Tamworth played its part in a piece of global activism against climate change on Friday as students of all ages joined forces with parents, concerned citizens and even some teachers for the School Strike 4 Climate rally.
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Students in over 100 countries took to the streets on Friday, with an estimated 40,000 Australian students across 55 localities marching for their future.
In Tamworth the rally was kicked off by a stirring speech from primary student and Maules Creek resident Davina Leabon, before the group marched down Brisbane Street and along Peel to the offices of Barnaby Joyce and Kevin Anderson.
"I am listening to science, and it is telling us that fossil fuels should stay in the ground," Davina said.
"I can't vote, I can only protest and ask that they (governments) listen to me."
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Peel High student Maya Olrich signed herself out of school to join the rally, and led the chorus on the march.
"In the 17 years I have been alive I have seen floods, fires and drought ravage my region - we need to make a change today," she said.
"We already have a hole in the ozone layer right above us, and they are allowing more greenhouse gasses to be created and making it worse."
While public and catholic school students may face consequences of walking out of class, many independent schools were far from discouraging.
Calrossy teacher Sharon Draper said her students were more than welcome to join the rally.
"The principal believes in students having a voice, and I like it because it teaches the kids to walk the talk and be active citizens," she said.
While Barnaby Joyce was not in his Tamworth office today, Tamworth Public student Michelle McDonall and Peel's Ruby Olrich delivered a letter to his office before Kevin Anderson addressed the rally near the pre-polling office on Peel Street.
"We need to stop carbon emissions, and we must stop polluting," Mr Anderson told the crowd. "We must get the balance right between renewables and coal fired energy."
Meanwhile Calrossy year 12 student James Staunton had some dire predictions for the future if "nothing changes", and would like to see a complete overhaul of the political system in the near future.
"I feel like our kids and there kids need to see a bright beautiful world like this, not the derelict, hostile, unhappy place that we are going," he said.
"I reckon in the next 10 to 15 years we need to see a gradual decrease in the coal fired and pollutant power stations, and a increase in sustainable like solar power and nuclear."
While James doesn't believe that protesting is the right way to get results, he does believe that it can open a window to change in the future through awareness.
"We need people to understand the science and see what is actually going on instead of being blind and turning their back on it," he said.
"Hopefully our generation can make that happen - it is our future."
