Surf club joins rubbish collection campaign
Umina Surf Life Saving Club nippers joined the Take 3 for the Sea campaign on Sunday, January 10, by collecting rubbish from the beach and learning about sea debris.
The project, which is supported by Gosford Council and started on the Central Coast, is now in its second season and has 12 surf life saving clubs on board in NSW.
Take 3 organiser Ms Sarah Beard said she was hopeful that Ocean Beach SLSC would also join the program.
"We are looking to engage more surf life saving clubs on the Coast," Ms Beard said.
"The Take 3 message is simple," she said.
"Take three pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway or anywhere and you have made a difference.
"Marine debris, particularly plastic, has a disastrous impact in our oceans on marine life and, ultimately, us.
"We can greatly reduce the amount of marine debris in our oceans by preventing it from getting there in the first place.
"We encourage people to refuse disposable plastic, reduce, re-use, recycle and respond by picking up rubbish.
"Our aim is to stop the impacts of plastic pollution through education and participation.
"We want to educate the world about this complex problem by inspiring simple actions.
"Take 3 won the inaugural Taronga Conservation Society Green Grant in 2011 and has since grown from a grass-roots organisation to a global voice on marine debris," she said.
In addition to their surf life saving club program, Take 3 also has a school program for primary and secondary schools, source reduction and partnership programs with local councils and an ambassador program.
As a participating club, Umina Surf Club and particularly the club's nippers are expected to increase community awareness of marine debris and impacts on oceans, waterways and life, increase participation of club members in sustainability education, remove debris from local beaches, reserves and waterways, and increase the role of surf life saving clubs as environmental champions.
Media release, 13 Jan 2016
Sarah Beard, Take 3