Build it Back Green

John and Sarah (2012)

Green Cross Australia — 2012-07-24T10:23:06

Even before the fires, John and Sarah had planned a bushfire resilient home for the property. The events of Black Saturday reinforced to John and Sarah the importance of resilient and environmentally efficient building.

Bron (2012)

Green Cross Australia — 2012-07-20T16:22:44

Bron's weatherboard home was destroyed during the fires in 2009. She and her family thought long and hard about their options for rebuilding, they wanted to rebuild something both strong and beautiful. Bron took on the mighty task of being an owner builder and ended up with a stunning result.

Building back green in Chelmer

Green Cross Australia — 2012-09-24T21:23:58

Peter and Suzanne Davies are busy rebuilding their beloved home after it was left devastated by the Queensland floods of January 2011. The Davies' house in Chelmer, Brisbane stands out as a shining example of Building Back Green, with a range of resilient and sustainable features.

Sustainable rebuilding workshops accounced for Strathewen and St Andrews

Green Cross Australia — 2012-05-11T16:24:13

Strathewen & St Andrews Sustainable Rebuilding Project invites you to attend one or all of a series of workshops for 2012, designed to assist owner builders and renovators to make their homes as energy efficient as possible.

CSIRO Build a bushfire-resilient straw house

Green Cross Australia — 2012-03-14T16:32:00

In the fight between straw and fire, what do you think would come out on top? Scientists took an eco-friendly house with Modak board cladding, a steel frame and walls insulated with straw and exposed it to a worst case bushfire scenario. Did it survive? Results say, yes it did!

Mara writes for the Griffith Review

Green Cross Australia — 2012-03-28T17:05:28

Green Cross Australia CEO Mara Bun writes for the Griffith Review - talking about the way forward after a disaster strikes. Read her article here.

Bruno’s Art & Sculpture Garden, and 7.5 star homes for Marysville

Green Cross Australia — 2012-01-06T13:06:09

With all but 14 of over 400 buildings destroyed in Marysville on Black Saturday, nearly three years later some homes have been rebuilt. Two of those are sustainable rebuilds by building designer First Angle, including a new home and gallery for Bruno Torfs, owner of a popular Marysville art and sculpture garden.

Janet and Scott McLean resilient rebuild in Yarra Glen

Green Cross Australia — 2012-01-06T12:26:33

Left with just one shed standing after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires destroyed their home, a year later Scottish couple Janet and Scott McLean installed a 2.1kW solar power system on its roof and called the shed home while their new improved dwelling was being built.

Baby steps after the floods

Green Cross Australia — 2012-01-06T13:42:34

Architect Mark Thomson's first experience after the Queensland floods was as part of the 'mud brigade'. Now he's trying to set a smarter, hands- on approach to rebuilding in flood-affected areas, writes Jacinta Cleary

Democracy after disasters

Green Cross Australia — 2012-01-06T13:07:49

A natural disaster occurs. People and communities are affected, often in the worst imaginable ways. But what happens next and how are citizens of disaster-affected areas engaged in decision-making regarding rebuilding their communities and recovering their lives?

The Weekly Review: Earthship Enterprise

Green Cross Australia — 2011-10-04T09:49:32

The first signs of greenery on the scorched Victorian landscape shone like a beacon of hope for the thousands who lost their loved ones, livelihoods and homes in the Black Saturday fires of 2009.

Bushfire rebuild wins highest honour, Building Design of the Year.

Green Cross Australia — 2011-10-04T09:49:04

A beautiful home rebuilt after the devastating Victorian 2009 bushfires has been awarded the highest accolade at the recent Building Designers Association of Victoria's annual awards night.

BlueScope Steel and Caroline Pidcock win Insurance Council of Australia Resilience Award for resilient housing design

Green Cross Australia — 2011-12-16T10:36:35

On May 5 2011 Bluescope Steel won the Insurance Council of Australia Resilience Award Competition with an innovative home design, by Caroline Pidcock of Pidcock Architects, aimed at preparing Australian communities for extreme weather conditions and assist disaster affected families to remain in their own homes post-disaster. We met with Robert Scott (Building Applications and Product Durability Manager) and Hayley Jarick (Sustainability Analyst) from BlueScope Steel to find out a bit more about this project...

Greenfleet, AAMI and Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses help bushfire recovery

Green Cross Australia — 2011-05-23T14:22:48

It was a cold, and at times wet, day in Watsons Creek, adjoining Kinglake National Park, but that did not stop 50 eager volunteers from Suncorp (AAMI, GIO, Apia), Greenfleet and Parks Victoria from getting their hands dirty to assist with the landscape's recovery.

Extreme Weather Heroes - inspiring young emergency volunteers

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T10:44:49

Australia's dry terrain and massive coastline expose us to severe storms, floods and fires. Extreme Weather Heroes uses social networking to inspire young people to get involved in emergency volunteering to step up, get skilled and get prepared.

Go Volunteer – an initiative of Volunteering Australia

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T10:42:24

GoVolunteer provides you with all the information you might need to find out about volunteering and volunteer opportunities in your area.

Volunteering Victoria – the State’s volunteering peak group

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T10:39:41

Volunteering Victoria is the State peak body for volunteering. Volunteering Victoria supports volunteers, volunteer managers and co-ordinators and volunteer-involving not-for-profit and community organisations within Victoria.

Consider volunteering for the CFA

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T10:36:17

There are many different types of volunteer roles at CFA. By making a contribution to your community you will make new friends, learn new skills and be part of Victoria's largest volunteer team. You don't need experience to join CFA as we will provide you with all the necessary training. The training is aligned with National Competency Standards so your new skills will be recognised throughout Australia. The job isn't all fighting fires, and there are many support roles that help brigades, and will also help you to build professional skills

VICSES are recruiting now

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T10:34:26

Find out more information about joining VICSES and why thousands around Victoria already have. VICSES volunteers come from different professions, backgrounds and all walks of life. As well as saving the lives and property of many Victorians, VICSES volunteer members find there are many personal benefits to volunteering. There is the opportunity to hold leadership positions, earn accreditations that can be used beyond VICSES, become a respected figure in the community and form strong friendships.

Seek’s dedicated volunteering portal

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T10:32:57

Seek Volunteer is a non-profit initiative designed to bring volunteers and the organisations seeking them together. Volunteer opportunities are updated daily and you can search by organisation or position.

Victoria’s government volunteering portal

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T13:07:47

Not-for-profit organisations can advertise for volunteers in our opportunity matching service. Get ideas for ways to volunteer, what to expect and how to get started as a volunteer. Read inspirational volunteering stories and share your experiences with others.

Landcare – now more than ever

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T13:08:52

Caring for local ecosystems is a vital aspect of the bushfire recovery. Landcare is active in Flowerdale, Kinglake, Marysville and right across bushfire affected communities. Through their 'Fences Without Borders' program Landcare is encouraging corporate volunteering in a big way - so get involved.

Kinglake Action Network & Development Organisation

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T09:56:19

From Water Forums and local Water Action Groups to community work engagement programs - KANDO is a network of community members dedicated to sustainable development. Let them know if you are interested in contributing.

Firefoxes – women on the move

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T09:55:04

Firefoxes is a group of resilient Kinglake women rising together from the bushfires. This amazing group won the Community Spirit award in the recent Herald Sun Pride of Australia Medal awards. Firefoxes is an incorporated group, auspiced by and run as a program of Uniting Care Cutting Edge. This group of inspirational women run diverse programs including boot camps and retreats.

Build It Back Green website wins Best In Class Interactive Media Award

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-10T16:18:15

The Build It Back Green website, built for Green Cross Australia by Zeroseven, has won a Best In Class Interactive Media Award in the Natural Environment/Green Category - the highest honour awarded by the international judging panel.

Build It Back Green website launches thanks to Victorian Government Sustainability Fund

Green Cross Australia — 2010-09-28T12:52:25

Green Cross Australia was funded by a grant from the Victorian Government Sustainability Fund to launch the Build It Back Green website for the bushfire affected communities.

Lisa

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:21:00

Lisa and her family have a special vision for a sustainable recovery - they want to grow as much of their food as possible at home. Lisa has worked with a group called "Edible Gardens" who have helped the family to design a plan for a garden that delivers just what they like in tune with seasons and the landscape of the block.

Pete

Green Cross Australia — 2012-06-28T13:43:53

Pete is a green soul in the Flowerdale Community. Pete has a deep understanding of sustainability having worked at CERES, the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies. Pete has worked tirelessly to support Flowerdale's recovery, and recites his moving poem, full of wit and wisdom, to help inspire community engagement.

Les

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:16:31

Les' home is an inspiring example of smart green building, and his plans for living green will maximise energy savings and comfort. But it wasn't easy.

Matt

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:18:26

Matt is a Kinglake local builder who has studied sustainability and was developing a local green practice before the bushfires.

Kristen

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:15:45

Kristen was keen to support the women of Flowerdale after the bushfires, to build morale and have fun in the thick of so many challenges. So she started giving belly dancing classes!

Reece

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:12:25

Reece is an example of how self-resilience, common sense and on-the-ground leadership can save lives and protect neighbourhoods when natural disasters occur.

Billy

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:05:11

Billy is a long time resident of Flowerdale who offers an insight in to why people love Flowerdale so much, and how important protecting the local environment is to the bushfire recovery.

Anthony

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:09:26

Anthony has lived in Kinglake for 30 years and following Black Saturday he has designed a new Nine Star Rated home.

Colin and the Kinglake Ranges Wilderness Camp

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T14:54:11

Colin is a treasured member of the Kinglake community. For the past five years he has owned and operated the Kinglake Ranges Wilderness Camp, which delivers experiential learning programs to especially disadvantaged young people from the region.

Llewellyn

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:19:22

"Environmentally sustainable design and building is for everyone".

That's the message from Llewellyn Pritchard, the insipiration behind Conscious Homes, a HIA "GreenSmart award" winning building advisory group based in Eltham, Victoria. Llewellyn's studio home is a showcase of sustainability.

Robyn

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T15:13:23

Robyn's home is living proof that sustainability can be stylish. Her impeccable taste in sustainable design and recycled materials combined with the expertise of professional architects has made her home truely unique.

Julia, Mike and Otis

Green Cross Australia — 2010-10-27T14:54:47

Julia, Mike and Otis have been through a lot in the last 18 months. Today their straw bale home stands as a symbol of their strength, resilience, sustainability - and everything they stand for.

A primary school with green ambition

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T09:53:46

Strathewen Primary School has a long, proud history of being the focal point for the community. It is a school which has traditionally had a very high level of parental involvement and many wonderful projects have been achieved. Sustainabillity has been a key theme in Strathewen's award winning community led recovery effort. The School is undertaking a number of projects that require assistance so please contact them if you would like to help.

Supporting the Recovery - Renewin’ Strathewen

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T13:08:20

The community of Strathewen was devastated by the Black Saturday bushfires. 23 residents lost their lives and 80 homes were destroyed. Strathewen is rebuilding with the help of thousands of hours of volunteer labour, donated materials and the funds so generously donated after the fires. The road to recovery is a long journey, and the community sincerely thanks everyone who is helping them.

Kinglake Ranges Wilderness Camp

Green Cross Australia — 2010-12-17T11:51:46

Kinglake Ranges Wilderness Camp is a group accommodation facility located just 60 minutes North of the Melbourne CBD sitting atop the Great Dividing Range. The location is a unique camp environment set amidst 800 hectares of mountain bush right beside the King Parrot Creek.

KRWC are well and truly on their way to recovery after being totally destroyed on Black Saturday thanks to the fantastic support of so many. Their brand new ropes course and Tipi village are complete and our accommodation buildings will be completed by Christmas 2010.

Bring on 2011 - Colin French and the team can't wait to see their old friends and new bookings are coming in quickly for the new facilities experience.