Sustainable Hepburn Association – Renewing the Earth (SHARE) is a not-for-profit, non-political community association run by volunteers. SHARE has around 500 members and is focused on the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria, Australia.
Our background: SHARE is the initiating organisation (then HREA) of Australia’s first community owned windfarm Hepburn Wind in 2006. From 2007 to 2014 SHARE continued to be active in the renewable energy space, conducting major events, festivals, education and projects that promoted sustainability locally and regionally. These included solar bulk buys, retrofitting (Refit’n’nsave), energy assessments for business and local government, Sustainable House Day, Good Life Festival, Sustainably Stories and films, Buy Local Campaign, Transition towns and more. SHARE has now gone low key, but continues to collaborate and support other community sustainability groups behind the scenes.
Our purpose: to cultivate sustainable community. SHARE is committed to providing space that promotes the growth of communities that are environmentally responsible, socially connected and economically vibrant now and into the future.
We intend to achieve this by working together to
use natural resources wisely & reduce waste
grow, produce & purchase locally
develop and share resources, knowledge & skills
foster sustainable thinking and actions
facilitate the uptake of renewable energy
We support initiatives that care for our environment and build strong and vibrant community.
Our vision, values and key strategies:
Core Strategy 1: Create a sustainable organisation
Build and connect with membership
Create working groups
Communicate regularly
Core Strategy 2: Be the ears and voice of sustainability
Create a useful website
Produce regular newsletters / Green News
Connect with Council
Core Strategy 3: Connect & catalyse local sustainability initiatives
We support what is happening by an agreed selection criteria that fit our core values
Identify priority projects
Get the word out
Core Strategy 4: Build capacity
Inspiration and motivation through programs, education, forums we originate
Connecting with community groups
We make it happen.