Ross Kendall
Around a hundred presenters, musicians, other artists and community activators plus a bumper crowd of punters all came together under the fig trees at the Mullumbimby Showground over the weekend for Renew Fest 2021.
The event featured round panels where experts and audiences mingled and discussed ideas as well as workshops, headline conversations and musical interludes.
Topics for discussion included the real estate crisis, economic change, democracy, racism, renewable energy, regenerative farming, community, technology and low impact living.
The festival’s core values were all about deep listening, truth speaking and collaboration to help plot a course to full system regenerative change.
Some of the headline speakers included Greens NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi, permaculturist David Holmgreen, author Robin Grille and documentary maker Damon Gameau.
The festival also featured a tiny home village prototype, a labyrinth walk, a resilience hub and ecology tours as well as acclaimed musician Natalie Rize and fireside poetry readings.
Opening night celebrations at the Civic Hall on Friday included Aboriginal activist and senior Australian of the Year Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann and Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson.
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