The Animal Union members (all non-human) voted Sarah J in to run things. They chose Sarah J to be president of the human division, as she has a background in event management. So, she is good at organising interesting events. She kicked this off when she was just 15 years old in the mid 90s and organised a battle of the bands called, ‘Where the Wild Things Are.’ She single-handedly got $10,000 worth of prizes, with the main prize being extensive recording time at Sydney’s most prestigious music studio in that era. Sarah J managed to get one of the RHCP's sound guys involved - so the quality was perfect. 

 

Sarah J then when on to work for Creative Entertainment, the promoters of the Big Day Out. She had many roles, but focused on reducing the impacts the festival was having on the environment - as it was shocking. In the summer of 2003, Sarah implemented a successful recycling program, which brought the return from 0% to 80% in the first year she was the recycling coordinator. The key to the success was having 100 volunteers in bright yellow uniforms, dancing to a wheelie bin sound system (Sarah J's choreography), while picking up recyclables in a dancing manner. As planned, the next thing punters were joining in and picking up recyclables. An unintentional flash mob, where it was later discovered the first attempt had failed months prior in NYC. This and other tactics were used to reach near triumph with the return. With outside influences not supporting the reuse of water bottles - even from a greenwashing angle (jokes), Sarah J was unable to take it to a reduce and reuse level. Other forces blocked the goal to implement the recycling program - infrastructure and volunteer input  - to all willing music festivals in Australia and New Zealand. If this was achieved at Australia's largest music festival, then all others could have easily followed. Sarah J is still trying to catch up on sleep two decades later.

 

Sarah J's next phase of work was with corporate gigs, simultaneously working in film production, as rock and roll pay checks were too unpredictable. This led to fusing the music industry with the boring old, but stable corporate world ... hello, music workshops, clinics, camps and masterclasses - with renowned international artists. Then bam! Those strange times came along and the entertainment industry crashed. Sarah J went on to study electronics after this occurred. This was to work towards a career repairing guitar amps, including time in LA. Despite opportunities to learn off some the best techs in Australia, as well as landing a mentor who was an electrical engineer lecturer at UTS - Sarah J couldn't put her dreams ahead of all the animals suffering. So, she put her soldering gun down and The Animal Union was born.

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Today, Sarah is studying law for the animals, to become an Animal Rights Lawyer. Sarah J is a member of The Law Society of New South Wales’ Animal Law Sub-Committee and currently volunteering with the Animal Law Institute 

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Sarah J is also behind the World Roll Out for Animals. A peaceful protest against animal cruelty on wheels – bikes, roller skates, skateboards, inline skates and so on (Walking is welcomed). Read more here

 

Sarah J has learnt about the needs of bulls and cows through one of her oldest friends Sean, who is like her little brother. Sean has worked with recused cows and bulls for some time. He has assisted Sarah J and her team with setting up The Animal Union’s first program - rescuing bulls and cows in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. Sean is currently caring for forty rescued bulls that all live together and have been introduced at different ages, from different farms. He also assists in caring for sixty cows. The bulls are not de-sexed/castrated and their temperament is mostly calm. Their environmental needs are sufficient: having enough grazing options, feed when grazing choices are low, water, shade and space. Sean is even growing plants suitable for them to eat, so not just limited to grass and talks to them calmly. This farm is at capacity.

 

There is a YouTube channel coming to encourage plant-based farms and for these farms to work with rehomed farmed animals. This is to encourage (and introduce) plant-based hobby farmers and small farms, to incorporate regenerative farming approaches with rehomed farmed animals. Think of it like a large-scale permaculture farm. Instead of just chickens and other small animals, you have larger animals like cows, sheep and pigs playing a role, but not used for their meat, coat or milk. 

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When Sarah J isn't fighting off misanthropy after learning more about animal agriculture, she is in the ocean. Often doing a solo meditative ocean swim, a 1.5km route with turtles, dolphins (sometimes swimming underneath) and yes, sharks - who have always just let her be. It is humans in the surf that landed her in hospital twice. Sarah J's other outlets are playing bass, roller skating on her friend's vert ramp, art - paint pens on old skateboards and hand cut collages; and working on improving her homemade vegan sauces, as that's the secret behind all favourite dishes. Her favourite thing is to playing with her best friend in the world, who is non-human - Robert Smith aka Bobby (as he has black spiky hair). Sarah J rescued him many years ago and he thinks vets suck.

 

Like George Costanza says in the muffin tops episode: ‘You know if you take everything I’ve accomplished in my life and condense it down into one day… it looks decent.’ However, in jokingly saying this to wrap things up, Sarah J has utilised many of her skills to be one more person attempting to help as many animals as funding allows. If you want to be part of that change that is happening for farmed animals all around Australia and the world, then please jump onboard The Animal Union ship. The Union will spare everyone the old, ‘it only costs one coffee a week,' spiel and just let people decide if they want to be a part of the change or not. Sarah J always says it feels rewarding beyond words to know you gave even one animal a safe home. Imagine helping many!

 

Let's work together man and help more farmed animals be free and happy! If you're still attempting to ascertain the facts before making a decision,