Huge job cleaning a big mess

LAST week a local company was tasked with cleaning a Mildura house, which had rubbish covering nearly every inch of the floor.

The property was so cluttered that even walking through the building was a challenge.

Jim’s Mowing Mildura South franchise owner Mark Beggs was approached to clean the house and said he was up for the challenge.

“When I was a young fella, a bloke gave me some life advice, bite off more than you can chew and chew like crazy, so that’s what I did,” he said.

“I didn’t look at it as one big job, I broke it up into the front yard, driveway, entry, et cetra., and just focused on one bit at a time instead of seeing it as a whole.

“It just makes each job smaller instead of one massive task.”

A Bobcat loader was used to scoop up a haul of rubbish from the driveway, and Mr Beggs also hired five backpackers to help with the cleanup.

“Logistics were just a nightmare,” he said. “It wasn’t as simple as looking at it and saying, ‘Yeah, we’ll just pick the rubbish up’.

“You have to organise bins get staff trained and organised, and arrange PPE.”

Mr Beggs filmed the process, which garnered attention online.

His video received more than 1000 reactions on Facebook and 40,000 views on TikTok.

“I basically do a yard cleanup every week or so, and I always post a TikTok and share it on my Facebook page and the Mildura community group page as a bit of advertising,” he said.

“I normally get 20 to 100 likes, and I’m stoked with that.

“But this one just blew up, and I couldn’t believe it.”

Mr Beggs said the publicity was nice, but that wasn’t his primary motivation.

“At the end of the day, I don’t do this for internet clout,” he said, “I do it to help people.

“I didn’t just help the client, I helped the neighbours on three sides because they had to live with that for years.

“And on a broader level, I helped the community of Mildura.

“The ethos of the business is that we don’t just mow lawns, we help people.”

Digital Editions


  • Mildura masterclass mauls Bulldogs

    Mildura masterclass mauls Bulldogs

    IT was hard to work out after Saturday’s massacre at the Mildura Sporting Precinct if the victors had played so well or the vanquished simply…

More News

  • Canadian couple finds their place in Mildura

    Canadian couple finds their place in Mildura

    CANADA and Australia may sit on opposite sides of the world, but for Colin MacEachern, the similarities between the two countries made settling in Mildura feel surprisingly natural. “Many people…

  • Service provider recruiting feedback

    Service provider recruiting feedback

    SERVICE provider Intereach has called out for applications to its Consumer Advisory Body to help shape the region’s aged care services. The Aged Care Consumer Advisory Body is a voluntary…

  • Sunraysia roots shape Tiah’s international ambitions

    Sunraysia roots shape Tiah’s international ambitions

    TIAH Barone says growing up in Sunraysia gave her an early understanding of inequality, resilience and community. “Mildura is a very close-knit town,” she said. “When you grow up in…

  • Help local rescues find forever homes

    Help local rescues find forever homes

    THIS year’s Petstock Foundation-led Pet Adoption Month is more timely than ever as recent research by the organisation indicates one in six pet owners have considered rehoming their pet due…

  • Current affairs in print

    Current affairs in print

    IF you are writing a book that looks at the impact of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on agriculture and rural communities, the best place to hold the launch is at…

  • Bruce’s special connection

    Bruce’s special connection

    ACCLAIMED sporting commentator Bruce McAvaney always knew he had a vague family link to the Sunraysia. He didn’t realise how strong that connection was to a remarkably strong line of…

  • Good library reads

    Good library reads

    How We Relate: A psychologist’s guide to building and maintaining good relationships by Dr Ahona Guha (Scribe, 2026) Understanding relationships isn’t just about other people—it starts with understanding yourself and…

  • Salvos need help to help

    Salvos need help to help

    ALMOST nine in 10 parents going without food so kids can eat and more than one third can’t afford doctors for kids and a shocking one in five say their…

  • Clothing donation drive call out

    Clothing donation drive call out

    THRIFT project In Rotation has put out a call for clothing donations ready for a second life. The donation drive will fill bags to send to remote op shops across…

  • National viticulture seminar returns

    National viticulture seminar returns

    MILDURA will next week welcome the return of a highly requested grape growers seminar aimed at strengthening growers’ long-term performance. The National Viticulture Seminar is organised by the Australian Society…