ALMA secretary Mohideen Abdul Gafoor said Clean Up Australia Day was one of the most important dates on their calendar.
Focusing on cleaning up the Duck River foreshore, barbecue area and soccer grounds next Sunday, he said his group had been taking part for 20 years and local and state politicians would be joining them in their efforts this year. “We’ll also have lots of children with us again as it’s important to teach them how discarded items are very damaging to the environment,” he said.
“You’d be surprised by some of our finds in the river and on the foreshore; last year, I pulled a bike from the water and so many plates, cups, bags and loads of packaging.
“It really is unbelievable how much rubbish ends up in our parks and waterways.”
AAHYA president Sayeed Karimi will be focusing on Regents Park and agreed, saying it was the goal of his group to keep the suburbs as clean as possible for all cultures to enjoy.
“We also need to teach the next generations, particularly kids from migrant backgrounds, about this important Australian community event,” he said.
“Many newly arrived migrants come from war-torn countries where keeping the environment clean is not a priority with unreliable waste collection services and most rubbish just thrown carelessly onto the street.”
Join the Duck River cleanup from 9am or Regents Park (meet at the community centre, 1 Bellona Avenue) from 2-4pm.
For more info or to find other events: cleanup.org.au
You’re invited to help at Clean Up Australia event
EXPECTING a huge turnout of volunteers, members of the Austra-Lanka Muslim Association (ALMA) and the Australian Afghan Hassanian Youth Association (AAHYA) are ready to get down and dirty again for this year’s Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, March 3.
