Reflections on winning – from Camp Walmadan
As campaigners we are sometimes not very good at celebrating success. Some people at Camp Walmadan talked about what it meant to them to stop Woodside ...
Tegan Mossop:
There was a feeling around camp Walmadan of cautiousness to trust emotions or to get too excited. Actually the feeling was quite empty as I guess no-one knew how they should feel. Even so, we didn't sleep much in anticipation for an announcement from Woodside.
The next morning the whole mob of us crowded around a crackly car radio as Woodside made their announcement to the world that they will not be building a gas precinct at Walmadan (James Price Point). This is when the hugs and the tears came in their plenty. Followed by Phil arriving back at Walmadan after being in at the Woodside office. He got out of the car with the biggest smile on his face and wrapped us all up in a hug and he cried, bringing me to tears again.
The evening of the announcement was one of the most special moments of my whole life. As the sun was setting over the ocean a big mob of us all sat in the dunes, arms around each other, our big Walmadan family. The birds seemed louder and more excited than I had ever heard them on the dunes before, the colours of the sunset seemed even more spectacular than usual. Country seemed to know.
As the colours slid down behind the ocean, Phil sat behind us, under the Aboriginal flag, which had lately been referred to as the battle flag – but not on this day. Phil, the Song Man, with his boomerang clapping sticks started singing the old Walmadan song in language. He sang many songs − old songs of the Song Cycle − and I felt the sounds. This is one of my most precious memories.
Fergus:
It's important to show that people can make a difference ... people can look to this and say 'wow, those guys did that, well we can do it too' ... it proves that you don't have to let the state and big business get their way, and trample over the wishes of the people. You can make a difference. If you know you are right, don't give up.
Martin Pritchard:
First disbelief that slowly turned into a huge sense of relief, we were going hard right up until Woodside announced its withdrawal. Then there was anger that we'd been dragged through all this pain and they walked away after just one sentence to the stock exchange. They won't be back.
It felt like the Broome community was against the world − the Local Government, State Government, Federal Government, some of the largest multinational fossil fuel companies on the planet. We joked that all we needed to make it complete was the Chinese and they did. Petrochina bought into the deal. Broome's sense of humour kept us going in our darkest hours.
We won with good planning, strategy and tactics, trust, camaraderie, non-violent direct action from baking a cake to locking on for 27 hours, communications – email, text and facebook, research, Traditional Owner support, understanding of the media and support, support, support from a wide cross section of the community.
Philip Roe:
The fight is not over but we are very relieved. We will continue to uphold my grandfather Paddy Roe's legacy – as we've been taught to do for future generations. We won't give up until the country is safe. We won't give up 'til the government protects our Song Cycle Path.
Tessa Mossop:
It's inspiring when you have a win like this… and it reminds you that you can't give up ... There was a lot of people from all over Broome, across Australia, from all over the world, who were willing to stand there with Goolarabooloo and support them in any way they could ... to protect this place. It was incredible, I think we really were in a bit of shock, like it didn't really feel real ... one of the most powerful emotions I ever felt in my life.
Sooty:
When you do get a win, you've got to savour it ... and use it to bash your head against a brick wall, for however many years till you get the next one.
Nicola Paris:
I first heard the rumours the night before – calls and frantic emails and web searches, seeking the elusive confirmation of rumour. On Friday 15th April I sat by myself, transfixed, refreshing the webpage for the expected ASX announcement. And then suddenly it was there. A simple line saying that Woodside would not be going ahead with the project at James Price Point. I burst into tears. And the tears and laughter alternated throughout the next few days. But it didn't feel real until I went back on country a few weeks later. I felt it in my gut a couple of kilometres from camp. And seeing the beautiful faces of people who have put their everything on the line this last year or two ... and then the beach ... floating into an orange fire of sunset with the most wonderful, ragged sense of relief, that this place was safe. Even if just for now.