Manly
Sarah Weate
Greens candidate for Manly
Sarah first became active in environmental issues about 20
years ago, when she read about what was then called the greenhouse effect.
“I’d studied Astrophysics at university so, as soon as I read about concentrations of carbon dioxide, I knew we were in trouble.”
Sarah joined the Greens in the UK then joined Manly Greens after moving to Australia in 1996. Since then she has been an active campaigner for the environment.
“Often environmental issues are also social equity issues. For example, the under-funding of public schools has led to more cars on the roads as wealthier parents drive their children to more distant private schools. Our struggling public school grounds are littered with air-conditioned demountables which all add to greenhouse gas emissions.”
As an active community representative on Manly Council’s Bicycle Committee for several years Sarah says,
“We’ve been installing bike lanes and bike racks throughout the area for a long time and now have a good off-road network with only one major route to be completed. We’ve also installed well-marked routes down quieter streets.
“People are aware of climate change now and we’re starting to see a lot more cyclists in Manly. I’m really glad to be part of a team that has provided safe routes for them to cycle on.
“But this is only the start. We need many more facilities for bicycles in Manly and all over the state. Removing the William St bike lanes to pander to cars was a disgrace. We’re encouraging people to cycle to Manly Wharf at our end and we need to lobby for safer, better bike path at the Circular Quay end too.”
Sarah is also a founding member of Manly Food Co-operative, co-writing their computer system for them. Shoppers bring their own bags and shop waste-free. She still shops there and maintains the computer system.
“Waste is such an issue. Greenhouse gases are the waste product we’re all talking about at the moment, but many of our other environmental problems come down to waste too. Here in Manly we see our marine environment damaged by plastic bags, plastic straws and everything else that spews out of our stormwater drains. I love the fact that my bin is half empty even though I have a family.”
Volunteering to help bush regeneration is another of Sarah’s passions. “I live next to a beautiful reserve, so when I found out that I could help in its upkeep, I leapt at the chance. I know nothing about plants and gardening so it’s been a great learning experience too.”
With her husband Magennis Sarah has lived in the Manly area for eleven years. They have two children, Frankie and Katy, who both cycle to Manly West Public School.
Running as the Greens’ candidate for Manly is the logical next step in Sarah’s long term commitment to improving the world we live and leaving it in better shape for her children and all future generations.
To contact Sarah Weate, please e-mail: manly@nsw.greens.org.au or call 0403 212 365. Sarah's local Greens group is The Manly Greens. A map and full details of this district are available from the NSW Electoral Commission.
