Rye: Against the backdrop of a crazy carnival, and looking out towards the sea, a scattered peoples collected in small pools of hope. Children played. A lone woman stood at the edge of the stone wall and held Vigil for the Bay. Newcomers drifted in and out looking for a happening to quench their thirst. Some just sat or stood. Confused and saddened, ruffled by the tourist mobs that didn’t know what they had right here, right now, we looked to sea. Fishing on the pier carried on as usual. But the seagulls knew and lined the sandbank to watch the people.
Across the softening glassy horizon, the night crept close and then, bright light shone hazily in the strangest of places. Way in the distance it held then travelled East. Flotilla! Our spirits lifted. Little groups clumped amidst the darkness waved their torches to cheer on the Fisherfolk who knew and cared. Then waved torches again to the Tasman Ferry, jewel like on the velvet sea. To the West, the Peninsular was blazing. Pockets of light grew round to Mornington and then beyond and shone more brightly as darkness caped the sky.
“Why aren’t there more people?”, was repeated oft along the shore. I stopped counting at 130 as I walked the beach and greeted the tribal clans. “We’re here” I soothed. The evening finale of a guitar and a song being written – about the Bay – comforted a weary soul.
The hoons were churning up the car park because the Carnival screeching had ceased and the silence of a balmy night was too serene. The young ones from the city who had built a fire – disappeared, disgruntled at my torchlight on their escapades and wondering why these people had interfered with their night.
Yes, we did this for everyone.
Including those who do not want not to know;
for those who do not know;
for those who DO know and care;
for those who know and choose not to care.
It is done.
And the Bay says Thank You.
*Joyful Pics and postings re the Vigil have started coming in and are up on a new page : Around The Bay. It is 4. am.
*Media Release from Minister Garrett. Arrived at the timely hour just prior to the Bay Vigil. [Word doc]
World’s smallest starfish in our Bay
For the tiniest form of life to the big ships that sail its waters, this Bay is a Sanctuary, a Port, a sea bath and beautiful marine world.
Groups are gathering all around the Bay tonight, to shine their lights to show the world they care deeply about the Bay. [See Bay Vigil Locations Page]
We Australians have developed all around and on this Bay, built a City and a Port, houses, suburbs, industries and tourism. We have maintained a healthy mecca for leisure and recreation.
We have come to love and respect the diversity of sea life. We have protected and befriended penguins, seals, dolphins, whales, sea horses and fish of enormous variety. We have achieved a remarkable balance of City and Sanctuary, of Commerce and Nature.
This City is NOW a model for the world.
Tonight we shine our Lights to respect and honour that.
Tonight we ‘stand on the beaches’ and ‘shine on the waters’ to show the world that this is what we are and that we do NOT want this delicate balance to be wrought and wrecked for economic or political gain in the short term – at the expense of our little bit of Paradise.
Groups are creative in their plans for tonight; some will be enjoying a summer picnic by the sea; some will be contemplating and praying; some will be dancing and drumming; some will create formations with their lights in the sand to depict messages and symbols to the Skies. All will be joined in this one Vigil – to shine the Light of Sense.
To all of you preparing now to particpate and to share in this Vigil;
the Bay
says
thank you!
Shine forth little human illuminators, shine forth!
Bless the Bay.
“Only when the last tree has been cut down; Only when the last river has been poisoned; Only when the last fish has been caught; Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.” Proverb, American Indian
Pelican dance at sunset.
Port Phillip Bay is both a Port serving the Garden and Cultural City of Melbourne AND a Sanctuary for humans and marine life alike. Boats and whales rest here on their journeys. Children play along the beaches and divers explore treasure worlds of fish, coral and seahorses. The balance is there already, a Port and a Leisure world.
This balance is precarious and the looming threat of unwise development can render our beautiful Bay into a quagmire of toxins and industry. Like Botany Bay in Sydney, what has been a haven, becomes ‘out of bounds’. We are called forth:
We shall fight them on the beaches…!
So we researched the Saints who protect the Bays and Lakes:
St. Andrew, St. Phillip and St. Peter.
We call on their help, and our own courage and will to a Vigil tomorrow evening.
A Vigil is an ancient tradition of holding steadily,
the energy of the Light, that Truth may prevail;
and of Love - for the Highest Good.
We share a Common Purpose in this Vigil, that of our Love for the Bay. Love is an intelligence and energy to which Life in this world responds. We are responding and answering the Call to be guardians and advocates for the Bay and its own marine world.
From dusk to 10 pm we shall hold our lights. Aiming them towards the dark sky of a new moon and across the waters that nurture so much life, we quietly declare our honour. We will be merging with the sea world and with each other, people standing and sitting peacefully in Vigil on the shores and in boats on the water.
Together, and alone, we declare: protect and cherish this priceless Sanctuary.
We shine our Lights for The Bay.
* Peruse our new page for Bay Vigil in the Press.
* The Bay Vigil Locations page shows where people are gathering around the Bay, from Point Lonsdale to Sorrento. The Flotilla of boats will be leaving from Mordialloc. Come one, come many, come all who care.
Guidelines for groups and individuals: Guidelines for Vigil
[*photo by Rhys Jones]
Postcards of the Mornington Peninsular: an exhibition at Oakhill Community Gallery, Jan 12th -Feb 6th. Contact is Cherie Leeden who will be at Fisherman’s Beach, Mornington.
We have added Blairgowrie, another at Brighton, Frankston, Port Arlington and Point Lonsdale to locations.
Sunday Age today 6th January 08, and we have a huge two page spread about the dredging project and the impending Court Case. Yes, people are deeply concerned and are making an impact. Well done to the Age and Blue Wedges Coalition!
The ABC 7.30 Report will be covering the Vigil for Wednesday evening program. The Geelong Advertiser is considering covering the Vigil from helicopter bird’s eye view. It will be a new moon on Tuesday so our lights will shine brightly in the darkness of the night.
Lots of groups are gathering – some large, some small. John Lawler is still scouting for more boats and sailors to form a Flotilla off Mordialloc beach and the weather looks good for Tuesday evening.
It matters that you are there and join in. The energy of us all linking in consciousness and the impact of our lights for an hour will be powerful. Holding a Vigil of Lights is a very old tradition. The Bay deserves our attention for it serves us well.
Updated locations on Get Involved Page: Wonderful!
Portsea Pier
From dusk to 10 pm on Tuesday 8/01/08 we will surround Port Phillip Bay with our love and gratitude. For an hour we shall hold that focus and send our energies across the surface and deep into the sea.
By thinking of each other as we shine our lights around the shores and on the water, we shall form a bubble of life over the entire Bay – a sanctuary for humans and seaplants, for animals and birds, for our world.
The caretakers and guardians of this Bay are our own elected government. Our ministers are entangled and cornered in a contract that was made years ago in another time.
They are afraid now and lost. They need our Light.
We can free our politicians from this contract. We can grace them the chance to withdraw without ‘losing face’, without recrimination, without punishment or scorn.
We know, too well, the need to revise and rethink that which may have seemed so right in yesteryears. We, the people of Australia, have rethought our political landscape.
Our world is changing and we are maturing as a nation. The old ways of profiteering for a few at the expense of so much and so many – we, choose differently now. We know these days, too much to ignore and pretend.
What do we need of bigger ships?
Why should we poison our Sanctuary and Marine world?
How can we bear the loss of habitat; the loss of our freedom to fish, to dive, to swim, to sail, to explore and discover; the loss of our healthy world?
These losses and 30 years of pain for our marine world cannot be perceived as gain for anything or anyone. To do so – is illusion.
We decline.
Let us grant that space for our ministers
to think again,
how to minister.
We will hold our Vigil of Light on Tuesday night.
We shall shine the Light into the Darkness.
List of locations registered is on the Get Involved page under menu.
*Update Thursday 6.00 pm: On 3AW this morning – Nick MacCallum supports dredging. Aaaaaah! He IS intending to investigate further so let him know of your views. Phone for talk back is : 03 9690 0693 from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon.
Spoke on Radio Port Phillip with Alison and Jim in their environment show. Save the Bay swimathon at Mornington on January 19th for children. Flier will be posted here tomorrow.
Will be joining 3RRR Community Couch on Monday Morning 9.30 am. In Leaders – Mornington and Frankston; Bellarine Echo; Geelong Advertiser. The wave of Lights is gathering momentum. Come one, come all! ***
We little folk feel so small as we look out there to the Government and Big Corporate power decision makers that can destroy our cherished marine world. Yet the ferry (the big white boat) is a Lover of the Bay. Anyone who has travelled on it knows how the Captain tells the travellers when the dolphins are playing in the ferry’s wake. The trip across the bay from Sorrento to Queenscliff is a treat!
This Bay is a haven – both for the sea life that thrive in it and for us humans. We saw thousands of people swimming, yachting and relishing the cool sea during this Christmas-New year holiday season. The fireworks and lights of towns, cities and villages along the shores on New Year’s Eve provided a stunning display. The beaches and sea breezes gave sanctuary to hot and tired bodies.
This is precisely why we shall shine our lights in gratitude on the shores and water on 8th January.
Our little lights, our small and larger groups, our passion and concern – these will show our honouring. The human spirit shines brightly. We know that appreciating and respecting the life within our Bay is our human responsibility.
We have new locations being posted daily -see Get Involved Page.
The media is beginning to suppport us. Bay Vigil and Blue Wedges are on 3AW just after the 11.00 news Thursday morning.
We have one week to go to call forth carriers of Light. Get everyone you know to be part of this peaceful Vigil of Light. Line the shores with lights. Be there and make a difference.
Faith.
And a very Happy New Year to ye all!
*pic of Sorrento – Queenscliff ferry by Rhys Jones.
We farewell 2007 and welcome in 2008 with a very hot Oz day and evening here in Southern Victoria. Here’s wishing everybody a relaxing, joyful and safe festive celebration in whatever way you decide to keep cool. Tonight will be a time to be glad of our cooling bays, oceans and sea breezes!
Groups are getting themselves organised all around the Bay. Check out the listings of focal people and places on the Get Involved Page.
We are delighted to embrace the diversity of interests with a common purpose – to demonstrate to the world that we, the people, care and do NOT support wanton destruction of a precious marine sanctuary.
May 2008 bring us all, a renewed faith and optimism in ourselves, each other and in our civilisation (s).
*pic taken at Frankston beach 1997: by Ian Kolodociezceck for House of Capes, Prahran.
Sorrento in winter. Clear and clean.
Small groups of people around the Bay are beginning to organise themselves. Check the updates on the Get Involved Page for beach focal points.
Please let us know if you have decided on where you will be on the night of the 8/01/08 from dusk to 10 pm. and are happy to have others join you.
Any suggestions for further publicity and networking – pass them on!
This is growing .. many people are glad to be part of this Vigil of Light for our Bay.
Lovely weather and succesful sailing days over Christmas have just reinforced how much we, the people of Victoria, want this Bay to be healthy and clean. We do not want Port Phillip Bay to become a major industrial port.
As this article in today’s Herald Sun indicates, it is indeed a time of concern for the sealife in our Bay. This summer then is the time to truly enjoy this Sanctuary. Play with the dolphins, go diving, embrace the Bay this summer!
Herald Sun 24th December 2007
[Pic by jay town]
RUBBING noses with dolphins and seals rather than with stressed shoppers in overcrowded stores makes for a more tranquil celebration of Christmas cheer.
Hundreds of Victorians have shouted their loved ones a swim with the playful sea animals, with Polperro Dolphin Swims for Christmas rather than putting a wrapped package under the tree.
Judy Muir has taken thousands of keen swimmers, many of them overseas tourists, out into the southern end of Port Phillip Bay at Sorrento over the past 21 years.
She describes the sensation of swimming alongside the dolphins as majestic and scenic.
While Ms Muir plans to take many more locals and tourists on to the bay to meet the dolphins, she fears the start of dredging of the bay just kilometres from her tour site in February will damage the local ecology.
“It’s so special, one of the great sights, but I have grave concerns this project will affect the dolphin population,” Ms Muir said, adding she had no plans to close her business.
Despite receiving assurances from the Port of Melbourne that her tourism business would still be able to operate during the dredging, Ms Muir still has concerns.
Ms Muir urged people to dive into the dolphin experience before dredging altered the natural landscape.
For more information on the tours, call 5988 8437.
* new posting on Dredging Page … Common? sense view.
Do enjoy this Christmas Festival season and the glorious Full Moon !
Peace,
Hilary.
The new Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, has signed on with the Federal Government 1/3 support for the dredging of Port Phillip Bay.
Media releases:
Minister Garrett: http://www.environment.gov.au
Sue Pennicuik: http://www.electedgreensvictoria.org.au
He has made a decision to protect the Port of Melbourne’s $billion empire weighed against the damage to the Bay marine park and the thousands of small businesses , clubs and organisations that are dependent upon a healthy Bay. Are there really so many people who still – despite so much wisdom and knowledge to the contrary - want growth of industry to be more valued than nature? We have a barely sustainable imbalance in the Land of Oz already. Port Phillip Bay is being ravaged. The Port of Melbourne is doing quite nicely - why the lust for more?
We shall continue with our project – to hold a Vigil of Light around the Bay on 8/01/08. Anyone who feels they can now step into the role of guardian for an hour holding their light… please join in. The Bay is a sanctuary for so many species: for animals, birds, marine life, and yes, for us humans. It is a giver of life with its fresh sea breezes and its role in cleaning the air. Our stormwater drains pollute it daily, yet the sea in our Bay cleans up our muck and gives us back life.
What $ value is such beauty and generosity of spirit?
We still have hope – on January 10th, 08.
Be there on the beaches on 8th January.
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