A CONCEPT as simple as putting on a big pot of soup, breaking some bread and inviting the community to come together has given four exciting local projects a launchpad towards success.
Bunbury’s first Neighbourhood Soup was held at the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries on Wednesday night, with a wide demographic of community members coming together to hear about four new ideas.
Enable South West organised the event to give presenters the platform to explain their community initiative and the audience paid $10 to be able to vote on their favourite concept.
The crowd of more than 100 enjoyed delicious soup and chatted about Bunbury’s future while votes were cast and counted.
The eventual winner was Sasha Milne with Project Bunbury: A Timebanking Initiative, receiving $1060 to grow her idea.
Ms Milne explained that a timebank was a way of trading skills in a community.
Instead of money, time credits are used as payment – for example, one person may offer a singing lesson in exchange for getting their windows cleaned.
Ms Milne said by trading with each other time bank members grow a more connected, resilient and empowered community.
The project is already well underway but Ms Milne wants to use the funds to expand her reach to members of the community who may not have internet access.
Another concept was presented by Jane Morrow with Project Bunbury Arboretum.
Her organisation is called The Land Institute of Western Australia and the project is to get the Bunbury Arboretum up and running as a world-class project.
It would become a focus for the people of Bunbury who are increasingly interested in planting trees for their amenity value but also to help people with ideas for how to achieve food security.
Kelsie Miller presented Project Good Nights, which aims to support emerging artists by providing them with a way to connect directly with the local community.
Ms Miller explained that music was a difficult industry to break into and often it can be costly for up-and-coming musicians to organise shows in professional venues.
By organising these 'pop-up' shows in alternative venues she will take the cost out of it for the musicians, making sure they are paid well for the show and providing Bunbury with a unique night out.
Andrew Frazer presented Project Us Not Them, which was a twofold proposal.
The first element is to offer two focused furniture design/production workshops by Andrew Christie in partnership with the In-Town Centre.
The second element is to offer the created furniture as public seating outside the InTown Centre during ReDiscover 2016, which is an annual walking street art festival in Bunbury's CBD.
The first Neighbourhood Soup was hailed a great success and the Enable team hopes to keep the momentum going throughout the year.
The next event is planned to be held on August 27. Find out more in next Wednesday's Bunbury Mail.