About Bay Vigil
The Bay Vigil .Org was born early December 2007 by a group of 4 people who are deeply concerned about Port Philip Bay and the plan to dredge a deeper channel through the Bay to the Port of Melbourne. Geraldine, Hilary, Rhys and Soula form an eclectic group of individuals with one shared love - the health and well being of our local environment. Our idea to call people to a Vigil on one night emerged from Geraldine’s story of the Vigil of Light the people of England held along the shores and cliffs during WW2.
Here is the original media release we distributed in our moment of inspiration !
Bay Vigil:
Tuesday 8th January 2008:
8.30 -10 pm
‘We Love our Bays’.
Calling all lovers of our bays to participate in a Vigil of Light. We want thousands of people holding LED candles, torches or lanterns lining the shores around our Port Philip and Westernport Bays.
Concept:
People who love the bays flock to the beaches and cliffs. Holding aloft lanterns, torches or solar lights - we create a Vigil of Light and Love. As the sun sets from the heads, the lights shall sparkle and let everyone see and know that the Bay is surrounded by those who care. The Light is that we may think clearly and intelligently about what we are doing here in the State of Victoria. The Love is because we love these bays. As fisherfolk, scuba divers, sailors, swimmers, windsurfers, children playing on the beaches, walkers, runners, cyclists, and marine biologists, we join together in one common Purpose:
To save the well being of these cherished and beautiful Bays.
We envisage a flotilla in the centre of the bay to be comprised of 33 boats willing to form and hold a heart shape with their lanterns/lights/torches shining forth. Further lines and groups of boats can line the shores. *
Benefits:
We, the people, demonstrate a peaceful and loving expression of our concern without harming or attacking anyone.
That we, the people, choose to care for the environment with long-term considerations as priority over short term monetary gain and we are prepared to make a public demonstration of this.
That we, the people, support and uphold the integrity of these Bays, which have served us well. Port Philip and Westernport have never been deep channel Bays, and to impose such a dramatic change on these ecosystems, shall irreversibly change the welfare and dynamic of these precarious marine parks.
*Since that original spark, we discovered that a flotilla of boats on the Bay in the dark of night is ‘unseaworthy’ - although a lovely idea. It is simply too dangerous to accomplish. If there are boatees happy to trundle along the shore line in support of the people on the beach - please join us!
There are so many organisations, businesses, small groups of caring people and families and inividuals who love this Bay and who are concerned about its welfare. This event and now this site, is an expression of the recognition that we are a diverse community with a common shared interest and love - the Bay.
Contact Hilary: bayvigil@gmail.com
