Clare Sustainability Festival 2026 coming up 20 June

News article | 29 May 2026

Coming up in Clare: A great day out on Saturday 20 June. 🌱There’ll be workshops, demonstrations, market stalls and keynote speaker Dr Anika Molesworth, one of Australia’s leading voices on farming, climate and resilience.

CLARE SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL

From climate action to food waste, gardening and repair, dive into a packed day of inspiring speakers and hands-on workshops designed for everyday living.

In the midst of rising living costs, ongoing drought and growing conversations around waste and sustainability, a small group of volunteers banded together to host a local sustainability festival to everyday people looking for practical ways to waste less, save money and live a little more sustainably without turning life upside down.

The details:

📆 WHEN: Saturday June 20, 9am-3pm
📌 WHERE: Clare Town Hall
🆓 COST: Free entry
ⓕ CLICK HERE TO SAY YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT COMING ON FACEBOOK

This event is organised by Sustainable Connections – Mid North, with support from Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council, Landscape SA Northern and Yorke and Clare Lions. The organisers hope people leave with a few practical ideas, a little inspiration and some simple things they can try at home themselves.

On this page, you will find:

Event program
A bit about the lineup of speakers & workshops
An article about the event, courtesy of Greater SA

Festival schedule

A great lineup

Anika Molesworth

Keynote: Practical action for communities - for a sustainable and thriving future

Dr Anika Molesworth is an internationally recognised leader in agroecology, climate action and sustainable farming systems. With a PhD in agriculture and environmental science, Anika works across Australia and globally to strengthen the resilience of farming communities in the face of climate change. She is a founding member of Farmers for Climate Action, a TEDx speaker and author of Our Sunburnt Country. Anika is passionate about empowering communities to take practical action for a sustainable and thriving future.

Raised on a mixed farming property in far western New South Wales, Molesworth is widely recognised for her work around climate science, agriculture and helping rural communities adapt to environmental challenges.

Josh Jenner

Acknowlegement of Country

Josh Jenner is a proud Kokatha educator and researcher with extensive experience across urban, regional and remote education settings. With multiple qualifications in education, Aboriginal studies and leadership, Josh is currently completing a PhD exploring pathways for young people in remote Aboriginal communities. His work centres on culturally responsive education and strengthening understanding of Aboriginal histories, cultures and ways of knowing.

Pat Williams

Sustainability: Doing it local

Pat Williams is a local sustainability champion dedicated to reducing waste and improving recycling practices in the Clare region. He has led community initiatives to establish recycling drop-off points and has played a key role in educating residents about reducing landfill. Pat is also involved in arts and cultural activities, including exhibitions and First Nations cultural tours, and is passionate about sharing knowledge to strengthen community sustainability.

Adam Burford

Regen soils

Adam Burford is an agricultural scientist with a strong focus on soil health, regenerative farming and environmental sustainability. Raised on a multi-generational farm in the Mid North, Adam combines practical farming experience with academic study in agricultural science. He is passionate about holistic land management practices that support both environmental and human wellbeing and is an active member of local Landcare initiatives.

Paulie Calaby

Love Your Left-overs workshop

Paulie Calaby is a highly respected advocate for sustainability in South Australia’s Mid North. She is well known for her leadership of the Autumn Garden Festival and her role in managing large-scale community events. Paulie brings a wealth of practical knowledge, from reducing food waste to organising sustainable markets, and is dedicated to supporting vibrant, resilient regional communities.

Matt Martin, Electrify Adelaide

Transition to clean energy

Matt Martin is a chemical engineer and project manager with over 20 years’ experience in South Australia’s energy sector. As a Director of Electrify Adelaide, he advocates for the transition to clean energy through home electrification and sustainable transport. Matt is committed to helping communities understand the environmental, health and financial benefits of moving to renewable energy solutions

Robert Crocker

Rethinking waste through design: In a world that is already full

Robert Crocker is a leading researcher in sustainability, specialising in consumption, waste and design. Over the past decade he has published widely on circular economy principles and the environmental impacts of overconsumption. His work explores how design can drive more sustainable systems and reduce waste at both local and global scales.

Presenting jointly with Gini Lee, exploring the intersection of design, consumption and sustainability. Drawing on their collaborative work, including their forthcoming book Rethinking Waste Through Design: In a World That Is Already Full, they examine how design thinking can address waste challenges and support a circular economy.

Professor Gini Lee

Rethinking Waste Through Design: In a World That Is Already Full

Professor Gini Lee is a landscape architect, interior designer and researcher whose work focuses on Australia’s arid environments. An Adjunct Professor at several universities, Gini’s research examines water landscapes, cultural heritage and Indigenous knowledge systems. Her work contributes to better understanding and management of fragile ecosystems in remote regions.

Presenting jointly with Robert Crocker, exploring the intersection of design, consumption and sustainability. Drawing on their collaborative work, including their forthcoming book Rethinking Waste Through Design: In a World That Is Already Full, they examine how design thinking can address waste challenges and support a circular economy.

Northern and Yorke Landscape Board

Three workshops to choose from

Native gardens workshop: Want to know what to plant and what invasives you can get rid of.
Water water workshop: Everything you wanted to know about what is going on in the water space but were afraid to ask.
Ask a question workshop: Have a question about the caring for land, water and nature? Come along to this open forum.

From climate farming and resilience, to worm farms to runways

Article courtesy of GreaterSA

One of Australia’s best-known rural voices on climate, farming and resilience will headline the event. Farmer, scientist and author, Dr Anika Molesworth has been announced as keynote speaker for the inaugural event. She will talk about helping rural communities adapt to environmental challenges.

The program covers everything from renewable energy and regenerative agriculture through to food waste, wildlife rescue and clothing repair.

Clare’s very own gardenista and sustainability advocate Paulie Calaby, pictured below, will host “Love Your Leftovers” workshop, sharing practical tips on reducing food waste, stretching ingredients further and making the most of what’s already sitting in the fridge.

Watervale local Josh Jenner will speak about First Nations perspectives on sustainability, while Clare Valley-raised agronomist Adam Burford will talk all things regenerative agriculture and soil health.

Professor Gini Lee, a respected landscape architect and pastoralist, will discuss sustainable landscape design, while Dr Robert Crocker will tackle overconsumption and waste.

There’ll also be practical workshops covering worm farming, native gardens, bike maintenance and invisible mending, alongside market stalls and displays from environmental organisations and community groups.

One of the more colourful additions to the day will be a recycled and upcycled fashion parade, emceed by Clare and Gilbert Valleys Mayor Allan Aughey, a man well-known for enjoying a bold splash of colour himself.

Organisers hope people leave with a few practical ideas, a little inspiration and some simple things they can try at home themselves.

The program covers everything from renewable energy and regenerative agriculture through to food waste, wildlife rescue and clothing repair.

Professor Gini Lee, a respected landscape architect and pastoralist, will discuss sustainable landscape design, while Dr Robert Crocker will tackle overconsumption and waste.

Organisers hope people leave with a few practical ideas, a little inspiration and some simple things they can try at home themselves.