Blockade Australia, Sharron Hodge: 62-year-old Marrickville freight train climate activist amends bail

A 62-year-old activist who jumped onto a freight train in Sydney’s inner west during Blockade Australia’s campaign of disruption has amended her bail to care for her elderly mother.

A 62-year-old Blockade Australia climate activist who jumped atop a moving freight train in Sydney’s inner west during the group’s campaign of disruption in March has amended her bail conditions to care for her elderly mother.

On March 26, grandmother Sharron Hodge trespassed onto live freight lines around Marrickville before scaling a passing cargo train, bringing it and the line to a halt as part of Blockade Australia’s disruption campaign.

Hodge live-streamed the moment she jumped atop the train as passengers on the adjacent commuter service videoed her from their seats.

“I’m here for a reason – I’ve got grandkids, mate,” she responded to a rail worker who urged her to come down, her live-stream showed.

Sharron Hodge pictured atop the freight train on March 26 in Marrickville.

Hodge was eventually arrested by police and was granted bail with conditions, one of which was to stay away from train stations unless specifically using them for travel. She is also barred from engaging with Blockade Australia on Facebook.

The grandmother, a resident of Wingham in the Mid North Coast, appeared at Newtown Court House on May 31 in a – successful – bid to ease her bail conditions to be able to visit Sydney to care for her 91-year-old mother.

Hodge wanted to stop reporting to Wingham police station triweekly, which was opposed by the prosecution, fearful she could potentially take part in future Blockade Australia events without it. The prosecutor also cited the “political nature” of the alleged offence.

Blockade Australia activist Sharron Hodge (right) leaving Newtown Court on May 31. Picture: NewsLocal

Magistrate Lisa Stapleton said it wasn’t the court’s purpose to be “interested in the political nature” of the offence and allowed a variation with some new clauses.

Hodge will now be subject to a 10pm – 6am curfew, with officers checking on her residence three times a week.

“This is what happens when people allegedly commit a criminal act,” the magistrate said, after Hodge’s solicitor raised objections.

“The curfew will help to ensure Hodge is at home and not other places.”

A screenshot of commuter train passenger footage which filmed Hodge above the cargo of the train.

Noting that Hodge’s elderly mother suffers from dementia, the magistrate allowed her to stay overnight in Sydney on the condition that she travel only to take care of her mother, who resides in Mount Pritchard. Hodge would have to notify the police when she was travelling and when she intended to return, however.

Hodge is charged with entering enclosed lands and causing obstruction to a locomotive, both of which she has pleaded guilty to. She has pleaded not guilty to one charge of endangering the safety of a person on the railway.

Hodge’s hearing for the charge of endangering a person is listed for November.