Local students join national climate protest with march through Wonthaggi CBD.
By Aidan Windle
FRIDAY’S School Strike for Climate in Wonthaggi culminated in a march through the centre of the town. The crowd of approximately 80 people calling for urgent action to prevent climate change included students from local primary and secondary schools and from as far afield as the Latrobe Valley, as well as parents and supporters.
FRIDAY’S School Strike for Climate in Wonthaggi culminated in a march through the centre of the town. The crowd of approximately 80 people calling for urgent action to prevent climate change included students from local primary and secondary schools and from as far afield as the Latrobe Valley, as well as parents and supporters.
After speeches in the parkland outside the council offices, the crowd marched down McBride Avenue and around the central business area of the town. One motorist shouted, “Get back to school,” whereas some onlookers applauded the chanting marchers and many watched in surprise.
William Delforce, a Year 10 student at Wonthaggi Secondary College, joined the school strike with some of his friends.
“There definitely are a lot of locals who want to make a difference,” he said.
A recent work experience placement with the council’s waste management team deepened William’s interest in the environment. Like many of the students who took an hour out of school to attend the rally, he said he did not see himself as a radical activist, and he kept to the footpaths while others took over the streets because he was “too shy”.
Another Year 10 student, Gustav White, said it was time to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
“Solar would be way better,” he said, while noting that it was important to make a staged transition in which fossil fuel industry workers were supported into other employment.
Wonthaggi resident Jackie Dawson brought her children, Niamh and Leithan, to the rally.
Niamh said, “Climate change needs to be taken care of … if young people are going to have a chance to live their lives with trees and clean air.”
Jackie is so concerned about the future of the planet that she and her family have sold their house and intend to move into a caravan for a simpler, lower impact lifestyle. For her, the underlying issue is that “the more we consume, the worse it is for the environment”.
Thomisan Bales brought her primary school aged children to the rally from Mirboo to demand that the Federal Government drives a transition to renewable energy.
“They still fund gas-fired futures,” she said. “It’s criminal neglect, really.”
Thomisan’s daughter, Alex Gannon, agreed that renewable energy was a key to reducing climate change, while Thomisan’s son, Fred, added that shifting to electric cars would help.
Cr David Rooks, one of several Bass Coast councillors in attendance, told the rally the council was “looking to the youth” for input on climate action. He invited school students in the crowd to participate in Youth Climate Groups soon to be formed in each ward of the shire.
The council declared a climate emergency in 2018 and this week passed its Climate Action Plan. The plan includes a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and joining with 46 other local governments in the Victorian Energy Collaboration to use 100 per cent renewable energy.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has this week been defending its decision to invest $600 million in a planned gas-fired power plant in New South Wales. Interviewed by the ABC, Energy Minister Angus Taylor argued that the non-renewable energy option opposed by climate change activists was necessary to “keep the lights on” and would “deliver a return on investment”.
Thousands of students and their supporters attended simultaneous May 21 rallies around Australia organised by the School Strike 4 Climate network. Wonthaggi was one of ten towns in Regional Victoria to host events, in addition to those in Melbourne.
William Delforce, a Year 10 student at Wonthaggi Secondary College, joined the school strike with some of his friends.
“There definitely are a lot of locals who want to make a difference,” he said.
A recent work experience placement with the council’s waste management team deepened William’s interest in the environment. Like many of the students who took an hour out of school to attend the rally, he said he did not see himself as a radical activist, and he kept to the footpaths while others took over the streets because he was “too shy”.
Another Year 10 student, Gustav White, said it was time to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
“Solar would be way better,” he said, while noting that it was important to make a staged transition in which fossil fuel industry workers were supported into other employment.
Wonthaggi resident Jackie Dawson brought her children, Niamh and Leithan, to the rally.
Niamh said, “Climate change needs to be taken care of … if young people are going to have a chance to live their lives with trees and clean air.”
Jackie is so concerned about the future of the planet that she and her family have sold their house and intend to move into a caravan for a simpler, lower impact lifestyle. For her, the underlying issue is that “the more we consume, the worse it is for the environment”.
Thomisan Bales brought her primary school aged children to the rally from Mirboo to demand that the Federal Government drives a transition to renewable energy.
“They still fund gas-fired futures,” she said. “It’s criminal neglect, really.”
Thomisan’s daughter, Alex Gannon, agreed that renewable energy was a key to reducing climate change, while Thomisan’s son, Fred, added that shifting to electric cars would help.
Cr David Rooks, one of several Bass Coast councillors in attendance, told the rally the council was “looking to the youth” for input on climate action. He invited school students in the crowd to participate in Youth Climate Groups soon to be formed in each ward of the shire.
The council declared a climate emergency in 2018 and this week passed its Climate Action Plan. The plan includes a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and joining with 46 other local governments in the Victorian Energy Collaboration to use 100 per cent renewable energy.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has this week been defending its decision to invest $600 million in a planned gas-fired power plant in New South Wales. Interviewed by the ABC, Energy Minister Angus Taylor argued that the non-renewable energy option opposed by climate change activists was necessary to “keep the lights on” and would “deliver a return on investment”.
Thousands of students and their supporters attended simultaneous May 21 rallies around Australia organised by the School Strike 4 Climate network. Wonthaggi was one of ten towns in Regional Victoria to host events, in addition to those in Melbourne.