Bob Rich's Moora Moora Page

for Community, Cooperation and Education

Moora Moora's address: PO Box 214
Healesville 3777
Victoria
Australia

email

Moora Moora has its own web site: http://mooramoora.org.au/

 

   Read a transcript of the speech I gave at the first AGM of Akademos, a new, free University that is aiming to return education to the way it is supposed to be. The title is Voting for Consensus?


What?

Moora Moora's logo   Moora Moora is an intentional community. In 1974, a small group of idealists invested more money than they had, and bought a magnificent but sadly run-down property. Their aims were to care for the land, live cooperatively, and to be a source of education for society at large. They set up a pilot study in a saner lifestyle.

   My wife Jolanda and I first visited Moora Moora in 1975, joined in 1976, and moved onto the land in 1979. Our children grew up here, to their great benefit. Kids raised at Moora Moora are creative, self-reliant, independent, resourceful, able to deal assertively with all ages.

  Read the Manifesto.
The Making of Moora Moora (or how I became a criminal for a year).
Moora Moora: a Permaculture Garden of Purposes.
TOOLE-BE-WONG MOUNTAIN: A poem by Dusty Wolfe.
The Sculpture: A Tragedy in Three Acts by Bob Rich.
The Work Groups: Building more than houses. by Peter Cock
List of birds seen at Moora Moora
On firewood

   A cooperative lifestyle, in a place of grandeur and beauty, has good effects on adults too.

   However, there are negatives as well. You need to learn to say 'no' without giving offense, and to accept it from others without taking offense. We are all raised in an aggressive, competitive, egotistical society, and these attitudes are not left behind. Cooperation can be difficult.

   Human beings are genetically designed to live in small groups where group members are vitally significant to each other. Part of the alienation and unhappiness in society is because family units are too small, and other groupings too large. However, the downside is that within a community it's harder to walk away from conflict.

Where?

   Our property is 245 Hectares (618 acres), half of Mount Toolebewong, the granite giant who sleeps on the eastern edge of the Yarra Valley. We are about 80 Km east of Melbourne, which is great: the city's air pollution gives us wonderful sunsets. Healesville's famous native animal sanctuary is at the foot of our mountain: if I took a running jump, I might land on a kangaroo (or on a tourist).

Who?

   Currently there are approximately 40 members and their children, living in 30 owner-built, unique houses. We also enjoy the presence of a number of 'non-member residents' living here, while they check out the coop with a view to membership.

   Ages of members range from early 20-s to over 80. Most people have a job, ranging from semi-skilled labour to professional. Occupation does not imply a difference in status within the community.

How to visit?

   Currently, we have an open day on the first Sunday of each month. Try to arrive at 1:30 pm.

   It won't cost you any money, and if you smile nicely you might even get a cuppa and something nice to go with it. A small group of members will be rostered to look after you, and one will take you on a tour of about half the houses. (You don't usually get to see inside a house. Remember, this is where people live.)

   Wear good walking footwear, and clothes a little warmer than appropriate for Melbourne on that day. Cameras and children are fine, but leave dogs and cats at home: we are a wildlife sanctuary.

Contact

   For directions, write to

Membership Committee
Moora Moora Co-operative
PO Box 214
Healesville
Victoria 3777

   Or telephone the 'Lodge' 03 5962 4104

   Or email.

Community Work Days

   Also on the first Sunday of each month, the community gets together for a work day with a catered lunch. You can contact us if you would like to attend, and see the locals in their natural habitat rather then via a polite chat.

 

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