“As a community, we need to come together and show the council that we care; that we will do what it takes to rescue our beautiful beaches, wetlands, our farms, and our homes.”
“I am somebody. You are somebody. And together we are powerful! We can be the change that’s needed, to create the world we want to live in.”
My name is Sanja. I moved to the Geelong region from suburban Melbourne. I wanted to walk on beautiful beaches, breathe fresh air and watch birds migrate over the wetlands. I wanted to meet people who also appreciated and respected the nature we are blessed with. People like all of us.
Since I moved here, large parts of the coast have washed away while the wetlands have become largely dry. My neighbours have had their houses repeatedly flooded by unprecedented rainfall events or damaged by violent storms as extreme weather becomes the new normal.
After the 2019 Federal Election, I felt despair as I saw our politicians reject action on the climate crisis we’re experiencing right now. I didn’t know who we could rely on to take a stand; to lift Australia out of our downward spiral.
I was inspired by actress Lily Tomlin’s words, “Somebody should do something about that. Then I realised I am somebody”.
So when I got the invite to come to the Break Free training in Geelong six weeks ago, I jumped at the opportunity. The photo above is of our Break Free Geelong group, at our training day 6 weeks ago.
As a community, we need to come together and show the council that we care; that we will do what it takes to rescue our beautiful beaches, wetlands, our farms, and our homes.
P.S. In Australia alone, 34 local governments have formally recognised the climate emergency, representing more than 3.5 million people. Places like Mornington Peninsula, Noosa, Sydney, Melbourne and Ballarat have all stepped up. We’re acting locally, but are part of a movement that’s so much bigger.
Written by Sanja from the Break Free Geelong group
