Warragamba/Silverdale & Surrounds Forum

Norton’s Basin Sparkles after Clean-Up Australia Day

Clean-Up Australia Day, 7th March 2010, 8am – Norton’s Basin. It’s a cloudy still autumn morning and fifteen volunteers (all strangers) wind down the steep and heavily eroded road to beautiful Norton’s Basin. We are armed with bags, gloves, one first aid kit, cold sausages, and heaps of enthusiasm. Two volunteers, Kelly and Kyle from Silverdale, stay in the car park to pick up the piles of rubbish left by drivers. Down in the Basin, the water is running clear after the rain. There are lots of glass beer bottles everywhere. Shattered sharp beer bottle glass lies over all the rocks, smashed by people after finishing a beer. Shoes are therefore essential. Countless cigarette butts, cans, take-away food bags, lolly wrappers and plastic soft drink bottles litter the Basin. Down in the Basin the team fills ten bags. The rain holds off but we all work up a sweat (except the boys who keep jumping in for a swim!!!). It is hard work pulling the filled bags up the steep slope to the car park so we all take turns (and lots of breaks!!). As the morning passes, some of the team stay in the car park and help move filled bags, lounges and half a car for pick up by Penrith Council. After a mini-sausage sizzle, some lamingtons and cold drinks we all re-group in the car park, completely exhausted. Our Clean-Up Australia Day is over and a big first success for Norton’s Basin which is sparking!!!. We have filled 10 recycle bags, 24 rubbish bags and hauled in two lounges, half a car, and pile of dumped general waste. It is an excellent result and the team smiles for a photo. It is on again next year and a group of strangers is now a team committed to cleaning up Norton’s in 2011. Please come along!! A big big thank you to Christine Maude (from the Warragamba & Silverdale Word), Kelly & Kyle Callaghan (from Silverdale), Blake Turner & friends, Matthew Adamson & Nathan Glynn (representing St Dominics School, Kingswood), Wendy & Howard Thompson, Luke Pallister, Beau Pallister, Melissa Jenkins, Joshua & David Griffin, Joshua Bilson, June Bourke, Kara Nascivera, and Sandra Onus. Hey guys thank you and hope to see you in 2011.