The BACK touring party and crew are taking actions to minimise the environmental impact of the tour where possible. We’ll let you know what we are doing, how it’s going, and also what people can do in each city we travel to, as we go.
Tree Planting Lot 50-Kanyanyapilla
As part of looking at minimising the tour’s footprint and environmental impact a bunch of the BACK band and crew spent the day planting trees and shrubs down at Lot 50-Kanyanyapilla (L50K) to assist in the property’s regeneration project.
L50K is a bi-cultural ecological and cultural regeneration project near McLaren Vale initiated by artist and cultural geographer Gavin Malone. The land is an ancient Kaurna Meyunna campground, occupied for several thousand years. L50K includes part of the Maslin Creek reed swamp, a stunning ecological and cultural asset. The regeneration adopts a bi-cultural, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, approach and recognises the cultural practices and traditions of both cultures. Several thousand seedlings have been planted since 2015, dramatically changing a once barren and abandoned landscape.
L50K is on the lands of the parngkarra clan territory of the Mullawirrameyu Dry forest people within the Yerta Country of the Kaurna Meyunna. We deeply acknowledge their traditions, their ongoing cultural and spiritual renewal and their continued struggle for the recognition of their rights within their land, sea and sky Country. In particular we offer our respect and gratitude to Georgina Yambo Williams, Ngankiburka-mekauwe, Senior Woman of Water and Karl Winda Telfer, Senior Traditional Owner, Mullawirrameyu.
Since the planting day earlier this year, in historic news, Karl Winda Telfer, Senior Traditional owner, has signed an agreement with the Catholic Church which provides tenure to a 3,5 ha part of Kanyanyapilla. The agreement provides certainty of tenure for fifty years and is a huge step in the right direction towards Aboriginal self-determination and cultural renewal. Karl, his family and clan will revegetate the site with the assistance of many in the region who are so supportive of Aboriginal tenure to land and their cultural and spiritual renewal.
Karl Telfer is continuing his work in this space with his company Yellaka, the fusion of ancient traditional and contemporary Aboriginal dance, song and storytelling, performed proudly and respectfully by its young Aboriginal members. Meaning Old Wisdom, New Ways Yellaka was founded in 2015 by Karl Telfer, Senior Traditional Owner, Mullawirrameyu and partner Sonia Waters to keep young people strong in culture and identity. They have performed at numerous major public events and cultural institutions, presenting their unique fusion of old and new in a highly absorbing and engaging way.
With thanks to Green Nation (Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s sustainability initiative).
Back Tour – Greening Projects
Seed Paper Postcard
Stick it on your fridge or plant in a pot and watch your Swan River Daisy grow. Available from the Merchandise Desk on all Australian dates (sorry Kiwis, N/A in NZ due to government restrictions). All proceeds go back into greening initiatives on the BACK Tour.
A word from the printer:
“At Paper-Go-Round we collect recycled office paper from schools, local businesses and printers & upcycle almost 100KG every week. We re-pulp the waste paper & embed with seeds from Aussie farms to create our beautiful handmade seed paper that grows!”
Up-cycled BACK Merchandise
Our 2020 tour was rudely interrupted by Covid – this left us with unsold BACK stock, so rather than sending it to landfill, Tim got out the red pen!
Available only at the Adelaide Merchandise Stand on June 12th and 13th and only while stocks last.
Ways to get involved in…
New Zealand
Love Food Hate Waste
The average Kiwi family throws away three shopping trolleys of edible food each year. The Love Food Hate Waste NZ campaign provides tips on how to reduce food waste. For inspiration on replacing single use plastics with reusables head to Plastic Free July Aotearoa.
Wellington
Restoring and protecting habitat
Conservation Volunteer NZ projects focus on restoring wild places and protecting the natural environment. Volunteers can get involved in tree planting, walking trail construction, plant propagation, weed control and protecting threatened species.
Sustainability Trust
Sustainability Trust is a social enterprise on a mission to halt the impact of climate change. Focused on the Greater Wellington region, they provide sustainability advice, e-waste recycling and other recycling programmes, events and education. They also have a range of free and paid services to help people create healthier homes and use energy and resources more efficiently.
Auckland
Register for a Planting Day
The second phase of Auckland’s Mayor’s Million Trees project aims to plant 1.5 million trees and shrubs across the region over three years. The trees and shrubs planted create carbon sinks to help reduce emissions and reduce siltation into Auckland’s harbours and waterways. Visit One Million Trees to register for a planting day this year to celebrate Matariki and help green Auckland.
Support a community bush restoration project
CUE Haven is a community project in northwest Auckland to restore an old dairy farm to a native New Zealand Forest. Since 2008, volunteers have planted over 170,000+ native trees and assisted with weed and pest control and constructed over 3.5 km of walking tracks and boardwalks. The restoration of the property has brought back native birds and the stream on the property is now flourishing with aquatic life. Find out more about the project and how you can help at CUE Haven.
Christchurch
Look after coastlines and waterways
The Sustainable Coastlines team are on a mission to look after the coastlines and waterways, working with their sleeves rolled up to keep them healthy and beautiful. Check out their three core programmes, clean-up events, educational programmes, public awareness campaigns, and riparian planting projects. They are working with volunteers, interns, ambassadors, and local community groups to enable them to deliver these activities in their own communities.
Ōtūkaikino Creek Planting Day
Join the Tree Planting, Waimakariri on Saturday the 7th of August alongside the Ōtūkaikino Creek that flows into the Waimakariri River. The Waimakariri River is the source of over 75% of the drinking water for Christchurch so get involved to give this iconic waterway some much-needed aroha! Sustainable Coastlines have various other tree-planting days coming up around the country, check them out here.
Adelaide
Join in on planting habitat for wildlife this June
Bio·R reconstructs habitats to support declining native wildlife. Our activities are informed by research, reconnect the community with our natural environment and celebrate the good work we do together.
Plant local species down south with Biodiversity McLaren Vale
Biodiversity McLaren Vale is a collaboration between community, industry and government that aims to double the biodiversity of the McLaren Vale wine region. Putting volunteer feet on the ground the first Sunday of every month to either, depending on the season, remove woody weeds or to plant local species in their place. Then stop for a bite to eat, a small tipple of the landowner’s finest and a chat with our fellow Biodiversiteers.
Support local producers and market gardens
Get a veg box delivery from farmers like Village Greens, or visit a local Farmers’ Market.
Move more sustainably within the city
EcoCaddy are doing great things in the transport sector, providing zero-emissions transport, delivery, and fun tours in Adelaide with their fleet of electric-assisted rickshaws.
Sustainability events and workshops
The Adelaide Sustainability Centre aims to inspire, connect and support collective learning and community action for a sustainable future. Find out more about upcoming events and projects via their Facebook and website.
Protecting Adelaide’s Tree Canopy
Stay up to date with info on campaigns and projects at Conservation Council SA, an independent, non-profit, and non-party-political peak body organisation representing around 60 of SA’s environment and conservation organisations.
Keep South Australia Beautiful
KESAB (Keep South Australia Beautiful) was founded as a litter reduction campaign in 1966 and is now SA’s leading not-for-profit organisation delivering community-based environmental and sustainability education programs. Join KESAB for a workshop or activity to improve, preserve and protect the environment.
Adelaide Sustainable Building Network
The ASBN are passionate advocates for regenerative built environments in SA. They promote, educate, and connect to empower South Australians towards realising sustainable and regenerative cities, neighbourhoods, buildings and homes.
Brisbane
National Tree Planting Day
Started by Planet Ark in 1996 the national planting day, this year on Sunday 1st August, has now grown into Australia’s largest community tree-planting and nature care event. It’s a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty and give back to the community. Those interested in getting involved can volunteer to join a site nearby or host one of their own. If that’s not possible in your area or just not you, get involved by planting a tree at home or getting a new houseplant. More info and Tree Day stories on Facebook and Instagram.
Coastal Environments Protection
Tangaroa Blue Foundation is an Australian-wide not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the removal and prevention of marine debris. Using data from rubbish clean up events we work on solutions to stop the flow of litter at the source. Check out the data app full of resources and support programs to help communities look after coastal environments.
Make Food Waste a thing of the past
OzHarvest Brisbane is on a mission to ensure good food is eaten and not wasted. Food waste is often overlooked in the climate change debate but is a major contributor responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gases (more than the aviation sector!). Find out practical and easy ways to help save food at home and jump on the Fight Food Waste movement to make food waste a thing of the past.
Taringa Community Garden
The Taringa Community Garden are on a mission to educate, connect and provide our community with sustainable lifestyle options. Check out our events page for upcoming activities and opportunities to learn more about our community, sustainable living and growing food.
Clean up events
While best known for one day of action, Clean Up Australia are a wealth of information about the issues and waste challenges Australia is facing and support Clean Up events any day of the year. Search for one nearby or find ways to share a pledge about an action to reduce the collective environmental footprint.
Bush revegetation
MOTT are a small bush revegetation group fostering the planting, maintenance, and protection of trees. With a troop of volunteers we plant trees in parks and degraded urban and rural areas and also encourage the development of systems for tree planting to suit specific needs. Planting in these regions helps to stabilise eroding soil, mitigate climate extremes and provide habitat. Find out more info or join for an upcoming planting.
Brisbane Carbon Challenge
The Brisbane Carbon Challenge is an initiative helping individuals to track, analyse, understand and reduce household carbon footprints through renewable energy transitions and reduction strategies. Take the challenge to learn about household emissions, carbon reduction actions and tips on home energy use.
Jump on a working Bee
Growing Forward is a network of community gardens growing sustainable food, skill-sharing and distributing produce to people who need it. Stay up to date on projects or join in on one of the regular working bees.
Melbourne
Jump on the Plastic Free July Challenge
Plastic Free July is a global campaign aimed at helping reduce plastic use and consumption across the month of July (and beyond!). Last year 300+ million people from 177 countries took part to reduce their plastic waste and make a difference. Jump on the Plastic Free July challenge to reduce waste by aiming to make small everyday changes and switching to alternatives.
Get onboard with clean energy
Environment Victoria are working to support the transition to clean energy in Victoria. Stay up to date on campaigns, switch to renewable energy and check out the sustainable living hub, an interactive site with tips for personal changes for a greener future.
Off-Grid Living Festival
The Off-Grid Living Festival, held in regional Victoria every April, is a grassroots festival that covers 10 fundamental topics focusing on Off-Grid technology and sustainable living. With over 200 interactive exhibitions, talks, workshops and demonstrations it’s a great place to learn more about footprint reduction and environmental solutions.
Support your local Reground Cafe
Reground started as a coffee composting service helping Melbourne cafés turn their coffee waste into compost at local community gardens. They help businesses reduce waste with a focus on coffee, chaff and soft plastic. Reground hopes to create a community around waste resources through education and help change the current waste disposal structure. Check out your local cafes turning a cup of joe into fertiliser.
First Nations Stories
Common Ground is a First Nations-led not-for-profit working to shape a society that centres First Nations people by amplifying knowledge, cultures, and stories. We embed knowledge through education and work on cultural storytelling projects to create a future that centres our people, knowledge, and cultures.
Workshops and courses
CERES School of Nature and Climate provides education in the community, at schools and online, designed with intention and impact to ensure learning experiences are regenerative, inclusive and science-based. Find out more about workshop and courses and the many and varied ways CERES responds to climate change and sustainability challenges.
Local urban agriculture projects
Since 2014, 3000acres has been bringing people together through a range of urban agriculture projects to encourage sustainability and create opportunities for food growing in greater Melbourne. 3000acres work to support communities with skills and knowledge to grow fresh healthy food, whilst transforming underutilised land into great community spaces. Check out local projects growing food to develop resilient urban landscapes.