Great results at beach clean-up

WARRNAMBOOL’S Thunder Point now looks much cleaner thanks to a huge effort by a group of 30 volunteers last weekend.

By Staff Writer

Mandy Shute, Chris Hose, Genevieve Bale and Colleen Hughson volunteered their time to help clear the area of rubbish.

As part of this year’s Clean Up Australia Day event, the volunteers collected an impressive 76.5 kilograms of litter on Sunday afternoon.

The day was organised by Beach Patrol’s Genevieve Bale, Colleen Hughson and Mandy Shute, alongside Jill Bourke from West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House and Chris Hose from Aurora Surf.

“We were thrilled with the number of volunteers who lent their time and effort to the cause,” group leader with Beach Patrol Colleen Hughson said.

Among the haul were 26 bags of rubbish, containing a whopping 7,268 items of litter.

The majority of items collected were lightweight soft-plastic food wrappers and takeaway packaging.

Notably, volunteers encountered a significant number of cigarette butts, totalling 1200, scattered around the carpark, indicating a pressing need for increased awareness about responsible disposal practices.

However, it wasn’t all trash and debris - amidst the clean-up, volunteers stumbled upon intriguing relics from the past, including vintage beer bottles dating back to the 1930s, marked with the distinctive ‘M.B.C.V’ insignia, and a rare Reeves soft drink stubbie.

Strange finds also included a crucifix that had been wrapped up in a black garbage bag and a cane baby bassinet.

These unexpected finds added an extra layer of excitement to the day’s activities, sparking curiosity among participants of all ages.

Families turned out in force for the event, with children eagerly embracing the opportunity to wield ‘litter pickers’ and contribute to the clean-up effort.

The sense of community spirit was palpable as volunteers worked together to restore Thunder Point to its natural beauty.

“Amidst the celebration of community spirit, there was also sobering reminders of ongoing challenges,” Ms Hughson said.

“Alcohol bottles remained a significant issue, with 122 glass bottles, 42 plastic drink bottles, and 131 cans predominantly of alcoholic origin were collected.

“And the prevalence of litter in the bushes underscored the need for continued efforts to combat irresponsible disposal practices, exacerbated by the apparent misuse of the area as an impromptu restroom.”

Reflecting on the day’s events, Beach Patrol leader Genevieve Bale suggested it may be worth putting up signs stating where the nearest toilets are located.

“The signs may deter this quite disgusting and unhygienic practice of just going anywhere,” Ms Bale said.

“Overall, the Clean Up Australia Day event at Thunder Point Coastal Reserve served as a testament to the power of community collaboration and the enduring commitment to environmental stewardship.

“As we look towards the future, let us continue to work together to preserve and protect our precious natural spaces for generations to come.”