The house shook - even more than Melbourne's recent earthquake.
A 20-foot tree crashed to the ground, its roots bare in the rain; an iron sheet flew from the neighbour's fence. We were the lucky ones; cars and houses were crushed; thousands without power for a week and families left homeless.
I checked on family and friends, none of us could remember such winds in this city. It gets worse as the years go by.
I wonder what storms my grandchildren will face. I have four married children and eight grandchildren; and at 82 I've retired from my parish work as a minister to devote time to my passion for preserving our beautiful planet.
Many people were delighted to hear that Australia has a plan for net zero emissions by 2050.
By 2050 I will be dead, but my eight grandchildren will face a world that is being destroyed unless much more urgent action is taken.
I'd like to make a difference that will help my grandchildren bring up their grandchildren safely.
Like other members of my generation, I once took fossil fuels for granted.
Glasgow, where I grew up, relied on coal in every household. It was even one of the traditional New Year gifts with the greeting "Lang may yer lum reek" (Long may your chimney smoke). Scotland's capital was affectionately known as Auld Reekie.
The coming federal election gives an opportunity to ask serious questions of every candidate.
The European Union, the UK, the US, Canada, Japan, and South Korea have faced the challenges with new reduced targets for 2030.
To be effective, the world needs a 75 per cent reduction by then. Australia and New Zealand are lagging behind.
We could encourage electric vehicles available now through subsides and support for charging stations.
We could support the Solar Our Schools initiative which would see batteries and solar panels in all schools and early childhood centres save valuable funds for education rather than electricity and create jobs in renewables. Churches could take the lead in installing panels too.
The federal government talks almost exclusively of not yet guaranteed research and new technology. But we need to act to make a difference now.
- Bob Ridley was a senior police chaplain, school chaplaincy, specialising in grief counselling and trauma intervention and support. He is now retired and lives in Burwood East, Victoria.
