Grandmother Activists Take to the Waters in Climate Protest
Three grandmothers and a clown from Tasmania found themselves in police custody after a daring protest in Newcastle harbour over the weekend. The group, members of the Knitting Nannas activist network, deliberately sailed a 16-foot fishing tinny into the restricted shipping channel as part of the Rising Tide climate demonstrations.
The incident occurred on Saturday, November 29, 2025, when the women breached the marine exclusion zone established by authorities. Police vessels quickly pursued the small boat, leading to the arrest of all occupants. Despite their detention, the group was later released without charges, though they temporarily lost access to their phones and money.
The Personal Stories Behind the Protest
Jules Lee, a 73-year-old grandmother from the Central Coast, owned the fishing boat used in the protest - it had belonged to her late father, Elio, who worked in a power station before retiring. Mrs Lee insists she protests to support miners and industry workers like her father, not to oppose them.
"We've been supporting the miners for years," Mrs Lee told the Newcastle Herald. "We want to make it fair for the miners. It's not like it used to be when your grandfather worked in the mines. We're actually fighting for the miners."
Fellow protester Di Rooney described the experience as "extreme knitting" as she continued working with her giant yellow needles while police pursued their vessel. Both women emphasized they hold no ill will toward the officers who arrested them and accept responsibility for their actions.
Police Response and Safety Concerns
Assistant Police Commissioner David Waddell expressed significant concerns about protester safety during the weekend demonstrations. Swimmers had waded into dangerous waters, suffering cuts and scrapes, while dozens defied police orders to enter the shipping channel, forcing boats to turn back.
Additional police resources from across New South Wales, including aircraft, riot squad officers, and mounted police, were deployed to manage the situation. Police Minister Yasmin Catley condemned the behaviour as "dangerous" and "reckless," stating that the right to protest doesn't override others' safety.
By Sunday afternoon, police had charged 139 individuals involved in the protests. The Rising Tide encampment at Foreshore Park was vacated as shipping movements returned to normal around 4pm.
Despite the legal consequences faced by many protesters, the Knitting Nannas maintain their commitment to what they call "Nanna Activism" - watching over young protesters and fighting for a sustainable future for coming generations.
