Sustainable Braidwood

14/05/2026

Braidwood has always been a town of stories — not just the ones on the shelves, but the ones lived, shared, and passed between people.

Our latest profile celebrates the history of the Braidwood Library, from its beginnings in 1858 as a small subscription collection, to the vibrant, community-focused space it is today.

Holiday programs and craft days, hand-delivered books during lockdown, Story Time and STEAM activities, tech help and co-working spaces that are free for the community to book - our library has quietly adapted to meet the needs of its community for over 160 years.

Read the full profile below:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/stories/library

Librarian Kirsten Hulse shares what she loves about the Braidwood Library. Q & A

07/05/2026

When Marilyn Carle moved to Braidwood, the first thing she did was join St Andrews Uniting Church. From there, it was a short step into the ‘Wednesday’ op shop, which has been running for over forty years - first as a tiny shopfront next to the supermarket, now occupying two spacious sheds in the St Andrews grounds.

The Wednesday op shop has no overheads, no paid staff, and no sales targets, allowing its volunteers to keep costs down. From full bags of clothing for $10, to bedlinen, curtains, sewing supplies, books, homewares, and toys, the op shop is an 'Aladdin’s cave' – and so long as Marilyn is there, it’s going to remain that way.

"We might make $10,000 in a year, and we give to local charities, the local schools, the Braidwood Life Centre, and the Education Foundation. And then we give to Flying Doctor. Fred Hollows’ Exodus Foundation, which is with Wayside Chapel, where our minister Graham comes from. Catherine Hamlin, with her Fistula Foundation, is another one, and Frontier Services. The Lions Club here takes all the sunglasses and cases, and they send them to a prison in Queensland, who repair them and send them to the islands. And we used to collect bras, especially for cancer patients, which went to people in Fiji."

Read more about the little shop that could, or show some love to Marilyn in the comments below:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/stories/church

A longtime volunteer at St Andrew’s Uniting Church, Marilyn Carle talks about the beauty of the ‘Wednesday’ op shop, its deliberately low-key feel, and the relief of finally getting a second shed. Q & A

16/04/2026

Know a Local Legend that deserves to be celebrated?

Help us get to know the people making a difference in town and nominate a champion of sustainability, collaboration or community care for a SB Communtiy Profile.

Tag a Legend in the comments or submit via the link below:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/home

09/04/2026

Many brains are better than one! Who's got a challenge they can't seem to solve?

Post your head-scratcher in the comments below, and let's put our Sustainable Braidwood Brains Trust to work, for some good old community problem-solving.

You can also peruse our online Skills Library, where listed members are available to talk to or demonstrate the things they’re passionate about, and share their wealth of knowledge about their expertise - from animal welfare and land management, to IT literacy and graphic design:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/skills

01/04/2026

Lorba Drewry's journey in sustainable architecture and urban planning has always been deeply personal.

Currently working with the Braidwood community as an urban planner and designer, Lorba's work has been rooted in a commitment to vernacular architecture, humanitarian efforts, and community-driven design from the beginning. She has spent years advocating for sustainable materials, passive solar design, and disaster risk reduction — always with an eye on how climate impact intersects with housing policy and social justice.

Read Lorba's community profile to learn how she has used the power of architecture as a force for good, helping shape urban planning policies that prioritise both people and the planet:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/stories/bce-zgpdn-r4sse-569s4-34gr8-6fcmd-cgls7

24/03/2026

Join us for a late celebration of National Eucalyptus Day at Nunyara Farm!

Come plant a tree, breathe in the scent of gum leaves and be part of growing our eucalypt home.

When: March 28, 10:00am - 3:00pm

What to bring:
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Gardening gloves
- Rain jacket (just in case!)
- Your energy, smiles, and love for nature!

Tea, coffee, water and light refreshments during the day will be provided.

Whether you’re a green thumb or just want to help out, everyone’s welcome. Let’s get our hands dirty, nurture our local environment and meet awesome people in the process.

More info here: https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/events/nayara

Reserve your spot today:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/our-eucalypt-home-a-community-planting-day-tickets-1982871977462

Our Eucalypt Home: A community Planting Day Join us for National Eucalyptus Day. Come plant a tree, breathe in the scent of gum leaves and be part of growing our eucalypt home! March 28, 10:00am - 3:00pm

12/03/2026

Over the course of a hundred years, the Country Women’s Association has seen huge historical changes, but many of the needs of women living regionally and rurally remain the same.

From the beginning, the CWA has agitated for better conditions for women and children both in Australia and internationally, with its reputation opening doors for significant political influence. It supports women through sharing practical advice on things like land cookery and home nursing, as well as providing cultural activities and education.

Read our interview with Mandy O’Brien - a ‘farmer’s wife’, a fourth-generation teacher, and the Agriculture and Environment Officer for the CWA Braidwood branch - on the vast priorities, responsibilities and advocacy work of the Country Women’s Association:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/stories/bce-zgpdn-r4sse-569s4-ngml6

Members also bring in eggs and any produce they have in excess to swap. Q & A

03/03/2026

Women of Braidwood, are you interested in learning the basics of power tools??

Register now for these 2 events run by Women's Shed Canberra and supported by Sustainable Braidwood's skill-share initiative.

Introduction to Power Tools.
10:30 am 12:30 pm
-Day 1: March 15, 10:30 - 12:30pm
-Day 2: April 12, 10:30 - 12:30pm

Join us for a two-day workshop, in which you will gain a solid foundation in the basic power tools for various projects, including drills, drivers, saws, thicknesses, sanders and hand tools.

All this while building wonderful cheeseboards from recycled hard timber to take home!

MAKING CHEESEBOARDS In collaboration with The Women's Shed Canberra Join us for a two-day workshop, in which you will gain a solid foundation in the basic power tools for various projects, including drills, drivers, saws, thicknessers, sanders and hand tools.  All this while buildin

26/02/2026

“A few years ago, a cement truck crashed into one of the power poles and almost took out the electricity for the town… The impact of losing electricity when you’re in a remote town can be really serious. It has enormous impacts on farms, businesses, the elderly - all sorts of different things start to unravel.”

Since 2019, the volunteers at the Braidwood Clean Energy group (or BCE) have been thinking about energy independence. As with many rural and regional areas, Braidwood is often hit by brownouts, and the network of overhead wires bringing electricity is vulnerable to damage to natural - and manmade - damage.

For the volunteers of BCE, the journey towards energy resilience began with that kind of lived experience - the very real vulnerability of relying on a fragile grid in a rural region. In our conversation with BCE president Helen Haski, we learned how ideas that started as community conversations evolved into bold proposals for a local microgrid powered by solar and backed by battery storage - technology that could keep Braidwood connected even when the wider network goes down.

Read the full interview to read more about what Helen drew from decades in the renewable sector into grassroots action, the setbacks and learnings along the way, and how local energy independence could shape Braidwood’s future:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/stories/bce

Sustainable energy expert Helen Haski was so impressed with Braidwood Clean Energy that she joined its board, stepping down as President in 2024. She shares some of the highlights of her time at BCE with us here. Q & A

19/02/2026

"I’m seeing a lot more awareness around the need for investment pieces — clothing that lasts, that’s made with care. It’s a shift that’s been slow, but it’s definitely growing. People are starting to realize that fast fashion isn’t sustainable in the long term, both for the planet and for the people who make our clothes."

For those who know Dena and Saloon Design House, her story is far more than a tale of fashion. It’s about sustainability, ethical production, and a commitment to building a local, community-driven business that reflects values of collaboration, care, and lasting impact.

As the face behind Saloon in Braidwood - now an with pop-up workshops, sales and product launches - Dena continues to challenge the conventions of the fashion world, creating a space where ethical production, high-quality garments, and community connection are at the forefront of everything she does.

Her passion for sustainability isn’t just a trend — it’s a core value that runs through every piece she creates. From the sourcing of fabrics to the design and production processes, Dena’s commitment to transparency and ethical practices is unwavering.

Read Dena's interview to find out more about how she harnesses the power of fashion to build connection to the land and the local community:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/stories/saloon

Check out Dena's sewing workshops at Braidwood Regional Arts Group Inc:
https://www.sustainablebraidwood.org/events