The thousands of protesters last year were missing but Wollongong strikers taking part in this year's national School Strike 4 Climate Australia on Friday were just as passionate in delivering their message for climate justice.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There were about half a dozen COVID-safe protests held in Wollongong to go with more than 600 actions across the country calling on the federal government to fund their future, not the gas industry.
The September 25th: #FundOurFutureNotGas day of action was the broadest ever national day of action against gas, with events taking place from Darwin to Hobart.
For the most part protesters in Wollongong participated in colourful, physically distanced actions of under 20 people.
But Mercury photographer Anna Warr did capture one moment when protesters converged in the middle of the road on the intersection of Crown and Corrimal streets. Some motorists beeped their horns in frustration but before too long the protesters went back to their designated areas.
Eva Loxley from the Youth Catchment Collective said it was important to support the School Strike 4 Climate initiative.
"This is a critical opportunity for them to fund our future, by creating jobs that will care for the country, fast-track solutions to climate change, and transition Australia to renewable energy.
"Instead it was revealed that the federal government is planning to give billions to their mates in the dirty gas industry," Ms Loxley said.
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts student Ella Lee added that there should be no public funds for gas and other damaging fossil fuel projects.
"Instead recovery funds should be spent on firstly, resourcing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led solutions that guarantee land rights and care for Country, secondly, the creation of jobs that fast-track solutions to the climate crisis and help communities recover, and thirdly, projects that transition our economy and communities to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 through expanded public ownership."
Fellow WHSPA student Lola Bell demanded the government listened to climate scientists and start investing in renewables right now.
"We need to stop pushing for fossil fuel industries because it is not the pathway that will help us, it is ending, and we know that," Ms Bell said.
Students in the northern Illawarra also used their last day of school term to make a stand for their future by joining the global School Strike for Climate. Students participated with a series of actions along Lawrence Hargrave Drive outside their respective schools.
Scores of students from Coledale Public School lined the road along the length of the school.
They waved banners and asked for honks of support from passing cars, cheering loudly when their requests were met.
Scarborough, Austinmer and Thirroul Primary Schools held similar actions completing the drive-by protest experience for commuters and passers-by.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.