Town turns out to clean up

Nearly 1800 Hedland students were joined by residents, politicians and even sports stars when they took to the streets on Friday as part of the Clean Up Australia Day schools event.

Youngsters from every primary school in the Hedland district picked up rubbish in and around their schools to help celebrate the 30th birthday of the Clean Up Australia Day campaign.

In 2019, only Baler Primary School and St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School joined more than 2000 schools nationwide taking part in the event.

However, Care For Hedland stepped up their efforts this year, making sure they worked with all local schools to build Hedland’s representation in the event.

Care for Hedland Waste organiser Jillian Fisher said the organisation hoped it would inspire local students to learn about the impact of rubbish on their local environment and to play a role in the community.

This year students were joined by champion hockey player Aaron Kleinschmidt and Environment Minister Stephen Dawson.

South Hedland Primary principal Daryl Mansfield said joining the cause helped students to appreciate a clean school and reminded them of the importance of not littering.

“To have the Minister for Environment address out assembly, promote this cause and then assist with cleaning up sends a strong message to our school community,” he said.

“One of our school values is to be respectful, that means being respectful to yourself, each other and the environment.

“By joining Clean Up Australia Day we not only assist our students to appreciate a clean school and surrounds, but it also reminds students of the importance of not littering,” he said.

Care for Hedland’s organisation of the schools’ event was just one part of their strong focus on this year’s nationwide Clean Up Australia Day campaign.

Volunteers have been supporting a number of clean-up events to reduce the amount of rubbish at a number of popular Hedland areas.

This culminated in the official, Australia-wide, Clean Up Australia Day event on Sunday March 1 at Cemetery Beach, Pretty Pool and Scadden Road.

BHP general manager of rail Warren Wellbeloved said the company was extremely proud to partner with Care for Hedland for the event.

“The school clean-up provides a great opportunity to educate and empower the next generation about environmental conservation and is something we’re really pleased to be part of,” he said.

Fortescue Metals Group was also a supporter of the school clean-up day.