Weather Watching 101 Community Workshops

WEATHER Watching 101 workshop in Coramba at the village’s Community Hall on Saturday 1 July was the first of three workshops focusing on understanding and reading the weather and preparing for weather events.

Facilitated by Sue Lennox, co-founder of OzGREEN and supported by City of Coffs Harbour, Weather 101 will next be delivered in Sawtell on Saturday 22 July and in Woolgoolga on Saturday 5 August.

Following consecutive and compounding weather-related disasters, the City of Coffs Harbour has heard from the community that understanding severe weather and associated forecasts is a key factor in aiding their recovery.

In collaboration with OzGREEN, these free workshops are designed to build community capacity and preparedness for severe weather events such as flood, storm, fire, drought and heatwave.

Sue will explain how to read a synoptic chart, use reliable sources of weather information, how to follow warnings coming from emergency service broadcasts during severe events, including tracking rain and river heights during major rain events, and learn how to set up links to these weather sites.

Sue is a former science teacher who brings three decades of experience in citizen science and enabling communities to be informed and involved in caring for the environment, strengthening community resilience and living sustainably.

Speaking with News Of The Area after the first workshop in Coramba, Sue said she was delighted with how it went.

“The feedback from participants was that they really valued seeing how to follow major weather events, and also learn what a good daily practice involves,” she said.

“Participants had a clear recognition that we need to know how to monitor the weather, so we know what’s coming and to be prepared.

“Mostly I talked about what I do daily and how to step that up if it looks like there’s some more major weather coming,” she said.

“Living rurally outside of Bellingen I can get cut off by floods and I live near a forest, but equally if you’re living in the city, you need to know so you can prepare.”

Everyone left with some links to some useful sites, they can use on their own devices, and some useful plans about what they are going to do themselves.

“Understanding the weather is a key skill we should all have,” said Sue.

Weather 101 coming up in Sawtell and Woolgoolga will be tailored to their location.

The outcome of the workshops is to build community capacity and preparedness for severe weather events.

“We can never be too prepared,” said Sue.

All workshops begin at 2pm until 3.30pm and you must register to attend, “let us know you’re coming,” said Sue.

Learn more and register at www.ozgreen.org/weather101.

For any questions, email Sue at sue@ozgreen.org.au.

OzGREEN is a Bellingen-based charity that empowers communities to create a sustainable future.⁠

---

Meet new people, bring a project to life together, and make change in your community!

Change Makers, is an innovative program run by OzGREEN and is set to empower young people and inspire them to lead positive change across the Coffs Coast.

Change Makers recognises that young people possess unique perspectives, fresh ideas, and boundless enthusiasm, making them a driving force for innovation and progress.

OzGREEN’s Change Makers Program Manager Kathleen Hannah says,

“In today's rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever to foster the next generation of leaders who are passionate about making a difference. Change Makers aims to harness the energy, creativity, and determination of young people and provide them with the tools and support they need to transform their visions into reality.”

Through the Change Makers platform, participants will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers from diverse backgrounds, creating a vibrant and dynamic community. Proudly funded by the NSW Government Regional Youth Investment Program this free 10-week journey combines mentorship and collaborative projects, allowing young individuals to develop valuable skills including leadership, problem-solving, event management, storytelling and social media engagement, while making a meaningful impact on their communities.

"The supportive environment created within this program enables young people to connect with like-minded individuals and develop their skills and passion through lived experience," says Sam Daykin, Youth Activities Coordinator at OzGREEN.

Whether you have an exciting idea or are simply passionate about making a difference, Change Makers invites you to join this community of young leaders. Together, we can bring about transformative change and build a brighter future for our communities and the world.

⁠

---

Register for Change Makers 2, or visit ozgreen.org/changemakers for more information. For questions, please contact Sam on sam@ozgreen.org.au.