*As an organisation, Pure Finance is committed to putting 5% of its revenue to work for good. Of that 5%, we designate 1% to supporting community organisations working hard to protect our environment, and another 1% goes toward Paying the Rent. The final 3% is set aside for the upcoming launch of a new not-for-profit - Yours.
Supporting the needs of our community is something we are very grateful to be in a position to be able to do. So, for this quarter’s Pure Community donations, we’ve done exactly that. With your help, here’s where the community sent its support:
FOR THE PLANET / Addison Road Community Organisation (Addi Road)
Nestled among one hundred and seventy trees, and one big dead Sydney blue gum, in Marrickville sits Addison Road Community Organisation (or Addi Road as it’s more affectionately known). Addi Road serves a range of functions for the community, from supporting art and culture through their permanent gallery and museum, and frequently hosting events such as festivals, film screenings, and sustainability workshops; through to elevating human rights by providing much needed food security out of their (fully solar powered) Food Pantry.
Launched in 2016 in response to growing inequality and environmental concerns, the Addi Road Food Pantry and associated services are, now more than ever, essential in their provision of access to low cost, safe, and nutritious food to all, as we endure a severe cost-of-living crisis. Everyone is welcome to shop at the food pantry irrespective of income, while food vouchers are available for those who aren’t in a position to pay. Beyond this, Addi Road provides food relief hampers to a range of diverse beneficiaries who are impacted by growing inequality, entrenched disadvantage, and growing workforce casualisation.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Food Pantry is that it’s stocked with rescued food – each week over 8 tonnes of food are diverted from landfill and into the hands of more than 8,000 people. It might sound absurd, but some of the most significant climate action we can take on an individual level is to prevent edible food finding its way into landfill. Let’s break it down:
- 7.6 millions tonnes of food are wasted annually in Australia, the equivalent to between $2,000 and $2,500 in groceries per household per year.
- Food waste produces over 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If it was a country it would be the third largest emitter after the USA and China. In Australia, food waste accounts for around 3% of our annual emissions.
- 25% of water used in agriculture is used to grow food that ends up as waste. Australia’s share of this is equivalent to about five Sydney Harbours.
- Food waste costs our economy approx. $36.6 billion a year.
See where we’re going?
According to Addi Road:
‘We all have a role to play in reducing our environmental impact. We believe what we can do at a local level is promote sustainable practices, support locals to engage with our gardens and provide facilities for community gardens and sustainable practices.’
Beyond fighting food waste and hunger, Addi Road also maintain two thriving gardens, a nursery and a compost facility. Their organic Community Garden, which is run by volunteers, provides urban food production and promotes sustainable initiatives. Whereas the Rain Garden is a bio retention system created in partnership with Inner West Council and is designed to improve the health of the Cooks River. Local stormwater is diverted through and filtered by the garden which houses 14 species of native grass, sedges, and flowering plants, before being returned to the main stormwater channel. The rain garden re-interprets the old creek line that once flowed through the area prior to colonisation, and is tended to by a mix of council staff and volunteers, who propagate local native plant species, which are used in Council parks and reserves throughout the Inner West.
Facing a biting cost-of-living crisis and an ever-worsening environmental crisis, we’re grateful for our community, and in particular organisations like Addi Road, who motivate and inspire us to learn and take action, and who provide us with the support we need to endure. It was an honour to provide them with $2,153.00 this quarter and support their important work in the community.
Addison Road Community Organisation is located at 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. The Food Pantry is located in Hut 1, the Community Garden is behind the Greek Theatre, and the Rain Garden is next to Gumbramorra Hall.
There is also a Food Pantry at 31 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Camperdown. Both Food Pantries are open from 12pm to 4pm Monday to Friday.
If you’re in a position to donate, please consider supporting those in our community who might be facing a difficult time. In addition to money, Addi Road also accepts donations of food.
You can sign up to volunteer, join a gathering at the Community Garden, or see what else is on. If you’re not local, there’s a very good chance there is a community garden near you.
Addi Road also has a ‘Return & Earn’ container deposit system. Every glass, bottle, or can, recycled makes you eligible for a small refund or donation to a listed charity. Open from 7am-9pm every day.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following paragraphs contain the names of deceased persons.
PAYING THE RENT / Kumanjayi Walker Coronial Inquest - GoFundMe
At 8:36pm, on the 19th of November 2019, Kumanjayi Walker died on the floor of a cell at the Yuendumu police station, an hour after he was shot by police. His family, and members of his community who had gathered outside the station following the news of his arrest weren’t notified of his death until twelve hours later.
While we’re not in a position to comment on the events of November 19th, particularly while the Coronial Inquest into Kumanjayi Walker’s death takes place, there are a number of things that are clear and can’t be ignored: no one should have died that night; no family should be separated from one another, nor kept in the dark during a time of such significant pain; and that Kumanjayi Walker suffered at the hands of both explicit and institutionalised racism, and it was widespread systematic failure, to which he was exposed for a large part of his life, that ultimately lead to his death.
At the time of writing this, we understand that there have been close to 517 Aboriginal deaths in custody, likely more, since the 1991 Royal Commission into the issue. Over the past 30 years, governments have not fully implemented the royal commission’s 339 recommendations, nor those of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Pathways to Justice inquiry, the Don Dale royal commission and many other coronial investigations. The failure to do so has evidently been devastating.
This quarter we’re Paying the Rent to the fundraiser coordinated by Kumanjayi Walker’s cousin, Samara Fernandez, to assist with costs relating to the current coronial inquest. These, include legal costs, travel and accommodation expenses allowing family to attend the Coronial Inquest, and money to support community events.
'Family and community is devastated. This is an emotional and difficult time for all family and community members involved. An experience we never want any other family to go through. There are no real words to describe our pain… It is important to us that, as a family and community, we are present in the inquest process for many reasons. First, being present ensures we are being heard and speaking for Kumanjayi, who can no longer speak for himself. Being in attendance means that we understand all the circumstances that led to Kumanjayi’s death to ensure no other family needs to endure what we have!'
Samara Fernandez - Warlpiri woman from Yuendumu and Kumanjayi Walker's cousin
While urgent action from the federal and state governments continues to be stalled, family and community support must be bolstered and their voices elevated while they advocate for deep systemic change, and beyond. Due to the extent in which failure permeates our ‘justice’ system and other intuitions, this change will take time to be fully effected. However, there are a number of things that can be implemented immediately as part of the healing process, and that Black Voices have been calling for in order to reduce harm and injustice, for example a ban on guns for police in remote communities and a Raising of the Age.
You can donate directly to the GoFundMe to assist with costs relating to the Coronial Inquest for Kumanjayi Walker here. A transparent breakdown of these expenses are listed on the go fund me page and include legal costs, travel and accommodation expenses that allow family to attend the Coronial Inquest, and money to support community events. We were grateful to be able to contribute $2,153.00 to the cause this quarter.
If you would like to contribute to longer-term family support, the Dhadjowa Foundation, provides strategic, coordinated and culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families whose loved ones have died in custody. Founded by, and in consultation with, the families of Tanya Day, Kumanjayi Walker, Aunty Sherry, and Nathan Reynolds, who together form the foundation’s board. You can donate to the Dhadjowa Foundation here.
On behalf of all of us at Pure Finance, we want to say a big thank you to all of the people working hard to make our world a more just and equitable one. It is an honour to be able to support your work in ways both big and small.
If you want to learn more about Pure Community, you can visit: www.purecommunity.co or get in touch with us.
*Pure Community and Pure Finance have no direct affiliation with the organisations and causes listed above, we simply appreciate the work that they do, and choose to show our appreciation by supporting them.