About Us - ACT Vegetarian Society

The ACT Vegetarian Society is a not-for-profit, community group promoting Vegetarianism in Australia and particularly the ACT.s

We organise and attend community and social events, and publish material to help people understand and see how easy Vegetarianism can be.

The term 'Vegetarian' is the umbrella word that is used in the ACT Vegetarian Society and in Society generally to refer to people who don't eat animals or fish.

Whenever the word 'Vegetarian' is used on this website this includes 'Vegans' and all other people who don't consume flesh.

The aims of the Society are:

to spread the principles of Vegetarianism and the ideals of a humanitarian way of life by attending stalls, organising public discussions, meetings, cooking classes and distributing literature and DVD's.
to promote friendship among Vegetarians and Vegans
to assist those who have recently become Vegetarian or Vegan or are considering doing so
encourage and facilitate co-operation between vegetarians throughout the world
co-operate with other organisations and people concerned with sound nutrition, positive approaches to physical and mental health, the preservation and improvement of the environment and the prevention of cruelty to members of the animal kingdom
facilitate the supply of Vegetarian food

The Society believes that a Vegetarian diet:

is more conducive to health
is more humane
is fundamental to resolving the world food problem
creates far fewer demands on the environment

Committee meetings

The ACT Vegetarian Society Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month from February until November (inclusive).

Meetings usually take place in a committee member's home but are sometimes held at the Belconnen Community Centre.

Meetings begin at 6.45 pm sharp and aim to finish by 8.30 pm. On alternate meetings we enjoy a friendly pot-luck meal together prior to our meeting. We meet at 6.00 pm for this 'feast'.

All members are invited to attend and put their ideas forward, exchange views or simply meet fellow Vegetarians and Vegans.

To RSVP or for more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

If you would like to be involved in organising Society events or would like to join the committee please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Committee

The ACT Vegetarian Society is currently run by 8 commitee members. We would love to have one or two more enthusiastic members to help. Please contact us if you would like to join the team. The committee members are:

	Jyoti Dambiec (President, Contact, Public Officer, Stalls & Collective Emails) Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I have been a vegetarian for 30 years and follow a 'satvik' (ayurvedic or yogic) diet, which excludes eggs, onions, garlic, mushrooms and alcohol. I also stopped eating dairy in June this year. I have raised three children with my husband Dieter, who are all now adults and life-long vegetarians. I am a ceramic artist and art teacher at Orana Steiner School. Things I enjoy: organic gardening,visual and performing arts, music, reading, meditation and yoga, walking, kayaking and social times with friends and family. See 'Stories' section.
	Natasha Bourke (Vice President, Treasurer) Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I joined the Committee in 2010 as Vice President & Treasurer. I moved to Canberra from Perth several years ago now. I have been vegan for about seven years, starting out as a vegetarian for three months. I love animals and just can't see why anyone would want to eat them. I love to eat and cook. Sometimes failing in the kitchen, but always lots of fun. Vegan sweets are my favourite, particularly rocky road.
	Claire Ede (Secretary & Stall Helper) Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I am a life-long vegetarian, as are the rest of the family, husband and three grown children. We enjoy the comfort of the extended family being of like mind, and wish to help others to come joyfully into this lifestyle. Compassion for the creatures is the basis for compassion towards our fellow humans, and a more peaceful world. Having dabbled in walking, cycling, camping, gardening, nursing/midwifery, there is a wish to explore more of Australia and elsewhere with my husband and grandchildren during retirement.
	Karyn Fearnside (Website & Facebook Manager, Family Group Co-ordinator) Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I have been a vegetarian since 1995. I live with my partner Adam and children Jenara (10) and Yilani (7) who are all vegos too. We have a dog, guinea pigs, rats and chooks. We have a very big backyard and a small house. I guess what gets me fired up these days is encouraging people to become aware of where their food comes from and to purchase organic, free range and biodynamic food as much as possible. Did you know switching to a veg diet does more to reduce greenhouse gases than any other thing? I am also keen to find other vegetarian families with similar aged children so I am very excited about our family picnics.
	Tracey Lofthouse (Newsletter Editor) Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I am a vegetarian of 18 years, the last three of those as a vegan. I’ve been a member of the Society for about four years and on the committee for three, which I have really enjoyed and recommend trying. I love being vegan and feel it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and my fellow Earthlings. Going vegan was a breeze and I’ve tried many delightful new foodstuffs that I never considered before. I eat a lot more raw food these days and feel much better for it. I love the fact that my life choices do not support a cruel and oppressive culture of breeding non-humans for exploitation by humans. I also enjoy singing, martial arts, travelling and spending time in nature, and I am currently working with a small committee to hold the first Living Green Festival in Canberra.
	Sundara De Silva (IT Technical Advisor) I have been vegetarian my entire life and vegan for over 10 years (I've lost count). My main reason for being vegan is I do not wish to be responsible for the unethical and cruel treatment of animals. For me being vegetarian was good, but the more I found out about how cows and chickens are treated the more I moved to being vegan. The health and environmental benefits are of course major bonuses :) I like going bush, bushwalking, camping, photography, travelling and most things that involve nature. I also LOVE my food and perhaps will open my own vegan restaurant in Canberra one of these days.

	Darren Churchill (General Committee Member) I became vegetarian (for health reasons) in stages toward the end of the 20th Century, following a dinner party where the conversation had been about how those of us present should give up red meat. I had been selectively vegetarian for some time before that and had experimented for a while at university. Health is a key priority to me and in addition to being vegetarian, I enjoy boxing for fitness and cycling in the warmer weather. Vegetarianism has opened up a world of healthy meals to me and has shown that you can have healthy and extremely delicious meals without meat. My other interests include Christian meditation, all types of music, social justice, current affairs and sport.
	Kerri Hames (Membership Officer, Graphic Design & Stall Helper) My name is Kerri (Kez) and I have just joined the committee who seem to be extremely busy and I am happy to help and become more proactive. I moved to Canberra in October from Sydney and plan to settle. I have been Vegan for 14 years. I follow the Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy and this is what helped me to become Vegan, to harm no animals, or humans. This progressed to learn more about the impact of food, animals and humans on the planet and I also studied Nutrition for 3 years. I live a simple life on good, wholefood and leaving a small footprint. I absolutely love cooking and learning as much as I can about life, with a smile of course.