Students from Rolland Hassall School in Parramatta, Sydney were out in force again in late October for a clean up at Peat Island through the Hawkesbury River Foreshore Program.
The rising high tide enabled the IRBs to get into the mangroves near Peat Island where immediately large quantities of plastic bottles, glass bottles, larger drums and many plastic bags were quickly gathered filling ten full bags. Larger items were also collected by teacher Jim Myers and his 5 students, included five car tyres, polystyrene freezer fabrication, 40 litre drums, domestic rugs, deck chair, soft toys, oyster products and a foam mattress.
With both IRBs fully loaded, the craft drove around to Rob Moxham’s Oyster shed to offload the bulk. The wind had increased dramatically with a rough ride to the shelter of the freeway bridge. Rob Moxham again entertained the students, explaining the oyster industry, and sharing prize oysters, to the delight of the students, but with conditions worsening upstream of the bridge, all of the bagged litter was deposited at the Deerrubben Reserve bins.
The craft then battled upstream to the beach on the western end of Milson Island, with two bags collected mainly plastic bottles. Another site to the north of the beach, containing larger amounts of timber debris, also revealed plenty of plastic bottles. Three more bags collected.
Ocean like conditions, were encountered on the run back to the boat ramp, much to the delight of the students. The IRBs provided fun safe conditions, in extreme conditions.
The balance of the litter was deposited into the bins to end a good day out by these students. Number of bags of litter collected = 15 bags with an approximate weight of 160kg!
Photo: Anthony, sampling the oysters, to the delight of grower Rob Moxham and School Principal Jim Myers.
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