Clean Up Australia Day celebrates 30th anniversary

Clean Up Australia Day, Australia’s largest community-based environmental event that involves thousands of volunteers removing waste from across the country is celebrating its 30th anniversary on 1st March 2020.

Schools can also run their own clean up event on Schools Clean Up Day on Friday 28th February and businesses can get involved through Business Clean Up Day on Tuesday 25th February.

The “event” started thirty years ago when Ian Kiernan, an avid sailor, became determined to take action against the pollution and rubbish he continually encountered in the oceans.

Kiernan’s initiative developed into a community event with the support of a committee of friends, including co-founder Kim McKay AO.

This simple idea ignited an enthusiasm and desire among the local community to get involved and make a difference and as such Clean Up Australia Day was founded in 1990.

Clean Up Australia Chairman Pip Kiernan said Australia creates 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year advising that last year over 680,000 volunteers removed more than 15,000 “ute loads of rubbish from the 6,901 registered locations across the country.

“It’s our 30th anniversary in 2020. To celebrate that milestone, we’d love to see 700,000 Australians cleaning up at 8,000 sites nationally on 1st March."

Funds raised through donations are allocated to the provision of educational resources and clean up materials provided free of charge to community, school and youth groups across the nation, throughout the year.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia has registered 29 ‘Clean-Up Australia Day’ sites nationwide and members will enthusiastically take part in large numbers.

The National President and Missionary In-charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia, I.H. Kauser advised “each year hundreds of Ahmadi Muslims take part in Clean Up Australia Day. Islam reinforces the importance of cleanliness on individual and societal levels. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said that cleanliness is part of faith. Hence it is our responsibility to keep our surroundings neat and clean. Clean-Up Australia Day is a great cause and we all must participate in nation’s largest community-based environmental event.” 

Brimbank City Council in Victoria is also a proud supporter of the day. Last year Brimbank residents removed 500 bags of rubbish across 23 locations.

Brimbank Mayor, Cr Georgina Papafotiou is encouraging individuals, community groups, schools and businesses to come together again and make the 30th year of this event our biggest.

Councillor Papafotiou advised ‘we are calling on Brimbank residents to step up to clean up on Sunday 1st  March, to collect as much waste as we can and make an impact that improves our environment.”

To join a site or register your own clean-up site go to www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au

To register your Clean Up or make a donation go to cleanup.org.au

Image of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia which has registered 29 ‘Clean-Up Australia Day’ sites nationwide and members will enthusiastically take part in large numbers.