THE KNITTING Nannas of the Hastings-Macleay Loop (Port Macquarie and Kempsey) have continued to agitate for the environment – with their latest stand being at a monthly meeting of Kempsey Shire Council.
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The Knitting Nannas are a group of older women who want to protect the environment for future generations.
They were at council in support of Genevieve and Alison who spoke in the public forum on behalf of the Macleay Living Sustainably group (MLS).
Both speakers urged council to do more about mitigating the impacts of climate change by stepping up the use of renewable energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the shire.
The Knitting Nannas share their concern about those issues and they believe many others in the community think likewise.
The presentation was followed by a motion to adopt a climate change policy which was passed in an amended form. This was most encouraging to the large number of people who attended in support, but they are aware vigilance needs to be maintained.
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At the lunch break, the Nannas left the meeting and gathered again for a short knit-in outside Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey’s electorate office.
In the new year the Nannas will seek a meeting with Mrs Pavey to discuss the ‘urgency’ of phasing out fossil fuel and the importance of State Government action on renewable energy.
Every fortnight in 2018 the Nannas have been knitting outside local Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker’s office in Port Macquarie.
The Nannas said they had one, albeit rather disappointing, meeting with their Federal MP for Cowper. In November they visited State Member David Gillespie’s office in Wauchope but have not yet secured a meeting date.
The Nannas plan a busy year in 2019, with both State and Federal elections in the first half of the year. They say they are concerned about the future for their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Meanwhile, last year was the fourth warmest on record, extending a scorching streak driven by a build-up of man-made greenhouse gases. Average world surface air temperatures were 14.7 Celsius in 2018, just 0.2C off the highest, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service said.
