawan) and Russ Grayson (Sydney Food Fairness Alliance).

Whilst this organisational development took place, our membership met bimonthly to discuss a range of food security and food systems issues and plan corresponding activities. Subgroups in turn set to work to turn ideas into reality. Examples of our accomplishments throughout the year (others will be identified by subgroups in the pages that follow) include:

• Establishing a list serve to share information between members
• Developing discussion sheets about food security, community gardening, food miles, agriculture in the Sydney basin, food & culture and options for alternative food systems
• Preparing a submission to the NSW government Metropolitan Strategy
• Presenting at the Cities Feeding People conference in Melbourne
• Distributing information on World Environment Day
• Preparing a market basket survey of grocery products across Sydney.

Initiating conversation about the development of a food policy for SydneIt is noteworthy that many of our members volunteered a significant amount of time and energy to these and other activities. More than this, they donated their considerable experience and expertise. With this in mind, we take this opportunity to doff our collective cap to everyone who has contributed to the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance thus far.

We in turn look forward to continuing to work together over the year ahead – employing our soon to be released Strategic Plan to build on achievements and focus on actions to promote real food security and sustainable food systems across the Sydney Basin.

Mark Ludbrooke
Sydney Food Fairness Alliance 2007

Communication / Media Advocacy Sub-Group Report

The Communication Subgroup had regular meetings and communicated with each other between meeting by email.

The following actions took place:

• the SFFA website went live and was updated during the year, thanks to Fiona Campbell and Russ Grayson
• a Draft Communication Strategy was developed which outlined the internal and external communication processes.
• the original Communication Group joined with the Media Advocacy Group to form one.
• a logo was designed by Rob Alsopp and used on the website
• the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance liaised with the Illawarra Food Fairness Alliance and Sarah Varley attended some of our meetings
• a 12 month Media advocacy Plan was developed.
• ten radio interviews were organised with SFFA members and friends on 2SERFM’s Wednesday Daily program with Ange Owens on a range of food security and sustainable food topics in Sydney, including case studies of who’s living in hidden hunger in Sydney and a food coop, the worth of urban agriculture and organics and community gardens, the meaning of the right to food and the potential of urban food policies. The audio files are able to be downloaded at the SFFA website. Thanks to 2SERFM
• two public seminars on Food and Urban Planning were held at the University of Sydney with the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning. The first seminar titled ‘Food – Why is it a Planning Issue’ was part of the Faculty’s Thursday night Lecture Series on 7 June. Rowena Yamazaki from the SFFA moderated. Guest speakers were Anthony Capon, Karen Webb and David Mason. A second evening seminar followed on 18th July with the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning and the SFFA titled “Food System Planning: A Resource for Healthy People, Communities and Environments”. The guest speaker was Kami Pothukuchi, a visiting academic from the USA who has been actively involved in the Community Food Security Coalition (USA) and the American Planning Association’s Policy Guide on Community and Regional Food Planning. David Mason (Dept Primary Industries, Hawkesbury Harvest) and Susan Thompson (UNSW Faculty of Built Environment) were panelists. Elizabeth Millen from the SFFA moderated. Thanks to the graduate planners, Kathleen Redd and Sarah Churchill for initiating and organising these events on urban food systems and planning; and Dr Capon for connecting Dr Pothuckuchi with the SFFA during her visit to Australia. About twenty people attended each evening seminar.

Community Development & Fund Raising Report

This year we meet as the Community Development and Fund Raising working group, members of the group included Daniel Davidson, Mary Enkababian, Rana Qummouh and Alice Wood.

We developed terms of reference which defined the purpose of this sub-group as advocating for food security to be part of the broader public area. Our objective was to raise awareness of food security in the general community, to engage the community and other stakeholders around the issues of food security. To this end the working group met and developed a work plan.

We in turn attended a number of events in 2007 including Poverty Week, community festivals in Warwick Farm, Rosemeadow/Ambarvale, Campbelltown, Macquarie Field and Villawood, presenting at a number of community agency meetings and forums across Macarthur and Liverpool, distributing SFFA information and Running On Empty bags and pamphlets. Another objective was to link with the communication group to ensure working together on common issues. We then provided regular feedback to this group and the broader SFFA through attendance at meetings and emails.

Treasurer’s Report

Following incorporation the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance established a range of processes to ensure the transparent and accountable management of financial affairs. Payment

requisitions and cheques were prepared and approved by two authorised members of the Management Committee, tax invoices were distributed when reimbursement of costs and payment for services was sought and receipts were issued upon receipt of funds.

Drawing on these processes we can report that the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance ended its first financial year with a small surplus of $937.55.

The Management Committee would like to thank members and supporters for donating much needed funds over the course of the year. Particular gratitude is extended to South West Area Health Service for assisting the Alliance to recoup printing and meeting costs.

The Committee looks forward to working with members to secure and manage the resources necessary to promote food security and sustainable food systems over the year ahead.

Financial Report

Income and Expenditure Statement Income

Financial Report Balance Sheet

Management Committee

• Jill Finnane (resigned)
• Jocelyn Howden
• Sally James
• Mark Ludbrooke
• Catriona Macmillan
• Liz Millen
• Charles Rue
• Lynette Saville
• Rowena Yamakazi

Contact Details

Address:

Phone:

0410 145 473

List Serve:

sydneyfoodfairness [at}lists.green.net.au

Website:

www.sydneyfoodfairness.org.au

Tags: Sydney Food Fairness Alliance