Manly Council: NSW’s First Fair Trade Community
Soul Economy had the pleasure of speaking to Sonya Tirtajaya, Climate Change & Special Projects Officer at Manly Council recently. Manly Council received Fair Trade Accreditation from the Fair Trade Association of Australia & New Zealand (FTAANZ) making Manly NSW’s first Fair Trade Community, the second of all in Australia, which is a terrific achievement. Read on to learn more about the process involved and the positive changes that have taken place in the community.
1. Can you tell us a little about what being a Fair Trade Council means?
It means that residents will be able to more readily support fair trade as there are an increasing number of cafes and restaurants in the area who are offering fair trade products; mainly coffee, tea and chocolate. Residents can pick up a copy of Manly Council’s ‘Where to get Fair Trade in Manly’ Map from Council Chambers or otherwise on our ‘Fair Trade In Manly’ webpage: http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au/Fair-Trade-In-Manly.html. It lists local businesses that stock Fair Trade Certified products.
In practice for Council it means that we use Fairtrade tea and coffee within our own staff kitchens and at Council functions and have made a commitment to continue to raise awareness on fair trade within the community.
Another added bonus is that Manly Council holds a Fair Trade Market twice a year.
2. Why did Manly Council decide to become a Fair Trade Council?
Manly Council believes that supporting Fair Trade is socially responsible and decided to go Fair Trade because we had confidence that the Manly Community would embrace such a positive initiative; which they have! We wouldn’t have been able to reach accreditation if it weren’t for the participation and support of the community.
3. Can you take us through the process involved to become a Fair Trade Council? What were the requirements?
The FTAANZ is the accrediting body that have awarded Manly Council our Fair Trade Community Award status. For a Council to achieve accreditation there are 6 goals that must first be met:
- To pass a Local Council Resolution.
This resolution was passed in October 2005. - To form a Community Steering Group
Formed in June 2008 and consists of 7 active members who do a fantastic job in providing ideas (like the Fair Trade Fashion Show), forging partnerships with local networks on fair trade as well as assisting in educating the community. - To ensure Availability of fair trade products in local shops (at minimum 1 retail outlet per 5,000 population).
We far exceeded this goal as we currently have 17 local shops offering fair trade products! - To ensure the use of Fairtrade certified products in local enterprises.
Manly Ocean World, Manly Life Saving Club, Belaroma, Manly West Public School, Balgowlah Uniting Church and Seaforth Baptist Church are the local enterprises who readily jumped on board to support fair trade and assist Council with our accreditation. However to maintain our accreditation we need to continue to increase this number. - To endeavour to attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign.
Something we are continually doing, for example last year our ‘Reverse Trick-Or-Treat’ Fair Trade Halloween initiative which promoted Council’s support for Fair Trade Chocolate with Year 4 students from Balgowlah Heights Public School handing out free OXFAM Fair Trade Chocolate samples to people in the Corso. - Progress Goals are to be developed to ensure ongoing growth of the program.
The Steering Group set these goals which are:- To increase the use of Fairtrade certified products in local enterprises.
- To increase public awareness through education on fair trade.
- For Council to increasingly promote Manly’s Fair Trade status through its events and public communications.
4. Have any other Councils joined Manly in becoming Fair Trade?
The only other accredited Council so far is Yarra City Council in Victoria, although to my knowledge Waverley and Leichhardt Councils are currently working towards accreditation. Manly Council does hope the it has set a precedent especially for Council’s in NSW and that they will follow suit.
5. What do you see have been the benefits of the Program to date?
The benefits of the Fair Trade program to date has been that Manly Council use Fairtrade tea and coffee now as well as the positive feedback we get from the community and the generosity of spirit it has brought out in local residents who have offered to volunteer their time to help the program continue to grow.
6. Would you provide us with some details on the Manly Fair Trade Markets that are held by the Council twice per year?
The Fair Trade Market is typically held during Fairtrade Fortnight in May and then again in December. The next market is being held on Saturday, 9 May from 9am to 4pm at Manly Council Forecourt (Belgrave St). The December market featured 35 fair trade stallholders selling a wide variety of fair trade products ranging from jewellery, clothing, textiles, giftware, accessories, coffee, chocolate and much much more! There were kid’s activities and face painting, local musicians and a ‘Fair Trade Fashion Show’ with Manly Lifesavers among our models.
7. It is great that you are are organising the upcoming Manly Fair Trade Market on the 9 May. Can you tell us a little more about your role as Climate Change & Special Projects Officer?
The Fair Trade Market and program is actually coordinated by the Community Volunteer & Fair Trade Coordinator for Manly Council – a role which I recently left a couple of months ago to take on the new role of Climate Change & Special Projects Officer, however, as a replacement for my old position has yet to be found I am still covering that role as well!
8. Have you noticed positive changes in the community in light of becoming a Fair Trade Council and running the bi-yearly Fair Trade Markets?
Community has been overwhelmingly supportive as we already a range of local schools, business, faith groups, Life Saving Club, cafes and restaurants participating. Positive changes in the community include as I mentioned above local residents offering to volunteer their time to help expand the Fair Trade program in Manly, the Fair Trade markets always do really well and we have local musicians and hire companies offering their services for free to support this great cause. It’s brought out a generous community spirit which is lovely to see!
Images by Manly Council.
Popularity: 2% [?]
