Welcome to edition #8 of e-News.

And our first of 2009!

We’ve enjoyed the break and are now back on deck and fully underway as we launch into the New Year.

If you’ve just joined us as a teacher, we wish you well for the journey you are about to embark on and trust that it is a truly beneficial relationship between you, your class and your Bluearth coach.

If you are a teacher who is now coaching on your own, enjoy the challenges that brings. And remember, we are always here to provide support in any way that you determine so that you can maximise the skills and knowledge that you have taken on board.

We also welcomed three new coaches during the break. We have been training them intensely over the last month and wish them all the best as they begin their journey with us as well.

For everyone else, please enjoy the latest offerings and if there is something you would like to contribute or would like to see in e-news we would love to here about it.

And, as always we are interested in your feedback, let us know how we are going: enews@bluearth.org.

Enjoy
e-News

Name change coming for Bluearth.

Over the coming months look out for a name change.

We are moving from Bluearth Institute to Bluearth Foundation. Although subtle, we feel that it now truly reflects our journey as we head more out into the community and create wider influence.

This will flow in over time and although there is a change in name our coaches, our program and everything we offer will continue to strive to be of the highest possible quality.

As the New Year kicks off so does our regular opportunities around the country to be involved in our workshops. Watch this space over the coming months as dates are locked in for the year.

Current dates are listed below and new dates are being added all the time.
For an up to date list, see the workshops page at www.bluearth.org.

AREA	DATE & TIME	LOCATION ADDRESS
WANGARATTA	Thursday 12th March 2009 9.30 am - 3.00 pm	Wangaratta YMCA, Indoor Sports and Aquatic Centre, HP Barr Reserve, Schilling Drive
RIVERLAND	Thursday 12th March 2009 4.30 pm - 6.30 pm	Barmera Primary School, Rumbold Drive, BARMERA, SA, 5345
SA METRO	Monday 6th April 2009 9.30 am - 2.30 pm	Glenelg Surf Lifesaving Club, Colley Tce Glenelg SA 5045
BENDIGO	Monday 13th May 2009 9.00 am - 3.00 pm	Evolution, Latrobe Uni Bendigo
GEELONG	Monday 13th May 2009 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm	Tate St Primary School Tate Street, Geelong
BALLARAT	Tuesday 14th May 2009 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm	St Thomas More Primary School Cuthbert's Road, Alfredton, Ballarat
BRISBANE	Wednesday 20th May 2009 9.30 am - 3.00 pm	Salisbury Super Sports Corner of Evans and Toohey Roads, Salisbury
WANGARATTA	Thursday 21st May 2009 9.30 am - 3.00 pm	Wangaratta YMCA, Indoor Sports and Aquatic Centre, HP Barr Reserve, Schilling Drive
ACT	Wednesday 27th May 2009 9.30 am - 3.30 pm	Uni of Canberra
	To register for any of these workshops, please download and complete the enrolment form (pdf 71KB).

Did you miss it?

Want to revisit Barry? Missing that cue from Mark's centration article? What was that book that Helen was reading?

If you’ve missed any editions of either 'Insight Shared' or 'E-news' you can access all of them via our website archive: www.bluearth.org. To receive the latest edition of 'Insight Shared' or 'e-news' directly send an email to: enews@bluearth.org

(Insight Shared covers a range of topics that are contributed by our coaches and staff and provides an in-depth view on what is informing us in our living/coaching/teaching/being.)

Bluearth Joins Karma Currency

Karma currency is a concept that involves basically a website that acts as a porthole for charities. These charities list themselves on the website and you can buy gift vouchers for friends, family, work colleagues. They can then go online and direct this voucher towards certain charities and 'let good karma flow'.

Check it out and look out for Bluearth Foundation listing on the site very soon and spread the Karma!

www.karmacurrency.com.au

Want to get involved with Bluearth in 2009?

There are many ways to get involved with Bluearth and what better time than now to plan 2009.

• Want to train more teachers? You might have trained a teacher/s and want to train more. By letting us know now, we can look at preferred times / days that suit your school.
• Are you interested in sustainability visits? If you have teachers that have completed the training program in recent years and are looking for additional guidance and support, coaches can visit schools to provide this.
• Does your school have special needs around workshops or staff training that you would like us to look at tailoring for you? We can come in and assist in a range of situations in regards to staff welfare and practical sessions around physical activity.

Contact us to organise next year: mail@bluearth.org or (03) 9820 6300

We came across this story the other week and points to one of the qualities that we hold in high regard and would encourage in anyone we work with.

South Korean grandmother, Cha, has failed her driving test 771 times but insists that she will keep trying until she passes. She has taken the test almost every working day since 2005 in the city of Jeonju.

A local police sergeant, Choi Yong-Cheol, who supervises the test said, “It was a record-breaking number here, I wonder if she will try it again for a 772nd time."

Choi said that Cha cannot pass the preliminary written section of the test, averaging scores of 30-50 whereas the pass mark is 60 out of 100.

Local media said that Cha sells food and household items door to door at apartment complexes, carrying the items in a handcart, but wants to get a car for her business.

Police estimate she has spent almost five million won ($A5600) to take the written tests in addition to other expenses.

"I feel sorry every time I see Cha fail. When she passes, I'll make a commemorative tablet myself and give it to her," one officer was quoted as saying.

Of course there is an argument that she needs to address something in her approach but we can't fault her persistence and I'm sure wish her well for try number 772!!

Just completed your teacher accreditation?
Looking for something to remember your time with Bluearth?

Then a bluearth teacher polo, water bottle or hat may be just the thing for you. And if you would like more manuals we have those as well.

To get your hands on some Bluearth apparel go to Bluearth Merchandise, and be the smartest dressed in the yard!
(Bluearth cannot guarantee you will be the smartest dressed, obviously)

Arguably the original and still the best, the famed Coast to Coast is where all adventure racing began. Popular around the world, adventure racing can basically be any combination of a number of modes of locomotion over one or multiple days, either individually or as part of a team. This may include swimming, cycling, kayaking, running, mountain climbing, rafting, sailing.

The Coast to coast stretches across New Zealand's south island beginning on Kumara beach on the Tasman ocean through to Sumner beach on the Pacific ocean.

In between there are canyons, hills, rivers, gorges, roads, paddocks crossing the southern alps of New Zealand. Competitors cover a total of 243km made up of 7 separate stages incorporating kayaking, running and cycling.

Competitors can compete as part of a two person team over two days or tackle the original 'Longest Day', a one day solo epic over the entire course, often beginning and ending in the dark.

Held in February each year, the 2009 event has been run and won, which means plenty of time to train for next years event!

Check it out at : http://www.coasttocoast.co.nz/

'Sweet as, Bro!'

Submit your ultimate physical activity challenge: enews@bluearth.org

If you like what you've read and have friends or colleagues you think would like to receive a copy of e-News, you can now use our new 'Forward to a Friend' facility to add them to our monthly distribution list. And of course we'll send them a copy of this issue too!

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FEEDBACK

Here at Bluearth we often receive stories from schools around how our program is progressing and significant experiences that students or staff may have had. We invite you to send these stories through and we'll publish them here. Pictures are welcome as well.

www.bluearth.org
enews@bluearth.org

Bluearth, Level 5, 1 Bowen Crescent
Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia