Thu Feb 24 2011
Story by Aldwyn Altuney
Submitted for Queensland Business Acumen magazine
A passionate pair of environmentalists have kick-started a plan to get 300 cars off the road each month on the Gold Coast by encouraging people to cycle to their events.
Kym O'Connell and Troy Jones started screening free monthly films in October 2009 at Organic Revolution to help boost their friend's business in Burleigh.
The events were so successful, they decided to form Life Changing Docos to inform, entertain and inspire audiences to help others learn how they can live sustainably in a city. Their first event under this banner was at the Gold Coast Arts Centre in February 2010.
Nearly every screening was a full house as people attended to watch fascinating films including Foodmatters, Homegrown, Our Generation, Dirt and Simply Raw - Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days.
"My mantra is to nourish families forever with films, workshops and organic food," Kym said.
"In the history of the Gold Coast Arts Centre, they had never served organic food until we went there."
Kym and professional cyclist and Gold Coast City Council Senior Transport Infrastructure Strategies Officer Iain Cummings began a bike run from Burleigh Heads to Bundall for a documentary called Fuel on December 7, 2010.
She said Fuel fuelled her determination to start the bike run as it was just before Christmas when people travelled the most.
"I want 10 friends to bring 10 friends to the first film of the year. It only takes 40 minutes to ride, it's often faster than driving because there are no traffic lights on the Oceanway and it's beautiful in the sunset," Kym said.
"One cluster of riders at a time, we are working with professional cyclists to get the message out there.
"For a hot body and a cool planet, jump on our bike bus every month and ride to the movies."
A group will be leaving from Tower 18 Burleigh Heads at 5pm on March 21 to ride to Bundall for a 6.30pm start of the Queensland premiere of Force of Nature - the new David Suzuki film screening at The Gold Coast Arts Centre. Plans are in place for a northern run as well leaving from Runaway Bay Sports Centre at the same time.
"The idea behind each film is to encourage our community to live more sustainably by leaving the car at home and riding to the movies with a friend to live a cleaner life by supporting local producers and exercise while traveling to an event," Kym said
"We're also encouraging people to get out of the office and into nature, safely traveling with friends while feeling the sea breeze along the new multi-million dollar Gold Coast Oceanway from Coolangatta to the Spit.
"I'd love to wear that road out!"
She said 2010 was a great start for Life Changing Docos and 2011 would be bigger and better as the event moved from the Gold Coast Arts Centre Basement to the Paradise Showroom.
"We have committed to screening at least 10 films over 10 months between March and December," she said.
"This year we will be bringing environmental films never seen before and much needed education about how we can live more sustainably in the city and live longer, healthier lives.
"We believe this is an important project that has and will continue to make a difference in many lives."
Force of Nature is an award-winning documentary by David Suzuki - iconic Canadian scientist, educator, broadcaster and activist. He delivers a 'last lecture' - what he describes as "a distillation of my life and thoughts, my legacy, what I want to say before I die".
Organic food and drinks will be available from 5.45pm. After the 6.30pm screening, a panel of experts will discuss the issues raised by the film and field questions from the audience.
These include, among others, Bond University Associate Professor of Sustainable Development Andrew Wilford, Miessence and Organic Farmshare director Alf Orpen and Biological Farmers of Australia general manager Holly Vyner.
MC will be celebrity gardener and sustainable landscape architect Costa from the SBS show Garden Odyssey.
Life Changing Docos will be expanding into Byron Bay, Lismore, Sydney and Melbourne in late 2011 and early 2012.
For more details, call 0413 672 940 or visit www.lifechangingdocos.com
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