At just 12 years old, Caitlin Bell has found herself speaking up for her generation on one of the biggest issues facing farming communities, water security.
Caitlin, who lives on her family’s farm at Gogeldrie in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, created the video with the ultimate goal of showing it to the Prime Minister.
The idea came about a few months ago, when Caitlin listened to a webinar on unregulated water sharing plans with her mother Jenna Bell while they were driving.
“Mum, this is crazy, what are we going to do about it?” Caitlin asked.
Her curiosity continued to grow.
“It sparked that interest and for a few days she was asking all these questions,” Mrs Bell said. “She kept saying, what does this look like for us growing up? Mum, can I do a video?”
So she did.
"I'm worried about the future, not just for me, but for all of us," Caitlin begins.
In the three minute video she says water buybacks don't just take away water, they take away jobs, farms and entire communities and calls for balanced measures that support the environment and regional communities.
"We want a healthy river, but we also want a healthy community. There has to be a better way that looks after the environment without sacrificing the people who live here," she said.
"If I at just 12 years old can see taking water from farmers means less food of supermarket shelves and higher grocery prices, lost jobs and weaker regional communities why cant the people making the decisions?
"Are they ignoring the consequences or do they just not care what's going to happen to us, the next generation?"
She implores decision makers to stop water buybacks and to start putting money towards complementary measures that will actually help keep the environment clean and rivers healthy.
She also took a swipe at consultation on the issue: "Ask us what we think at the start, not after it's all been decided."
"We want a future in the towns that we love. Please don't let our futures dry up," she concludes.
Caitlin has grown up on the farm alongside her older brother Lachlan, 15, and younger sister Evelyn, 10.
They work closely with Mrs Bell and their father Andrew Bell, on the farm which grows cotton, popcorn and winter cereals. Caitlin has also been involved in showing visiting school groups through the farm and local cotton gin.
“I think she gets it because she sees it every day and how we are affected,” Mrs Bell said.
On a social media post which at the time of publication had just shy of 8,000 views, Mrs Bell highlighted the wider implications of Caitlin’s message.
“She’s only 12, but she’s giving voice to the socio-economic fallout politicians ignore,” she wrote. “When a 12-year-old is speaking out about water buybacks, it’s a signal that policy decisions are cutting deeper than politics."
The video is being well received across rural communities who understand the impacts of water buybacks, and also appreciate the work and skill required for Caitlin to put her message together.
“She’s confident, she loves the camera, and she’s not afraid to have a go,” Mrs Bell told APlus News.
“She’s just really passionate about what her future looks like and she can understand what impacts there will be for her as she gets older. For her to have a voice now is an incredible opportunity."
Caitlin’s video has already reached local irrigator groups and policymakers. It was even submitted for the parliamentary inquiry into the Restoring Our Rivers Act.
Mrs Bell said the family hopes her daughter’s voice will encourage more young people to get involved in conversations shaping farming’s future.
“She’s calling on politicians to face the real socio-economic impacts: every megalitre lost is jobs, families, schools, and small towns at risk. The question is — who is listening?” Mrs Bell said.
National Farmers Federation President David Jochinke is. He has now viewed the video and was impressed by Caitlin's knowledge and passion.
"We love seeing young people get involved in ag advocacy," Mr Jochinke said.
"Social media is a genuine way to share agriculture’s stories, especially with young people."
He thinks Caitlin has a great attitude and great future ahead.
"We reckon Caitlin’s got a great message, the right attitude, and maybe even the makings of a future NFF President!"
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's media team was contacted for comment, but has not responded, so it's not clear if Caitlin's video has yet reached her intended audience.
