[Pil-pc-oceania] Pil-pc-oceania Digest, Vol 16, Issue 39
Colin Ball
colball at aapt.net.au
Wed Feb 27 19:53:16 EST 2008
Thank you Fern,
It was a treat to meet you last October. I admire your openness, sincerity
and the respect that you have for your parents. A wonderful tribute to an
obviously tuned in man, your father.
My thoughts with you.
Col Ball
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Today's Topics:
1. Tribute to my dad (Fern Rainbow)
2. Re: Tribute to my dad (Tamara Griffiths)
3. Re: Tribute to my dad (Robyn Williamson)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:31:53 +1100
From: Fern Rainbow <permaculture at apollobay.org.au>
Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Tribute to my dad
To: permacultue discussion list
<pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
Message-ID: <C3EB32E9.6B5%permaculture at apollobay.org.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
My dad's service, a celebration of his life will be held at the Warrnambool
Special Developmental School hall this Thursday, February 28th at 5pm.
I'd like to thank the many permies on this listserv who have emailed me
their support & help during the last few weeks. As none of you know dad,
I'd like to post some info and photos of my dad.
Firstly, this is my contribution and what I'll be reading out, near the end
of his service. I'll post the full service and photos in the coming weeks.
Tribute to my dad ? Peter Thomas Ockerby
Dad was an environmentalist, scientist and teacher.
He was part of a research team at the University of Toronto in the early
1960?s looking into the declining aquatic life in the Great Lakes. They
were studying the water currents. When their research pointed to pollution
due to the heated waste-water being pumped from the nearby Nuclear power
plant, all their research and funding disappeared.
Dad then obtained his teaching qualifications and started teaching science
in Canada. Deeply concerned about environmental issues, he tried to teach
what was then called ?the hot-house effect? but was reprimanded for teaching
this theory. [He was also not allowed to teach Hubbard's peak oil theory, a
well known but controversial scientific paper in the 1960?s]
After his mother died, Dad moved back to Australia and started teaching at
Melbourne Boys High (the school that he was educated at). Dad was a very
patient and well-liked teacher. He liked teaching at nice small secondary
schools in rural areas and stayed teaching full time until his retirement at
60 years of age.
In 1969 he met then married my mum the year after. They were both avid
organic gardeners and shared their love of nature and care of the
environment. Really they were permaculturists before the word
?Permaculture? existed, and we always had a menagerie of animals that helped
our edible jungle-like garden grow and vice-versa.
>From the early 70?s, they started to look for land to share nature with
like-minded people and to bring up their children with a free and healthy
lifestyle. In 1974 they were part of the formation of ?Irun-ilam-baluk?, a
land co-operative in the Strathbogie ranges based on Peter Cook?s design of
Moora Moora co-operative. There they started building their self-sufficient
home out in the bush. They were full of ideals, hopes and dreams.
But working on the co-operative, building their home and living out of a
caravan with five children in a harsh environment created strains within my
parent?s relationship. Their break up started in 1975 and ended with a
divorce in 1982. Although they spent my childhood apart, I have fond
memories of visiting dad; going yabbying, visiting the butterfly house at
Melbourne zoo and dad reading ?The hobbit? to me when I was sick and in bed.
My parents got back together again when I was 15 and had Davin, my younger
brother who is autistic. For the past 15 years while my parents have
dedicated their lives to looking after Davin, they have maintained an edible
garden and implemented energy efficient designs and systems within their
urban home. In the past two years, since moving to a smaller home they have
been retrofitting it; putting on solar panels, tiling the floor to create a
heat bank, putting in a water tank, edible garden and fruit trees, with
plans for a greywater system and chook house.
Dad always said to just put him in the compost when he died and mum & dad
hadn?t discussed anything else. But dad had seen the 100% recycled
cardboard eco-coffins in Choice magazine last year and had thought it to be
such a good idea. Dad would?ve wanted his departure to be as low as impact
upon the earth as possible.
He wanted a safe and secure future for his children and for earth?s
biodiversity. He wanted the Victorian state government to extend the ban on
GM crops and for all GM ingredients to be labelled on our food. He wanted
Australia to be GM-free.
On this final day before the GM moratorium is set to be lifted in Victoria,
we hope that somehow dad?s wishes will be granted and that premier John
Brumby will rethink the state governments decision to lift the ban.
My parent?s love of nature and care of the environment has been imparted to
me, not only by my nature name ?Fern Rainbow?, that they gave to me, but
also imprinted in my knowledge, ethics and lifestyle and for this I am
eternally grateful. Thank you dad. You are in my heart and forever will
be.
Music-----Big Yellow Taxi,
Both sides now, ------Joni Mitchell
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:35:45 +0000
From: Tamara Griffiths <scarletwoman at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] Tribute to my dad
To: permacultue discussion list
<pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
Message-ID: <BAY120-W4C693D068BBE9D09528AACB1A0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Fern,
That is beautiful. What a gift you had from your father.
I hope that the service goes well (as well as a funeral service can go), and
that you find some peace for yourself and also your mother and brother too.
You are lucky in that your father was an environmentalist, and that you have
come so far for someone aged so young. My parents are not environmentalists
(although they are learning) but are truly community minded people, that you
can make your community a better place, just by being active in a positive
way in it. I get that from them.
Best and kindest wishes,
love Tamara
I will hug you in person at APC9, but until then, accept this one
*************hug***********
Tamara Griffiths
Permaculture designer
39 Wattle Tree Road
Bunyip
Victoria 3815
03 5629 5918
0407 45 7707
scarletwoman at hotmail.com
Check out our pics at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boodicusducky/
"Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi
"Will it be believed, a hundred years hence, that such a state of things
existed?" Louisa Lawson, Australian feminist and suffragist. Her son was a
famous poet.
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but
because of those who look on and do nothing." Albert Einstein
"If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a
mosquito." Dali Lama
For inspiration, check out these amazing people
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/
> Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:31:53 +1100
> From: permaculture at apollobay.org.au
> To: pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Tribute to my dad
>
> My dad's service, a celebration of his life will be held at the
Warrnambool
> Special Developmental School hall this Thursday, February 28th at 5pm.
> I'd like to thank the many permies on this listserv who have emailed me
> their support & help during the last few weeks. As none of you know dad,
> I'd like to post some info and photos of my dad.
> Firstly, this is my contribution and what I'll be reading out, near the
end
> of his service. I'll post the full service and photos in the coming
weeks.
>
>
> Tribute to my dad ? Peter Thomas Ockerby
>
> Dad was an environmentalist, scientist and teacher.
> He was part of a research team at the University of Toronto in the early
> 1960?s looking into the declining aquatic life in the Great Lakes. They
> were studying the water currents. When their research pointed to
pollution
> due to the heated waste-water being pumped from the nearby Nuclear power
> plant, all their research and funding disappeared.
>
> Dad then obtained his teaching qualifications and started teaching science
> in Canada. Deeply concerned about environmental issues, he tried to teach
> what was then called ?the hot-house effect? but was reprimanded for
teaching
> this theory. [He was also not allowed to teach Hubbard's peak oil theory,
a
> well known but controversial scientific paper in the 1960?s]
>
> After his mother died, Dad moved back to Australia and started teaching at
> Melbourne Boys High (the school that he was educated at). Dad was a very
> patient and well-liked teacher. He liked teaching at nice small secondary
> schools in rural areas and stayed teaching full time until his retirement
at
> 60 years of age.
>
> In 1969 he met then married my mum the year after. They were both avid
> organic gardeners and shared their love of nature and care of the
> environment. Really they were permaculturists before the word
> ?Permaculture? existed, and we always had a menagerie of animals that
helped
> our edible jungle-like garden grow and vice-versa.
> >From the early 70?s, they started to look for land to share nature with
> like-minded people and to bring up their children with a free and healthy
> lifestyle. In 1974 they were part of the formation of ?Irun-ilam-baluk?,
a
> land co-operative in the Strathbogie ranges based on Peter Cook?s design
of
> Moora Moora co-operative. There they started building their
self-sufficient
> home out in the bush. They were full of ideals, hopes and dreams.
> But working on the co-operative, building their home and living out of a
> caravan with five children in a harsh environment created strains within
my
> parent?s relationship. Their break up started in 1975 and ended with a
> divorce in 1982. Although they spent my childhood apart, I have fond
> memories of visiting dad; going yabbying, visiting the butterfly house at
> Melbourne zoo and dad reading ?The hobbit? to me when I was sick and in
bed.
>
> My parents got back together again when I was 15 and had Davin, my younger
> brother who is autistic. For the past 15 years while my parents have
> dedicated their lives to looking after Davin, they have maintained an
edible
> garden and implemented energy efficient designs and systems within their
> urban home. In the past two years, since moving to a smaller home they
have
> been retrofitting it; putting on solar panels, tiling the floor to create
a
> heat bank, putting in a water tank, edible garden and fruit trees, with
> plans for a greywater system and chook house.
>
> Dad always said to just put him in the compost when he died and mum & dad
> hadn?t discussed anything else. But dad had seen the 100% recycled
> cardboard eco-coffins in Choice magazine last year and had thought it to
be
> such a good idea. Dad would?ve wanted his departure to be as low as
impact
> upon the earth as possible.
>
> He wanted a safe and secure future for his children and for earth?s
> biodiversity. He wanted the Victorian state government to extend the ban
on
> GM crops and for all GM ingredients to be labelled on our food. He wanted
> Australia to be GM-free.
> On this final day before the GM moratorium is set to be lifted in
Victoria,
> we hope that somehow dad?s wishes will be granted and that premier John
> Brumby will rethink the state governments decision to lift the ban.
>
> My parent?s love of nature and care of the environment has been imparted
to
> me, not only by my nature name ?Fern Rainbow?, that they gave to me, but
> also imprinted in my knowledge, ethics and lifestyle and for this I am
> eternally grateful. Thank you dad. You are in my heart and forever will
> be.
>
>
> Music-----Big Yellow Taxi,
> Both sides now, ------Joni Mitchell
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pil-pc-oceania mailing list
> Pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> http://jasper.cmsarchitects.com/mailman/listinfo/pil-pc-oceania
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:00:50 +1100
From: Robyn Williamson <ecogarden at yahoo.com.au>
Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] Tribute to my dad
To: permacultue discussion list
<pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
Message-ID: <FC973BF6-3E5A-4EFB-99DB-66E2EEC40209 at yahoo.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Ditto Tamara, I think it's a very touching eulogy. I love the bit
where your dad always said to just put him in the compost and now I
know how I would like to go to. Love the choice of music most of
all, very appropriate.
Much love and peace to you and your family Fern. See you both at APC9.
Robyn
CONTACT DETAILS:
Robyn Williamson
APC9 Secretariat
info at apc9.org.au
Ph/Fx: (02) 9629 3560
Mobile: 0409 151 435
http://apc9.org.au
On 27/02/2008, at 4:35 PM, Tamara Griffiths wrote:
> Fern,
>
> That is beautiful. What a gift you had from your father.
>
> I hope that the service goes well (as well as a funeral service can
> go), and that you find some peace for yourself and also your mother
> and brother too.
>
> You are lucky in that your father was an environmentalist, and that
> you have come so far for someone aged so young. My parents are not
> environmentalists (although they are learning) but are truly
> community minded people, that you can make your community a better
> place, just by being active in a positive way in it. I get that
> from them.
>
> Best and kindest wishes,
> love Tamara
>
> I will hug you in person at APC9, but until then, accept this one
> *************hug***********
>
> Tamara Griffiths Permaculture designer 39 Wattle Tree Road
> Bunyip Victoria 3815 03 5629 5918 0407 45 7707
> scarletwoman at hotmail.com Check out our pics at: http://
> www.flickr.com/photos/boodicusducky/ "Be the change you want to see
> in the world." Gandhi "Will it be believed, a hundred years hence,
> that such a state of things existed?" Louisa Lawson, Australian
> feminist and suffragist. Her son was a famous poet. "The world is a
> dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of
> those who look on and do nothing." Albert Einstein "If you think
> you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a
> mosquito." Dali Lama For inspiration, check out these amazing
> people http://www.pathtofreedom.com/
>
> > Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:31:53 +1100
> > From: permaculture at apollobay.org.au
> > To: pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> > Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Tribute to my dad
> >
> > My dad's service, a celebration of his life will be held at the
> Warrnambool
> > Special Developmental School hall this Thursday, February 28th at
> 5pm.
> > I'd like to thank the many permies on this listserv who have
> emailed me
> > their support & help during the last few weeks. As none of you
> know dad,
> > I'd like to post some info and photos of my dad.
> > Firstly, this is my contribution and what I'll be reading out,
> near the end
> > of his service. I'll post the full service and photos in the
> coming weeks.
> >
> >
> > Tribute to my dad Peter Thomas Ockerby
> >
> > Dad was an environmentalist, scientist and teacher.
> > He was part of a research team at the University of Toronto in
> the early
> > 1960?s looking into the declining aquatic life in the Great
> Lakes. They
> > were studying the water currents. When their research pointed to
> pollution
> > due to the heated waste-water being pumped from the nearby
> Nuclear power
> > plant, all their research and funding disappeared.
> >
> > Dad then obtained his teaching qualifications and started
> teaching science
> > in Canada. Deeply concerned about environmental issues, he tried
> to teach
> > what was then called ?the hot-house effect? but was reprimanded
> for teaching
> > this theory. [He was also not allowed to teach Hubbard's peak oil
> theory, a
> > well known but controversial scientific paper in the 1960?s]
> >
> > After his mother died, Dad moved back to Australia and started
> teaching at
> > Melbourne Boys High (the school that he was educated at). Dad was
> a very
> > patient and well-liked teacher. He liked teaching at nice small
> secondary
> > schools in rural areas and stayed teaching full time until his
> retirement at
> > 60 years of age.
> >
> > In 1969 he met then married my mum the year after. They were both
> avid
> > organic gardeners and shared their love of nature and care of the
> > environment. Really they were permaculturists before the word
> > ?Permaculture? existed, and we always had a menagerie of animals
> that helped
> > our edible jungle-like garden grow and vice-versa.
> > >From the early 70?s, they started to look for land to share
> nature with
> > like-minded people and to bring up their children with a free and
> healthy
> > lifestyle. In 1974 they were part of the formation of ?Irun-ilam-
> baluk?, a
> > land co-operative in the Strathbogie ranges based on Peter Cook?s
> design of
> > Moora Moora co-operative. There they started building their self-
> sufficient
> > home out in the bush. They were full of ideals, hopes and dreams.
> > But working on the co-operative, building their home and living
> out of a
> > caravan with five children in a harsh environment created strains
> within my
> > parent?s relationship. Their break up started in 1975 and ended
> with a
> > divorce in 1982. Although they spent my childhood apart, I have fond
> > memories of visiting dad; going yabbying, visiting the butterfly
> house at
> > Melbourne zoo and dad reading ?The hobbit? to me when I was sick
> and in bed.
> >
> > My parents got back together again when I was 15 and had Davin,
> my younger
> > brother who is autistic. For the past 15 years while my parents have
> > dedicated their lives to looking after Davin, they have
> maintained an edible
> > garden and implemented energy efficient designs and systems
> within their
> > urban home. In the past two years, since moving to a smaller home
> they have
> > been retrofitting it; putting on solar panels, tiling the floor
> to create a
> > heat bank, putting in a water tank, edible garden and fruit
> trees, with
> > plans for a greywater system and chook house.
> >
> > Dad always said to just put him in the compost when he died and
> mum & dad
> > hadn?t discussed anything else. But dad had seen the 100% recycled
> > cardboard eco-coffins in Choice magazine last year and had
> thought it to be
> > such a good idea. Dad would?ve wanted his departure to be as low
> as impact
> > upon the earth as possible.
> >
> > He wanted a safe and secure future for his children and for earth?s
> > biodiversity. He wanted the Victorian state government to extend
> the ban on
> > GM crops and for all GM ingredients to be labelled on our food.
> He wanted
> > Australia to be GM-free.
> > On this final day before the GM moratorium is set to be lifted in
> Victoria,
> > we hope that somehow dad?s wishes will be granted and that
> premier John
> > Brumby will rethink the state governments decision to lift the ban.
> >
> > My parent?s love of nature and care of the environment has been
> imparted to
> > me, not only by my nature name ?Fern Rainbow?, that they gave to
> me, but
> > also imprinted in my knowledge, ethics and lifestyle and for this
> I am
> > eternally grateful. Thank you dad. You are in my heart and
> forever will
> > be.
> >
> >
> > Music-----Big Yellow Taxi,
> > Both sides now, ------Joni Mitchell
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Pil-pc-oceania mailing list
> > Pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> > http://jasper.cmsarchitects.com/mailman/listinfo/pil-pc-oceania
>
> Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger
> _______________________________________________
> Pil-pc-oceania mailing list
> Pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> http://jasper.cmsarchitects.com/mailman/listinfo/pil-pc-oceania
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