AN EXTRAORDINARY organisation has just completed an extraordinary feat.
Eco Barge Clean Seas is a volunteer organisation that does regular trips around the islands and mainland to clean beaches of debris and stop it harming wildlife and going into waterways.
Since it was established in 2009, Eco Barge has removed 253,400 kgs of debris from the Whitsundays. The organisation also rescues and rehabilitates injured sea turtles.
On Saturday, Eco Barge’s founder Libby Edge, its committee and core volunteers celebrated the organisation’s 500th cleaning trip.
“For the celebration, we took our management committee out and the core volunteers who have helped us throughout the last 14 years,” Ms Edge said.
“We went to Mackerel Bay and absolutely filled the barge [with debris]. We collected over 230kg in about one-and-a-half hours of cleaning.
“Then we had a swim at Mantaray Bay and a picnic lunch at Langford Reef.
“It was a full barge, plus time to relax together. It was magical – one of those perfect days.
“To get to our 500th trip is a lot of work and a lot of commitment on the part of everyone involved.”
Ms Edge said ‘absolutely everyone’ had helped them over the past 14 years, with more than 8,000 volunteers having participated in all of the Eco Barge clean-ups.
“From school kids right through to retirees, absolutely everyone has helped us,” she said.
“I want to give a big shout-out to everyone who has volunteered.
“And also to our funding bodies, our partners, and everyone who has donated money in the boxes around town, thank you.
“Everything goes towards cleaning beaches and caring for injured sea turtles.
“And a special shout out to Coca-Cola Australia, who came on board in 2018 when we ran out of core funding and supported us. Without them we really wouldn’t be here”.
To find out more or volunteer visit www.ecobargecleanseas.org.au.
