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March 28, 2024

Nannas serve it up for families at Chinchilla gas fields

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Knitting Nanna Rosie serves up a perfect baklava at the Nanna's Great Big Greek Swing Fling. Photo Tree Faerie.
Knitting Nanna Rosie serves up a perfect baklava at the Nanna’s Great Big Greek Swing Fling. Photo Tree Faerie.

The Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAG) promised the families of the Chinchilla gas fields that they would not forget them and they are keeping their Nanna word.

KNAG recently hosted a Christmas fundraiser primarily to bring a little Christmas joy to kiddies and families who really are doing it tough around the Chinchilla gas fields, and to come together around the table with good food and friends and gather the community together for a fun night in solidarity.

Nannas have been shocked by the total inaction of the government and their abject failure to address the serious health issues and other concerns of people impacted in the gas fields in Queensland.

KNAG recently held their annual conference in the heart of the area to lend moral support to people who feel abandoned by and demoralised from fighting a seemingly losing battle in the face of the onslaught of gas companies who they say will stop at nothing for profit.

Nanna Rosie was on hand with her special baklava for the Greek dinner at the Lismore Bowlo. ‘Nannas have always made regular donations to various groups and individuals who are fighting like us,’ said Rosie. ‘We provided drinking water to the families around gas fields in Queensland because they fear their water is contaminated.

‘We met some kiddies who just broke our hearts when we were up there.

‘The flaring will not be stopping at Christmas. The pollution of water will not be stopping, the destruction will not be stopping and the unrelenting noise will not be stopping.’

Why Greek? Nanna Rosie says unconventional mining is hard to understand. ‘Why CSG mining hasn’t been banned nation wide is all Greek to us! And what’s not to love about Greek food and warm hospitality?

’The night would not have been possible without Team Nanna who swing into action so capably and wonderfully together with unfailing generosity, sense of humour and good heartedness.’

With moussaka and baklava aplenty, Nannas swung their bottoms to the tunes of Liora Lolita Claff and Band, while renowned Australian swing dancer Richie White taught the girls the Lindy Hop.

The Nannas particularly wanted to thank their wonderful supporters on the night Meg Nielsen, Mungo McCallum, Rhonda Armistead, the Tree Faerie, Clare Twomey and Rosie who all donated a beautiful array of raffle prizes.

‘It is cruel in the extreme that families and young children are not going to be getting a Christmas break from this,’ said Rosie. ‘We just wanted to bring a little joy and hope, and to let them know they are not abandoned.’

nannas-at-bowlo-photo-gwilym-summers
Nannas got into the swing with a Greek fling to raise money for Chinchilla families. Photo Gwilym Summers.


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