SLIP SLOP SLAP with the Knitting Nannas at Rising Tide 2025.
Flocks of yellow-breasted Knitting Nanna environmentalists from Nanna ‘loops’ across NSW and Victoria will land in Newcastle for the 2025 Rising Tide Protestival from Thursday 27 November – Tuesday 2 December.
The clicking of knitting and crochet needles will resound around Foreshore Park as Nannas prepare to distribute “climate change care essentials” from their colourfully crafted gazebos in the park and on the beach.
“Last year we applied sunblock and administered some much-needed laughs to 3000 people,” says Nanna Lyn. “This year we’re expecting even bigger crowds. We’re stockpiling sunblock and scouring the op-shops for hats to hand out”.
“Nannas have a simple message for Prime Minister Albanese and Environment Minister Murray Watt this summer: Slip, Slap, Slop: Slip on your man-pants, Slap down the fossil fuel industry, and Slop the red ink all over their applications”.
Nannas have had a busy year, from the release of their pre-election AC/DC tribute “High Voltage No Gas No Coal”, to celebrating the logging moratorium to create the Great Koala National Park, for which they’d campaigned for (too many) years.
“A Nanna’s work is never done” says Nanna Kathy. “Nanna Care is something we’ve provided since our formation in 2012 during the Northern Rivers anti-fracking campaign. Our Nannadome at Bentley provided a safe space for peaceful protestors overwhelmed by the huge police presence. At our age we’ve seen it all and people young and old are reassured by our calm smiling faces.”
Local Hunter Nannas will welcome more remote Nannas and friends from 8.30am on Saturday 29 November at Nanna Central in the park. There’ll be short speeches, singing, dancing and air guitar playing. Look out for the yellow in a sea of blue! A group photo will be taken promptly at 9:30am so Nannas can get to their volunteer commitments. Media are welcome to attend for comments and pics.
We’ll have sunscreen, free hats, band-aids, water and somewhere to sit in the shade. Kayakers will be able to check in belongings with us before going on the water and a tent for changing clothes will be at the beach.
We’ll help the elderly, or people with disabilities to participate equally, and provide emotional support for young people with climate anxiety. We were surprised at how many needed time-out with a Nanna last year.
Contacts:
Eury Aroney 0411 817 283 eurydice.aroney@gmail.com
Kathy McKenzie 0408 650 851 kmckmedia@gmail.com
Sydney Knitting Nannas & Friends https://knittingnannas.org/
Follow us on Knitnannassyd.bsky.social