2024 was the busiest year ever for Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends, and as our group has grown, we were able to cover many events with Nannas reporting back to keep us better informed.
We witnessed the leadership of First Nations people and learnt from their campaigns to protect their land and sea country from destruction by miners, forestry and developers.
Protests & Rallies
Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends continued to assert our right to peaceful and safe protest, rights we believe belong to everyone.
Although protesting is very serious Nanna business, we’ve done our best to enjoy some fun and lightness as we go. We reckon using humour has helped our social media platforms to reach a lot more people during the year.
We formed a street theatre troupe, whose performances added hilarity to events and protests. Dressing up became a bigger Nanna thing, but there’s no pressure. There are important roles behind the scenes too.
Nannas from all over NSW joined forces at the following events
Knitting Nanna’s Kitchen Cabinet was held on the streets and on the lawn at Parliament House, Canberra in May. Over 50 Nannas from all over NSW attended this serious but fun event. A bunch of parliamentary tea ladies even walked off the job to join the Nannas.
In August some Nannas were back in Canberra for a sit-in in the parliament house foyer.
Over 60 Nannas attended the Rising Tide Protestival in Newcastle to block the world’s largest coal port in November. Nannas played many supporting roles and premiered our Climate Circus.
Highlights of protests in Sydney
Nannas formed a conga line for climate as part of Lock the Gate’s presentation of a huge petition against coal expansions in NSW.
As Santos held their AGM in Adelaide we did the Santos stomp outside the gas company’s Sydney office.
Each time the NSW parliament returns after its breaks Nannas welcome the pollies back with some suggestions on how they can do better. The next Wecome Back will be on Tuesday 11 February at 10.30am.
Nannas dressed up as ghosts for Lock the Gate’s Ghostbuster rallies outside state MP’s offices during the year. The point being made was that the ghost of John Barilaro (Minister in the old LNP government) still holds power over coal expansions in NSW. His Strategic Statement on Coal, which encourages coal expansions, is now the policy of the ALP government.
We always enjoy making our Christmas video. This year it was an anti-nuclear protest. We think our singing has greatly improved with the purchase of a music box and karaoke tracks.
Civil disobedience for the climate
Nanna Bron was arrested last year for blocking Newcastle’s coal port at Rising Tide and faced court in January. This year in October she was arrested again for disrupting the logging of Bulga Forest with an eight hour lockon. She faced court in December. Bron tells of her harrowing ride in a police van here.
Logging native forests have been a big focus in 2024 as Nannas try to protect habitat for our wildlife and to reduce emissions.
Craftivism
Our Craftism Parade was a part of Seniors Week in March and a shortened version with a PowerPoint presentation was also performed for Amnesty International members in October.
The Federal Labor report scarf was started at a gathering outside Kirribilli House in May. Two rows are being knitted each day until the Federal Government says no new coal and gas.
Afternoons of skill and ideas sharing have been held at Nanna Elizabeth’s home and we have come up with creations such as Old King Coal.
Many endangered species costumes have evolved – a greater glider and a swift parrot.
This photo frame was made for festivals and rallies and is popular on social media.
Nannas Eartha and Nola joined us and promptly went travelling.
Community Connections
We are stronger together, so Nannas support actions by other groups. Listening and learning is a big part of being a Nanna, so Nannas who attend events report back to the whole group. In 2024 we listened and learnt from
- Coffs Harbour locals on a
Native Forest Listening Tour in May - Campbelltown locals on a Smiths Creek Koala Walk in May
- 1 Million Women on their 15th birthday bash in June
- Hunter Valley locals on a Hunter Valley Coal Tour in June
- Locals impacted by Mudgee coal mines on a Save Wollar Listening Tour in September
- Tabiea at a Picnic for Nature organised by the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) and the Arab Council Australia at Garrison Point, Georges Hall in October.
Visiting our local MPs (state and federal)
Nannas have visited the offices of their local MPs, state and federal, and written letters and submissions on coal expansions, offsets, Narrabri Gas and associated pipelines, native forest logging, koala protection and protest laws.
We also met with most members of the NSW crossbench on the roof of parliament house.
Nanna Media
Like many others, after Trump won the US elections, Sydney Nannas set up on Bluesky and will be leaving X soon. We got 1,000 followers in 10 days. Followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube continue to grow.
We were interviewed for a podcast by The Australia Institute’s Follow the Money in April.
Subscribers and visitors to our website continue to increase and our events page is popular too.