For Louise Freckelton, the fight for action on climate change has become personal.
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During recent fire events, Ms Freckelton lost up to two-thirds of her Mount Adrah farm, including her prime grazing land.
Leaving behind her property on Tuesday, Ms Freckelton joined 60 others from the Riverina in journeying to Canberra to have their voices heard by members of parliament.
"The general purpose is to come together and comfort each other in what's been a traumatic summer. It shouldn't be under-estimated the power of gathering," Ms Freckelton said.
"We also want to urgently get parliament to act.
"Science has been telling us over 30 years that the fire seasons would be longer and a greater intensity and we've seen that this summer.
"Never before have we had fires of this size and devastation that is going to touch every one us economically."
The protest has been organised to coincide with parliament's first sitting week for 2020, but the Riverina contingent made a round-trip to be there Tuesday.
Although not chosen specifically, the Riverina group did unknowingly choose a prominent day on the parliamentary calendar, given the morning's uncertainty over leadership in the federal Greens and the Nationals.
"This isn't about the Nationals or the Liberals or anyone one party. This was planned well before any leadership challenges, and we're here to say we're serious about climate action, why aren't they," Ms Freckelton said.