Above left: Will Mount was the inspiration for Lucy Mount’s ‘Will Power Challenge’. Above right: Boernardi Langford’s ‘Outback Cleanups Australia’ vehicle can be found scouring remote locations collecting rubbish from our pristine landscapes.
Sustainability and you Story by Poppy Fitzpatrick.
Consciously reducing your environmental footprint can seem like a challenging task, but on the Fleurieu countless opportunities to do better lay at our fingertips. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by the bigger picture, the best thing you can do is something. The most powerful acts can sometimes be the smallest. Say no to plastic Almost everything we consume comes in plastic: vegetables in cling wrap, coffee in disposable cups and deli meat served on shiny polystyrene platters. For the month of January, Lucy Mount decided to live without plastic. After losing her older brother Will in an accident last year, Lucy wanted to honour his strength and community spirit. She created the Will Power Challenge in his memory, which continues the tradition of monthly challenges Will had been completing with his cousin Nick Dugmore. Each month, a new challenge is introduced. A slip-up warrants a ten dollar donation to the RSPCA, or participants can cough up fifty dollars to opt out for the whole month. Beginning with easier swaps like eliminating straws, bringing their own shopping bags or investing in reusable coffee cups, participants have gone above and beyond by taking their own containers when collecting meat at the deli counter, purchasing bamboo toothbrushes and even lining their bins with newspaper. Lucy and the group have discovered just how plastic dependent our world is, but she says that by adopting small changes, other things have become more achievable. ‘Also, it’s much more fun to do it with friends, and much easier to achieve when everyone gets involved and helps each other out!’ Lucy says. 78
Join the Will Power Challenge 2020 group on Facebook. February – Will’s birthday month – is your choice of either cold or two-minute showers. What lies beyond is anyone’s guess! Keeping our landscapes clean Luscious bushlands and infinite white sands are such a normal part of life here on the Fleurieu that we tend to forget just how fragile they are. Born in the outback, but growing up in Sellicks Beach, Boenardi Langford harbours a deep love for both his desert and ocean roots. After nineteen years with the south coast as his backyard, Boenardi has observed rubbish levels rising. While recovering from a work accident, Boenardi began walking the beach picking up rubbish. It was through this that he decided to dedicate his time to removing all the rubbish he can through his self-funded initiative Outback Cleanups Australia. Since February 2019, Boenardi has cleared numerous coastal and outback areas across remote Australia. With his friend Alex Steimo now on board, the pair are working towards getting Outback Cleanups Australia recognised as a legitimate charity organisation with a sustainable business model. They face increasing costs for fuel and vehicle maintenance, along with exorbitant dumping charges but are introducing innovative countermeasures, including a ‘voluntourism’ model, bringing volunteers along for picturesque remote adventures while they assist with clearing rubbish. Support their work through the Outback Cleanups Australia Go Fund Me page and follow their journey at @outbackcleanups on Instagram and Facebook. You can also volunteer your time by regularly clearing a particular area on the Fleurieu through the Adopt A Spot Scheme – your self-designated site becomes your personal area to maintain.
