Students strike for climate change

HUNDREDS of students from across the region, and their supporters, marched on Ballarat’s CBD last Friday as part of a national day of action on climate change.

The student led climate strike included a walk out from classes and was sparked in part by a recent Federal Government decision to put tax payer money into a new gas fired power station in the Hunter region of New South Wales.

“We want our government to fund our future, not gas,” said spokesperson Abby Halliwell.

“We’re trying to show our government that we are very passionate about this and that we need change.”

Backed by logistical support from Ballarat Trades Hall, the protestors gathered in Victoria Park before marching down Sturt Street.

Their destination was Alfred Deakin Place, where speakers from a range of local schools addressed the crowd on the need for urgent action to address climate change.

“We’re going to be the leaders in the future and climate change is going to affect us more than it’s affecting the generations that came before us,” Ms Halliwell said.

“I wish I was just able to be in school and not have to worry about this, but they haven’t taken any action, so we need to do something now.”

While there can often be a rivalry between some Ballarat high schools, none of that was on show during the march as students from Loretto and St Pats marched with those from Ballarat Clarendon, Ballarat High and Damascus.

Ms Halliwell said uniting students behind the common cause was easy.

“Most schools are trying to have people come around,” she said. “It’s been quite easy, actually, a lot of students are very passionate about it.”

A police spokesperson estimated the crowd numbers at about 100 and described the protestors as, “Very well behaved.”