At a time when teenagers are at the frontline of political activism, fighting for change on the big issues en masse, it is no surprise that the person behind a Katherine petition clocking up thousands of signatures in a couple of days is just 16.
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The petition - posted late on Thursday night by Katherine High School student Ashley Allison - is asking the NT Government's Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics to allow a retiree to continue to sell plants on the side of the Stuart Highway, as he has done for four years.
The groundswell of support to keep Jim Ashworth where he is, under a big shady Mahogany tree, has generated an overwhelming response. More than 2100 people have signed the petition. And the numbers are clocking up fast.
"I've known Jim for a long time, I bought plants off him all the time with my dad, and I always looked forward to his wave when we passed in the car," Ashley says.
"I kept looking out for someone to start something to save him, but when I realised no one else had... I couldn't do nothing."
At just 16 years old, the decision to start the petition was filled with doubt.
"I thought no one would take it seriously... that people wouldn't get behind it," she said.
"But when I woke up in the morning there were more than 600 signatures.
"I was so overwhelmed... I cried a little bit."
The petition is just the start. The social movement basically has to persuade government officials to not hold Mr Ashworth to new Territory-wide rules that stipulate how businesses and activities are conducted in road reserves.
The new rules come into effect on February 16, and require anyone who wants to carry out business activities on the side of the road to have a permit that costs about $360 per month.
Road safety and interruption to traffic flow have been cited as the main factors that will see Jim banished from his spot, but nowhere else in Katherine provides quite the same shade that makes the 30-degree-plus days bearable.
"We want them to take into consideration that we don't want Jim to leave," Ashley said, "and that Jim doesn't want to leave either."
"Katherine has such a special and unique thing in Jim, that we just can't lose... what other town has a Jim who waves to every single car that passes by."
Ashley says she will be "astounded" if the petition reaches 3,500 signatures.
But with about 10 people signing on every 20 minutes, it is likely she'll surpass her target.
"Once the signatures start to slow down, I will include them in a formal letter to DIPL to show just how much people don't want him to leave," she said.
"I'm also encouraging people to write their own letters so they simply can't ignore how much support there is."
The petition can be signed here.
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