MILDURA locals are encouraged to head to Apex Park on Saturday morning and lend a hand to tidy up the popular family spot as part of Clean Up Australia Day.
Mildura Rural City Council environmental sustainability education officer Nardia Baker will lead the clean-up, which kicks off at 9.30am.
Ms Baker hoped many hands would make light work, with a lot of ground to cover.
“We’ve chosen Apex Park because it is a very common area and community-driven,” she said.
“You can either go towards the river bend or back towards the homestead. It’s a really big area.”
While Ms Baker expected helpers would pick up plenty of cans, bottles and single-use plastics, she said there was a new kid on the block in terms of litter.
“It’s just about getting down there and picking up some of the rubbish, especially some of the disposable masks we’re seeing around town at the moment,” she said.
“They have become quite common. Every time I hop out of the car, a disposable mask is on the ground or in the gutter, and that generally leads off into the river, so it’s important to pick them up.”
The council is providing bin bags, hand sanitiser and gloves for the clean-up, which can be collected from the registration table near the public toilets.
Helpers can register on the day or online at cleanupaustraliaday.org.au.
Cubs lead the way
THE 1st Irymple Cub pack got a jump on Clean Up Australia Day earlier this month when they took on the task of cleaning up Lock Island.
The Cubs collected 10 bags of rubbish in their hour-long search.
According to parent helper Erica Bruton, a bit of healthy competition helped speed the clean-up along.
“They made it a competition to see who could get the most rubbish,” she said.
“There was a lot of fishing line and a lot of beer bottles and cans – they were surprised at all the different stuff they could find.”
While the Cubs each earned a Clean Up Australia Day badge for their efforts, Ms Bruton said the activity helped the children honour their Scout promise and law.
“Part of their law and promise is that they help the community, so cleaning up helped them remember all that stuff,” she said.
