Migrant communities participate in Clean Up Australia Day

Across NSW, migrant communities enthusiastically participated in this year's Clean-Up Australia Day on Sunday 2 March 2008.

In Sydney's West, over 30 volunteers from the Lebanese Moslem Association (LMA)met at Lakemba Mosque and spent the day cleaning specific locations around the local area. Sites marked for cleaning included Wangee Rd, Lakemba St, Haldon St and Lakemba Train Station. The day was an overwhelming success. A BBQ for all participants who took part was a great way to relax after a hard day’s work.

"The day showcased the community spirit that exists within the local area and we were ecstatic to be apart of such a great initiative with over 50 bags of rubbish being collected on the day” said LMA president Tom Zreika. The LMA is now looking forward to lending a hand at next year’s event.

In the North West, members of the newly established Australian Asian Association of Bennelong (AAAB) spent time cleaning BBQ stoves and tables at a park in Eastwood (pictured above). Eastwood has become home to an increasing number of Chinese, Korean and other Asian Australians in recent years.

AAAB founding member Justin Li said "Unlike other countries, Australia does not have many paid street cleaners. It is therefore important for volunteers to help maintain a clean environment.”

Established on 25 January 2008, AAAB is a new non-profit organisation set up to represent the Asian community in Eastwood, Denistone, Marsfield, Epping, Carlingford, Macquarie Park, and Ryde.

It is pleasing to observe that more and more migrant communities are participating in Clean Up Australia Day each year as an annual tradition.