As beach users kiters have the opportunity under the Clean Up Australia Day [CUAD] campaign to be actively engaged in improving the beach environment which we all freely use.
In past years individual kiter groups [WA and in Vic at StKilda - Kite Republic] have taken the opportunity to mobilize local kiters and the general public by registering to lead a local beach campaign under the CUAD banner.
Given the use [and sometimes abuse] kiters have of our beaches nationwide I suggest that all local kiting groups undertake a CUAD initiative. If combined with a breakfast sausage sizzle, funded say by the local kiting schools [as occurred in Vic last year] or the state kiting association, [other costs of bags, gloves etc are covered by the CUAD organizers], major benefits can arise.
The outcomes of such an initiative are a cleaner beach, meeting other like minded kiters willing to give something back to the beaches they use, kiters meeting like minded locals who are keen to have a clean beach, improved relationships with the local authorities such as the council and local parks authority along with non-kiter beach users, improving the pride and "ownership" of your local clean beach and most importantly being seen to be giving something back to the community area where so much pleasure is derived at no cost.
I will be requesting KBV undertake a statewide initiative but given that Clean Up Australia Day is on Sunday March 1st we have less than four weeks to mobilize kiters on a national basis and really make a difference. Seabreeze may care to spread this message beyond kiters and include other beach user sports such as windsurfing.
Please get behind what must be a very tangible opportunity for kiters to add value back to the communities they actively use and contact your local state kiting association seeking their support. For more Clean Up Australia Day information and registration the link to the home page and registration process is
www.cleanup.org.au/
.
. A great reason to abuse anyone who doesn't clean up after their dog. There may also be a few dead cats in the drain, but they're probably better off there [}:)]
