Now it’s about what comes next to make sure that call to arms is heeded.

Clean Energy for Eternity founder and human sign coordinator-on-the-hill Matthew Nott said several projects are already in train for the seaside town, cementing its status as Australia’s leading community for renewable energy promotion and adoption.

Every public building in the town has solar panels installed – including schools, churches, surf club and sports clubhouses – and Australia’s first community-owned solar farm has been offsetting the council’s power consumption and costs at the sewage treatment works for three-and-a-half years now.

READ MORE: Tathra public school goes solar; ‘It’s helping the world’

However, in light of continuing apathy and procrastination on climate change from governments at state and federal level, CEFE will continue to plug away locally with the backing and cooperation of the Bega Valley Shire Council and Tathra’s sympathetic organisations.

In August, the Tathra Sea Eagles officially unveiled their new clubhouse renovations including 12kW of solar panels, making it possibly NSW’s first self-sustaining football club. Following that success and the weekend’s call for further action, Mr Nott said they are now in planning stages of adding battery storage to the club.

That’s in addition to the recent assistance from Bega MP Andrew Constance in providing for low-energy lighting at the grounds.

READ MORE: Bega Indigenous students’ song that stopped a nation

Mr Nott said he was also hoping to work closely with the Tathra Surf Life Saving Club as they look to significantly increase the solar capacity already installed – from 1kW to 10kW with battery storage.

“After 2000 people turned out for the human sign we feel we now have a mandate to continue,” he said.

Shortly after CEFE formed in 2006 – on the back of another huge human sign – it adopted the 50 per cent renewable energy by 2020 mission statement. Twelve years on and that is still front of mind, and indeed more achievable than ever Mr Nott said.