Family beach clean to change realities through action in Torquay

A GEELONG resident is doing his best to raise awareness of pollution throughout the region, and he is taking that message with him to Torquay this Saturday in what will be the first of many community cleans.

Giacomo Mandica, the owner of food delivery store Il Bolognese in Batesford, has always had a passion for food and nature, which inspired him to organise the Family Beach Clean Up this weekend.

“If you want to change your reality, you must create a new one,” Mr Mandica said.

“If you want to create a new reality, it has to be done through thoughts and your mindset. The reality we face is one where food consumption needs to be improved and this clean may be able to help that.”

Mr Mandica says given his professional experience in the hospitality and food industry, residents need to be more aware of the way food is consumed.

Plastics and other materials continue to find their way into local waters and nature, but according to Mr Mandica, the problem is not necessarily the pollution itself.

The causes of how the pollution is produced is what the Italian-born businessman will aim to teach during his clean-up events including Saturday’s one, which has been sponsored by the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority with equipment and suitable locations.|

“I hope that through this project people will see how much dirtiness is still stuck among rocks, underneath sand and in bushes,” Mr Mandica said.

“It will help raise consciousness and hopefully make people think twice before buying food from the grocery store and ask questions like ‘should I buy this food from this company that uses 100 per cent plastic or not?’.”

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, whether it be someone just learning to walk or someone in their 80s.

Mr Mandica said the event was perfect for people that felt attracted to keeping the area clean, which he knows is a personal choice.

“The biggest attraction for an event like this is that you can change your reality with action, and this event is capable of making real change.

“This area of Torquay alone is something that connects people and there is nothing complicated about it. People should convince themselves that caring for the area is a good thing and it will only benefit the world.”

This Saturday’s family clean-up will take place at 9am where residents will meet Giacomo at the playground near Yellow Bluff on the Esplanade where bags, sticks and gloves will be provided on the day.

The event is being sponsored by local businesses such as mental health service Reflect @ Health, Organic Mojo and Officeworks.