Rally speaker Wayne Chaffey sent off the School Strike 4 Climate marchers with a key message this afternoon: "It's not all doom and gloom."
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"There's stuff to do right now so this little songbird can have a bright future," he said of his granddaughter.
"See you again next year - but it would be nice if we didn't have to see you again."
Mr Chaffey told the Leader organisers would send peers information on personal actions they could take.
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"While we might be battling with governments to be making better decisions, there are things we can all do."
The rally brought together students, family members, residents and even ex-politicians, but there were some notable exceptions, he said.
No regional councillors attended, as anticipated - although Charles Impey, Juanita Wilson, Helen Tickle and Mark Rodda had told organisers or the Leader the event had their support.
Public school teachers were also scarce and, as a former local public school principal, Mr Chaffey said he could understand it.
"[Those in the] public system have been told they cannot publicly support it ... Teachers want to protect their jobs and livelihoods, and are not allowed to speak out," he said.
However, he said, the event had the support of a "fairly significant number of retired teachers".
accept the science, and second, make policy change to address climate change.
"I wish I was in school right now ... I truly love learning," Lucy said.
"But if I have learnt anything by listening to scientists, it is that our climate is in crisis and we have to take extreme action.
"It is time, Mr Morrison, for you to learn the same lesson, as we only have five years to drastically reduce our carbon emissions. Hope you're a quick learner."