The idea is to encourage and empower communities to clean up the parks, bushland, water reserves, and other parts of Australia.

For over 30 years, residents, schools, individuals, communities, and businesses have volunteered in their thousands to clean up and get rid of plastic and glass.

Hamilton’s Clean up Australia Day commenced from 10am at the Brumley Park Playground at Lake Hamilton last Friday.

Rotary environmental group leader, Margaret Moffatt, said it was a great success with up to 50 people who came to help clean up Lake Hamilton as well as cleaning the Friendlies Rec Reserve, whilst Tarrington Lutheran School also cleaned up the Tarrington Rec Reserve last Friday.

“There were people from Mulleraterong who helped us at Lake Hamilton, which was great to see,” she said.

“It was especially great to see them connect with other people on the day.

“With the help from everybody including workers from the Southern Grampians Shire we had the whole of Lake Hamilton tidied up in just two hours which was an excellent effort.

“Once the clean up was completed, there was a barbeque which allowed people to make new connections with each other.”