This was not actually just another weekend outing, but a strong statement towards a lack of political will by politicians to create a national plan to reduce our country’s emissions as well as combat the impacts of global warming. 

The fact it was held in Tathra, which has been embracing renewable energy on a community level for years, should not go unnoticed. 

As president and founder of Clean Energy For Eternity (CEFE) Matthew Nott said, since 2006 there had been 250kilowatts of renewable energy installed in the town coming from such locations as the primary school, the football club and many businesses. 

READ MORE: Human sign in Tathra draws 2000 to form climate change message | Photos, Video

Of particular note was the first community-owned solar farm in Australia, which is located in Tathra and helps offset much of the electricity use from the town’s sewage treatment plant. 

CEFE is an organisation making a name for itself on a national level.

Back in September for instance, it was acknowledged as the country's best medium-scale community renewable energy project in a report by 350.org, which is non-profit organisation that focuses on activism around climate change.

CEO of 350.org Blair Palese was in Tathra on Sunday for the human sign, where she praised the work the local community had done in combating climate change, saying the the town was “a leader across Australia”. 

READ MORE: Community solar farm in Tathra spells IMAGINE

“Where leadership is really happening is, surprisingly, in communities,” she said. 

“When a community owns a project, they become invested in it.”

Ms Palese described the federal government's approach to energy policy as “abysmal”.

“Here we are with probably the best energy resources than any in the world,” she said.  We have solar, wind, and we just can’t let go of the coal and the gas. 

“We will have to do it eventually. We will need renewable energy.” 

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She said the lesson that the rest of Australia could take from Tathra’s efforts was that any community could take action to reduce their emissions themselves. 

We have already waited many, many years for the federal government to show leadership on the issue, and given recent events in parliament it is apparent we could be waiting for many more.