Shane Sims describes herself as an animal lover, an animal rights advocate and a rebel with a cause.
She has been speaking up for animals since she was a schoolgirl in Wollongong. In one of her first acts of rebellion, Shane walked out of a high school biology class when her teacher began demonstrating the gassing of mice. When frogs were brought in to be dissected, she did it again and this time, many of her classmates followed.
The lesson stayed with her. Shane says it showed her that sometimes it takes just one person to speak up for those who are more vulnerable. That belief has shaped much of her life.
Shane is the founding President of Coast to Coast Animal Friends, a grassroots, not for profit animal advocacy organisation run by a community of like minded volunteers. She has held the position for more than 15 years, working on campaigns and projects aimed at improving the lives of animals both nationally and internationally.
When the horrors of the live export industry were exposed by Animals Australia and the RSPCA, Shane and a small group of other passionate people joined forces to create Coast to Coast Animal Friends. They went on to coordinate over a decade of Brisbane’s largest animal rights rallies, with many attracting more than 1000 people.
Shane has also been the operations coordinator for the Australian Animal Rights Forum, a national two day conference bringing together Australia’s leading animal protection organisations and more than 55 Australian and international speakers. The conference is held in capital cities around Australia. She also sits on the judging panel representing Queensland for the Animal Justice Foundation Awards, which provides grants supporting animal protection work.
But these days, Shane’s focus is increasingly close to home. She lives on Macleay Island, a place she moved to because she loved nature.
“For a while, it felt like living in a treehouse with an abundance of trees, birds and wildlife, but it wasn’t long before I started noticing the changes,” she explains.
“Over the past seven years, I have witnessed an increasing loss of wildlife on and around the island, including animals killed or injured on the roads.”
Her message to drivers is simple: remember that you’re not travelling through an empty landscape. Wildlife lives here too.
And sometimes a little reminder can make a difference. Coast to Coast is organising a Signs for Wildlife Day in October, with the date still to be announced. Free corflutes, paint and templates will be available for people who want to create wildlife signs for their own area. It’s a very Shane kind of campaign. Practical, local and community minded.
No one needs to agree with every cause she has ever fought for. Shane’s approach is simply to keep the conversation going and to encourage people to think about the creatures sharing the place they call home. Because for Shane, compassion isn’t just a feeling, it’s something you act on.
Want to meet the rebel with a cause? Shane will be at the Fusion Festival on 12th September, where she’ll be serving up cruelty free sweet treats and chatting with the community about animals and the work of Coast to Coast Animal Friends.
Want to get involved or learn more about upcoming community projects such as Signs for Wildlife, contact info@c2caf.org.au or find Coast to Coast Animal Friends on Facebook.
