More than 800 people gathered in Robertson Park on Friday to take part in the Global Climate Strike, a powerful demonstration demanding action on climate change.
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Students from almost every school in the region attended the protest, including a group from James Sheahan Catholic High School and Kinross Wolaroi School students who walked off campus to join the march.
Organisers Madeleine Hook, Ella Andrews and Lara O'Brien said they felt empowered by the turn out rather than intimidated by the naysayers.
Madeleine said politicians should be acting in the interest of future voters like herself, but instead she had been ignored.
VIDEO: Check out Friday's Global Climate Strike at Robertson Park
"We have given them decades of chances to do something about climate change but they chose wilful ignorance over our future," she said.
"Greta Thunberg has become a world wide leader and she's inspired us to stand up to politicians who were previously doing nothing."
Lara said in addition to the three national climate change demands, which included a commitment to no new coal, oil, fuel or gas projects, as well as complete renewable energy and finding transitional employment for all those in the fossil fuel industry, Orange organisers had one more demand.
"We want Orange City Council to declare an official climate emergency," she said.
The peaceful protest included a Welcome to Country by Aunty Joyce Williams, a dance performance from Indigenous dance group Milandhiiwan and encouragement to sign a petition calling on council to declare a climate emergency.
We are all fighting for the same thing. No matter what school we go to, we are achieving this together.
- Ella Andrews
Lara's message to any adult who accused them of being too young to understand was "think back to when they were our age".
"We are educated. We're not out of school everyday. This is fact. This is what we learn," she said.
Ella said despite all going to separate schools each of the students attended the strike for the same reason.
"We are all fighting for the same thing. No matter what school we go to, we are achieving this together," she said.
Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee did not attend the rally.
He said while he thinks it's great for young people to be involved in climate activities it shouldn't be in school time.
"I think it's great for young people to be involved in the issue of the day but while school is on the priority should be at school and school holidays are coming up and it's something that could be done then," he said.
James Sheahan Catholic High School Principal Peter Meers said climate change is one of humanity's greatest concerns and that students have concerns for protecting "our fragile planet".
"As a school, we encourage all students to attend school every day as we believe knowledge and education are power," he said.
"As principal, I agree that as a global community we need to take concerted action to combat and overcome those factors and practices that are contributing to negative and harmful climate change."
As educators, we believe that attendance at school is not only a legal requirement but also that it is vitally important for students to attend every day to build and support their learning.
- Kinross Wolaroi School.
Mr Meers said the school would not penalise students for feeling strongly about the future of the environment.
In a statement, Kinross Wolaroi School said it couldn't endorse students taking time off to strike but the final decision rested with parents.
"As educators, we believe that attendance at school is not only a legal requirement but also that it is vitally important for students to attend every day to build and support their learning," a Kinross spokesperson said.
"As students are expected to attend school, staff cannot be given time off to attend the rally."
A NSW Department of Education spokesperson said any student not in class would be marked absent and unexplained absences may be subject to the school's disciplinary code.
Orange Anglican Grammar School was contacted regarding their stance on students striking but they failed to respond in time.
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