Rain didn't dampen spirits at Eurobodalla's Earth Hour

Hosted by the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, the evening was to include an outdoor screening of 2040, the acclaimed Australian documentary directed by Damon Gameau, but rain forced attendees inside for the screening.

Still, visitors managed to trade pre-loved garments at the clothing swap, pick out native seedlings for a gold-coin donation, and eat gullet-warming steak-and-red-wine pies from Repurposing for Resilience's solar-powered trailer.

It was the first time Eurobodalla Shire Council had held an event for Earth Hour, a global movement organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature that encourages citizens and businesses to turn off their lights between 8.30 and 9.30pm on the last Saturday of March.

"This is the first event we've had like this to celebrate Earth Hour, and it's wonderful to see it come to fruition," said Courtney Fink-Downes, natural resource supervisor at Eurobodalla Shire Council.

"It's just another good opportunity to get engaged and hopefully realise that we're all part of the solution."

While the inclement conditions turned many away, the hundred registrations for the evening were a good indication of the Eurobodalla's interest in ecological issues.

"We generally have pretty good attendance to most of our sustainability events," said Ms Fink-Downes.

"We've got a wonderful community who's really well engaged."

Kirsten Pitot, sustainability project officer at the council, believed the interest in this event - let alone those committed attendees - demonstrated that residents still want to be active and involved in climate action.

"People are looking for support, want to stay connected, want to be with like-minded souls," she said.

"Even though we know that going without power for an hour is not going to alter the course of climate change, we switch off because it keeps hope alive - we switch off because it keeps us all switched on."

Involved in climate activism or an ecological project? Tim wants to hear all about it. Contact him via email at tim.grey@austcommunitymedia.com.au