A small group gathered at John Holland Park in Forster on Friday May 21 for a School Strike 4 Climate protest.
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This was the first student led strike in the area in several years and was organised by, for the first time, Great Lakes College year 12 students Fiona Gottstein and Sami Peters.
"It's a national day to strike and we wanted one locally," Fiona said.
"Our government needs to take the climate crisis seriously."
The girls were joined by classmates, Knitting Nannas and concerned residents for the strike.
Speeches were made in the park before the group crossed the Forster Tuncurry bridge to Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead's office in Tuncurry.
They drew the attention of motorists with their signs, songs and chants of "what do we want? Climate action. When do we want it? Now."
The students said the federal budget, delivered more than two weeks ago, made little mention of climate action and instead focused on funding gas projects.
"Our government needs to do more for our future," Sami said.
The girls were happy with the turnout but were hoping for a few more people.
"Next time we'll promote it better," Fiona assured.
Some critics will believe the strike was nothing more than an excuse for the students to skip school for a few hours.
But Fiona and Sami have been activists for change at the school and have already spoken to the school's Student Representative Council about implementing more recycling bins.
They also want paper straws introduced at the canteen.
"I don't know why we still need to have plastic straws," Sami questioned.
"All the small things help," Fiona added.
There were about 50 registered School Strike 4 Climate protests across the country, including Taree's Fotheringham Park and Port Macquarie's Town Green.
About 80 people attended the Taree strike.
"We need to raise our voices so loud we can't be ignored. We have to make sure our message is loud and strong so people can hear us," school student Huon Campbell-Ellis told the crowd.
A march to Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie's office on Victoria Street followed.
"We might be high school students, and there's students here even younger than us, we are going to inherit the results of decisions made today," Camden Haven High student Harrison Swift told more than 100 people at Port Macquarie.
