Why have you taken an interest in picking up rubbish at Merri Creek, what motivated you?
It is impossible not to notice how much rubbish collects in and around the creek and over the years I have participated in clean up days but they don’t come around often enough and I guess I just started taking a plastic bag with me on my walks and began picking up a small bag or two on my walks…
Now that I have a bit more time, I take down bigger bags and spend longer cleaning up rubbish. It is very satisfying seeing the before and after — I can get a bit obsessive/compulsive!
Sometimes I get to walk around my area, the circuit between Normanby Avenue and Moreland Road, the swing bridge and up to Bell St sometimes and only have to pick up a small amount of litter. So lovely. However after substantial rain my work starts all over again, so lately there’s been a lot of work to do.
Why is this a passion of yours?
I guess what motivates me to do these clean ups is my love of the natural world.
What is something new you have learnt during isolation?
I am starting to educate myself about the history of Wurundjeri people, the first inhabitants of Melbourne and this area.
If you could offer any advice to people who are struggling at the moment, with isolation or anything else, what would it be?
That’s hard to answer as people’s circumstances are so different but getting out in nature helps me a lot and doing something to benefit your community, not just yourself.
Answering these questions has helped me reflect on things, which is so important. Thank you.
By KATA
Full interview can be found here: https://medium.com/the-isolation-diaries/the-isolation-diaries-part-six-1284cbf80ae
The Coburg Meddler 