Steve Posselt received a warm welcome and farewell at Crookhaven Heads on Sunday, February 5. 

The kayak adventurer set off from Ballina on New Year’s Day and is on a mission to raise awareness of climate change.

He’s out to collect 100,000 signatures for the Climate Emergency Declaration petition, which he’ll deliver to Canberra politicians at the end of his journey.

Steve stopped at Nowra, Culburra and Hyams Beach over Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5. 

A group of Culburra Beach and Orient Point residents gathered in support of Steve’s petition, urging the Government take urgent action to act to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Delia Lowe, traditional owner of the Jerrinja community welcomed Steve to her people’s country, pointing out parts of the coastline on his voyage that are significant to the Jerrinja people, including Cullunghutti mountain (Coolangatta) and Cooroomban (Jervis Bay)

Both Delia and Steve acknowledged Aboriginal people’s survival of past climate change.

Steve also commented on the need for urgent action by the Government and community to deal with climate change and prevent catastrophic impacts for the future.

Frances Bray, president of the Lake Wollumboola Protection Association Inc thanked Steve for alerting coastal communities to the impacts of climate change.

She explained that coastal communities and environments are at additional risk of climate impacts due to ocean warming and more intense storms and that the severity of the 2015 and 2016 East Coast Lows were a wakeup call to coastal communities of the severity of climate change impacts.

Association members organised Steve’s farewell and petition-signings in Culburra Beach, with support from other community organisations in Culburra Beach.

Follow Steve’s journey or sign the petition here.