Aust High Commission staff, students take part in global cleanup campaign

 THE Australian High Commission has partnered with Tokarara Secondary School in the National Capital District as part of the global “Clean up the World 2013” campaign.

Australian High Commissioner Deborah Stokes and commission staff joined more than 700 students and their teachers to conduct clean-up activities around the school.

The commission also presented the school with 10 mobile garbage bins, rakes, garden hoses and a supply of garbage bags and gloves for the clean-up.

Stokes highlighted the significance of the campaign’s theme “Our Place. Our Planet. Our Responsibility”, which aimed to inspire and empower global communities and individuals to clean up, fix up and conserve their surrounding environment.

“Keeping our community clean and litter free is everyone’s responsibility.  On this occasion, we hope to encourage students to continue to be conscious of how they dispose of their rubbish; to understand the importance of respecting and maintaining public property; and to advocate for a ‘clean’ change in our communities,” Stokes said.

The campaign takes place in local communities throughout the world and involves an estimated 35 million volunteers from 130 countries annually.