Lorne locals take action on trash

A GROUP of determined Lorne residents conducting monthly beach cleans is leading the way on the Surf Coast to keep the Great Ocean Road’s biggest attractions in pristine shape.

The Lorne Beach Patrol is less than a year old, but its work in keeping the coastal town’s main beach free of plastic and rubbish is setting the example for community action.

Lorne resident David McCormack formed and organised the group after a friend living in Albert Park suggested the idea.

After being pushed back several months due to COVID-19, the Lorne Beach Patrol was formed following Clean Up Australia Day in early March and has been holding meetings on the first Sunday of each month ever since.

According to Mr McCormack, the response from local businesses and residents of all ages was tremendous from the outset.

Businesses such as Live Wire Park, The Branding Company, HAH cafe, Lorne Central and the Aquatic Club jumped on board to support the patrol group. Live Wire even donated green shirts to help the group stand out to the public.

“Because we are ourselves supporting local business, local business is in turn supporting us,” Mr McCormack said.

“At Live Wire Park, Chris and Luke (Nisbet) have been super generous in supplying three-and-a-half dozen t-shirts for the group. I only have two left, so I think we’ll need to do another run of shirts soon.

“We are also getting the young ones involved. At our last clean-up we had a couple of participants bring their grandchildren along.

“It’s great to see everyone getting involved and that mindset just seems to keep growing.”

Mr McCormack said there are beach cleaning groups throughout the Surf Coast in areas and towns such as Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Wye River, Kennett River stretching all the way down to Warrnambool.

He hopes other popular towns such as Torquay and Jan Juc can follow in their footsteps.

“The social aspect of the group provides the Lorne Beach Patrol with its best quality. People will pair up with someone they don’t know, pick up rubbish for an hour-and-a-half and talk the whole time, and we all have a coffee at the end.

“From that point-of-view, it’s great to get to know people from all over town and that’s a real positive out of all of it. We all share a common interest in getting things done.”

If you are interested in joining the Lorne Beach Patrol for one of its monthly beach cleans, the group meets in front of the HAH cafe on the first Sunday of each month at 8.30am. Equipment is supplied.