highlightsVIC 2019
We are listing highlights from the program below.
See the main page for general information including tickets.
See the program page for programming information
See the main page for general information including tickets.
See the program page for programming information
- Special Events
- Thinking Workshops
- Skills Workshops
- Hands on Workshops
- Community Workshops
- Green Workshops
special events

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY & SEED SAVING
Find out more about Graeme George
- this workshop will explore the fruit, vegetable and herb varieties most suited to this climate and what you need to know to ensure their ongoing availability to avoid relying on commercial sources. It will cover variety selection, plant selection, seed harvesting and storage with emphasis on hardy, proven, reliable heirloom varieties..
Find out more about Graeme George
SPEED DATING FOR PREPPERS
- this workshop is for people looking for people to prep with and is modeled on classic speed dating workshops. Participants either present either their VISION for a refuge or their PERSONAL attributes or BOTH in an effort to find people they might want to prep with. People with up should bring their prospectus to hand out to potential members
NERF WARS
- byo own NERF gun(s) and a pair of safety glasses. Players will be formed into teams and play a range of scenarios that will be both fun and challenging.

PANDEMIC THE VIRUS GAME
- pandemic is one of the few games where players win by cooperating with each other in the game. The represents humanity's battle against a series of lethal viral outbreaks. The game will be available to play in the communal lounge space throughout the event.

CAN THE SHIRE OF YARRA RANGES SAVE the WORLD
- this free public event is being run as the opening event of Red and Blue on the Friday night. Is it a community meeting to discuss pushing Yarra Ranges into the next level of their climate emergency response.. See the Facebook event for full details
THINKING WORKSHOPS
THREAT LEVEL 4: IT’S RED AND GETTING REDDER
COLLAPSE BASICS RED VS BLUE
PSYCHOLOGY FOR COLLAPSE
ECONOMIC COLLAPSE
INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE
- this workshop explores where our world is heading in the next few years and why a Red scenario is highly likely It discusses the threats of global warming, nuclear war, and viral pandemic and the special preps you would consider for these scenarios.
COLLAPSE BASICS RED VS BLUE
- this workshop is designed to expose the participant to the basic strategies that could be implemented for surviving Red or Blue scenarios. The pros and cons of the basic strategies are discussed and basic steps to move forward are discussed. Workshop suit beginner prepper or prepper who want to test their own thinking against the ideas of a long time prepper.
PSYCHOLOGY FOR COLLAPSE
- this talk focuses on two key topics: 1. psychological responses to disaster and 2. collapse events and overview of personality disorders and mental health issues that might effect you effort to prepare for a red and blue scenario.
ECONOMIC COLLAPSE
- this session will explore the realities of an economic collapse. The session will start with a 12 minute animation by Theo Kitchener, PJ Kalemba, and the team from DIO (Doing It Ourselves) followed by a guided discussion.
INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE
- permaculture is a system of design focused around sustainable, resilient and perpetual food growing but its designed principles and systems thinking can be applied to almost any field of human activity. Permaculture training is a must for any person wanting to prepare for a Red or a Blue event.
skILls WORKSHOPS
BACKYARD BIOCHAR
AGROFORESTRY
INTRO TO SAFE CHAINSAW HANDLING
COMPOSTING
- biochar traps carbon, promotes soil life, increases water retention and if prepared properly acts as a slow release fertiliser. This works will explain the use and manufacture of backyard biochar. and why it should be apart of any Red or Blue system.
AGROFORESTRY
- growing trees is a critical part of any permaculture system. this workshop will explain how to incorporate trees into your permaculture system so they can provide multiple functions including management for timber.
INTRO TO SAFE CHAINSAW HANDLING
- learn the basics of safe chainsaw use with an experienced aborist Joran Crooka..
COMPOSTING
- composting using enzymes and bacteria to break down the food in waste to produce a perfectly balance fertilizer with Mike Morrison.
hands on WORKSHOPS
LIGHTING FIRE WITH A SPARK
FORGE A KNIFE
ARCHERY
- learn to light a fire with a ferro-magnesium rod, the basic fire lighting tool of any post apocalyptic survival kit. Participants will practice on progressively more difficult materials to light.
FORGE A KNIFE
- try your hand at forging a knife from a piece of rebar. Practice making the most important of tools with a hammer and heat. You get to keep your knife..
ARCHERY
- Have some fun while learning the basics or how to shoot a bow.
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING
- effective decision making is key in good functioning in any group., but often groups lack even the most basic skills such as good listening and agenda setting. This workshop covers these basic skills, how meeting processes can be done very badly, even hijacked, and presents a model of group decision making called "consensus decision making". Consensus decision making encourage the active participation of all members in a group and seeks a shared agreement and buy in by all. The model presented is a robust form of consensus which can still function if the group has dysfunctional members or sabotage of group process is attempted.
GREEN WORKSHOPS

Holistic Activism
This workshop is being presented by Mark Allan. Mark Allen is an environmental activist with a background in sustainable town planning and the ethics of what we eat. After more years than he would like, he is increasingly focussing his attention on the process of ensuring that activism is effective and that it leads to a long legacy.
- climate change and many of the other problems that we are facing are symptoms of a much deeper problem, one that is rooted in ego and identity. Holistic Activism is about taking us outside of the matrix because unless we do, we will never achieve long-term peace and sustainability. We have to embrace our interconnectedness and our differences so that we can work together effectively as activists without getting bogged down in the issues that divide us.
This workshop is being presented by Mark Allan. Mark Allen is an environmental activist with a background in sustainable town planning and the ethics of what we eat. After more years than he would like, he is increasingly focussing his attention on the process of ensuring that activism is effective and that it leads to a long legacy.
PROMOTED wORKSHOPS THAT GOT CAncelled... sORRY
- BREWING YOUR OWN MEDICINE AT HOME: MAKING JUN