"We gathered together through Zoom and shared information about gas and its consequences," Ms Di Domenicantonio said.

"Everybody prepared a sign. It was great to see this group of people getting together for the same cause.

"It's important for people to inform themselves. After having fires, floods and erosion in Australia, we really want the government to tackle those issues."

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Thousands of people joined the rally, promoted by School Strike for Climate, and called for the Federal Government to spend economic stimulus money on clean energy to create thousands of jobs, rather than gas.

Ms Di Domenicantonio, who is a teacher at Australian Catholic University Ballarat campus, said she wanted to see a more renewable future.

"We are new to Ararat, so for the rally I wasn't able to reach out to a bigger audience," she said.

"I had a few friends from different areas of Victoria join in. The strike is open to everyone to create action big or small.

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"We need to follow our young leaders. We can all learn from each other and our voices can be heard. Each one of us matters.

"For a long time gas has been promoted as a natural green resource ... but it actually produces high methane emissions which isn't talked about much publicly."

Ms Di Domenicantonio said many destructive gas projects threatened First Nations lands.

"It's important to call our PM and MPs and request a renewable-led recovery plan instead of gas," she said.

"A few weeks ago we wrote a letter to stop a gas-plant near the Mornington Peninsula.

"I found it empowering because I could understand on a deeper level what the consequences were of having a glass-plant near a protected reserve.

"It's great to live near the wind turbine generating renewable energy with no emissions."

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch - taylor.padfield@austcommunitymedia.com.au.

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