Rip Curl helps on Planet Day

ANOTHER Torquay-based surfing company has recently got their hands dirty for the environment, with Rip Curl staff taking part in Planet Day.

The annual event sees every crew member from Rip Curl Torquay asked to leave his or her desk for the day, put down the phone and pick up the tools to help keep the local environment healthy and rejuvenated.

Each year the company’s large number of staff split into groups and head to different parts of the Surf Coast, where they work with the council and environmental action groups.

“Here at Rip Curl we really place an emphasis on the importance of Planet Day,” Rip Curl general manager of Australia and New Zealand Nichol Wylie said.

“Getting crew out into nature and working with the community and environment is invaluable. It’s epic to see the positive impact that people can make when they get out and work together for a common goal, and to then see that hard work flourish over the years.

“Everyone who works at Rip Curl here in Torquay gets the huge benefit of enjoying what the Surf Coast has to offer, and we want to do everything we can to keep the community, and the coast, in good condition.”

Planet Day 2017 saw record numbers, with one group planting more than 950 trees on the old tip by the bridge on The Esplanade, and another group filling more than 27 large bags worth of weeds in a single day.

The event was run in conjunction with the Surf Coast Shire, the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and environmental groups SANE, Torquay Coast Action and Jan Juc Coast Action.

It followed the Quiksilver Foundation’s work with Torquay Landcare along Spring Creek earlier this month.