How to join the opal field clean up
Clean up Australia Day takes place this Sunday 2 March and the communities of Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard opal fields are being asked to lend a hand to beautify the unique area.
The focus of the clean-up will be the two tips in Grawin and Sheepyards and the idea to join the national day of community action was that of Paul “Rugga” Stuart from Grawin.
“Out here we are living in huts with no electricity and the government has given us just a hole in the ground for our tip,” Mr Stuart said.
“With the wildlife and the storms and the wind, our rubbish blows everywhere, and because we walk our animals, I noticed how bad it was getting.
“The tip doesn’t get cleaned out except by one old bloke who volunteers to sort metal, timber, cement, rubbish, and tyres.”
Mr Stuart said that, despite lack of maintenance, the Grawin tip is comparatively well looked after compared to the Sheepyards tip, which is eight kilometres away.
“They’ve got a hole in the ground too, but nobody maintains it,” he said.
“Every now and again people don’t even throw rubbish down the hole; they just leave it where it lands. Sometimes a volunteer comes and bulldozes it into the hole. The council is supposed to put fences around the tips for us but haven’t yet.
“I thought I might see if I can get something done, so I contacted the Clean Up Australia crew, and they sent us out some kits with gloves and bags. We also have a form to sign people in, just in case of any incidents that may occur.”
Because of expected heat, the Grawin clean-up will only last for a couple of hours in the morning. People willing to help at the opal fields can turn up at either the Grawin or Sheepyards tip at 7am on this Sunday.
Mr Stuart said other local clean ups had happened around a decade ago, but not recently. […]
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