Resilience Project Series: Rock On for Climate Action in Eurobodalla
Project: Rock On for Climate Action
Recipient: Sam Fletcher
Community: Tomakin, NSW
All images shared in this article are credited to J&S Design / Good Vibes Entertainment.
Climate action depends on community connection and empowerment of community members through collective organisation.
Knowing this, local musician Sam Fletcher organised Rock on for Climate Action, a Fire to Flourish-funded event held at Smokey Dan’s in Tomakin in May, 2024.
The goal of Rock On for Climate Action was to bring people together around shared, achievable actions to reduce the impacts of climate change on local communities. This inclusive event showcased local music and climate action experience, while also creating a feeling of community spirit and bonding.
Fire to Flourish spoke with Sam about the true impact of a community music event like this.
Beth Patch: Tell me more about Rock On for Climate Action. How do you think it was beneficial for your local community’s disaster resilience?
Sam Fletcher: Our first Rock On For Climate Action was held at Smokey Dan's in Tomakin on 11 May 2024. It included a Welcome to Country and performance of traditional First Nations songs, four bands, public speakers on climate change, a panel, a raffle and creative displays by local community groups.
I feel the event strengthened the communities disaster resilience by providing a great networking opportunity for those involved. I also believe Rock On For Climate Action added to a feeling of community team spirit and bonding. This is important for disaster resilience because a more socially connected community is more ready to share help, resources and knowledge in times of crisis.
BP: What did you set out to do? Do you feel that those goals were achieved?
SF: The event's goals were to connect the community around the positive shared goal of climate action and to empower everyone to create their own forms of climate action. I believe Rock On For Climate Action achieved these goals, it was a valuable opportunity for climate activist group 350 Eurobodalla to get young people involved in their work and there has since been ongoing collaboration between 350 Eurobodalla and some of these young people.
BP: Why Fire to Flourish’s granting process to fund Rock On and what was that process like for you?
SF: Someone from 350 Eurobodalla - the community group I was in collaboration with - suggested the grant. I feel so grateful to have become involved in Fire to Flourish. The community team was incredibly helpful and friendly and this made my first grant application possible. It’s given me the skills and experience to apply for more grants since and has also given me valuable community contacts within the greater Fire to Flourish community. Of course, the planning and application took a lot of effort and time, but the presence of the community facilitators made the process less daunting and more achievable.
BP: Was there anything about Rock On and its community impacts that surprised you or you didn’t expect?
SF: One of the most exciting outcomes for me was that the event was successful enough to run this again with the hope of creating an ongoing annual event that continues to grow year after year. Rock On For Climate Action was a big learning and networking experience for those involved, and having grant funding for our first event let us learn in a financially safer space. We now have the experience, skills, workflows and contacts to create better future Rock Ons.
BP: So there’s another one planned? That’s exciting!
SF: Yep! Rock On For Climate Action 2025 will be on Sat 15th February and people who want to come can register here.
For those living in Eurobodalla who want to be involved in ongoing and future Rock On for Climate Action events, connect with Sam Fletcher at music@samfletcher.com.au.
Learn more about F2F Eurobodalla here. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow F2F Eurobodalla on Facebook to hear of upcoming funding opportunities and all the latest updates.