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/
Super opportunity for us all to make a difference, the campaign is a great initiative - get involved !
There is an article in a surfing magazine that I once read that professed if every surfer picked up ten pieces of litter very time they were at the beach there would be no litter left...definitely something to think about....
Great idea to generate some positive publicity. I would be very keen to take part as a member of WAKSA to show other beach users that we are being proactive in looking after our beaches.
I will probably join in somewhere regardless, but it would be great if there was something like a WAKSA banner or something. Melville Beach would be a great place for this methinks.
bigmark said
what if its windy
EASY AS
Pick the litter up early b4 the wind comes in then kite for your life .
We will get behind it
Also a great way to look in the bushes for the missing SUP and paddle from St Kilda West beach
Elwood
the clean bus
WAKSA will certainly be pushing this plan but it is not just members that can work on raising the PR for kiters in the public eye.
Any individual kiters or groups of mates can allow a bit of extra time at their local or day kiting spot to do their bit for Clean Up Australia. Just wear your favourite kite shirt and your harness while you are at it to give us the full cred of being a wonderful group of citizens 
.
And Yes Melville certainly is a prime candidate for action. The residents will be all smiles out their big glass windows at the sight.
To raise clean kite awareness, I suggest you pick up rubbish with your harness on and safety suicide to the garbage bag.
doing this at st kilda is a great idea, however we'll have to raid every coles and safeway within a 50km radius to find enough giant black plastic bags to fit all the rubbish in. seriously that whole goddam beach is MADE of rubbish. victorian beaches must be the filthiest in australia by a long shot.
Maybe we'll find the GPS and Skimboard that I lost at St Kilda 2 weeks ago.
Seriously good idea. Not sure if cleaning up the garbage on the beach will get the stench out of the water, especially towards the slips in the kiddy pool. I get a horrible taste in my mouth every time I tank a trick there. What IS in that stormwater runoff? And why am I growing a second head out my neck?
. 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 [}:)]
Guess I'll keep a look out for a messy spot.
Plenty at Woodman Point... mostly from commercial and rec fishing but some from kiters (drink bottles etc)
Definitely a top way for kiters to show some initiative and get some credits with the wider community.
Joe and I are organising the local kiters of Mackay to do our bit for the day aswell. We are making a social day out of it and a bit of fun and good times. We rock up at the beach, do our thing cleaning up then it's straight into our costumes and we are going to have a wicked session on the water in dress up. Then after the sess, kick back on the beach with some drinkies. I love any excuse to dress up.
You are welcome to steal our idea and have some fun at your local too.
Well done Mel and the guys from Mackay - the LBD, heels and the beach - let me ponder that.
Feedback has been great and the Clean Up Australia Day Registration process is super easy.
This fits with the Positive Contribution thread so on March 1, get behing CUAD to properly add something back to the general beach environment we all use - www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44711
By way of an update - KBV are in the process of organising or adding to the activities of Clean Up Australia Day on the main Victorian Kiting Beaches. I understand KBV will be posting progress of their activities.
I wonder what AKSA are doing about this most important and effective issue - they were formally given the idea in June 2008 so as a National initiative I would have expected them to get behind the idea and run with it. Oh I forgot they are too busy spending our funds on useless audits and other useless stuff.
And this issue would have cost them nothing yet given huge leverage with local authorities and the communities among whom we kite.
It's not too late?? Sunday 1st March is the Day!!
I was planning on being there for this but sand and crutches/wheelchairs don't work haha. Sorry Robr, hope to be there next year.
I agree Steve for those of us who are regular beach goers and take pride in our beaches everyday is a Clean Up Australia Day - and it does become infectious with many compliments [and assistance] from other beach goers when one undertakes such a task.
While a reminder from AKSA about the CUAD may not be core business if AKSA did actively support the program the benefits of that support may flow to local groups lobbying for retaining access etc. Certainly it is not essential for AKSA to be involved but is at least a positive no cost initiative that AKSA could own and use to its ongoing advantage with authorities.
A reminder is all that is required from AKSA. In this same vein AKSA could possibly run an annual calendar of "events" on their website to alert the States and all kiters as to the general program/AKSA Committee work to. This process costs nothing but highlights that AKSA is on top of the game rather than playing catch up and gives the States and all kiters some idea that AKSA is adding real value.
At the risk of boring those that consider these matters superfluous please indulge me and items on such a list published on the AKSA Website may include:
January
- Get your pre-quals in for National [Assuming held at Easter regularly]
- AKSA First Quarter Membership Returns Due with Funds
February
-Don't forget to mobilize you local Clean Up Australia Day teams and target beaches
March
-Organise you end of Season Function [Assume April Season End]
April
-Marshal support for the next seasons State Committee Members expected to take over/continue from around July onward
-AKSA Second Quarter Membership Returns Due with Funds
May
- Annual AKSA/State Planning One Day Conference - Held Sydney [as centre of all States attending and no kiting] to align States and AKSA's strategic direction and National Safety Forum
June
- Financial Year end for some States [AGM to be held within 30 days]
July
-State AGMs and Annual Returns to State Association Registers
-AKSA Third Quarter Membership Returns Due with Funds
August
-New State Committees to send details to AKSA
-AKSA Orders Tags based on previous years numbers
-AKSA Commences Membership Reminder program to States
-Commence negotiations for insurance cover for the forthcoming season.
September
- AKSA distributes Tags
- AKSA End of Financial Year
October
-AKSA Forth Quarter Membership Returns Due with Funds
- AKSA AGM
- AKSA publishes Year End Financials and Membership Reports for year ended September
November
-AKSA publish Insurance Cover Details including Certificate of Currency
- AKSA Annual Return to Office of Fair Trading [and publish on Website]
-AKSA Committee Details updated from October AGM on Website
December
-???
With respect to government funding AKSA will not only require audited accounts but a significant governance environment that includes such things as the Annual Calendar above. Check the link if you want the full picture of requirements. http://www.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/152501/ASC_Governance_Principles_2007.pdf
Hey Pinnaroo Kiters,
I registered Australian Kiteboarding to clean up Pinnaroo Point and car park about a week ago and am waiting for the bags and bits and pieces to show up in the mail.
We'd love to have some help down here at the beach we all know and love, so how about pitching in and giving back a little to the community we love.
I think the times I registered were 10am until 1pm
Good winds,
I'm not a local at st kilda but up our end of the bay the beaches are pretty clean but from time to time you do find glass and those little plastic bags containing doggy pooops so might have a word to the guy's bout havin our own and maybe a bbq after at gnotuc car park
Great work Mr Worm - a number of other kite schools have expressed interst in covering Brighton, StKilda and Carrum/Aspendate.
Anyone esle taking the CUAD challenge? Remember the spinoffs with the locals and authorities - not that these points should be the drivers - are immeasurable. And it is your beach........give something back.
The latest update on CUAD progress in Victoria - we have four major kiting beaches covered - and it's not to late for your chance to give something back to the beaches you use!
Clean Up Australia Day is on this Sunday 1st March 2009 and a number of KBV Members or Kiting Industry Participants have organized to host or assist at various beaches in Victoria.
The following beaches are being mobilized with the assistance of KBV and or local kiters.
Altona Beach - Sant Ram mob: 0416 030 851 email: santram99@gmail.com - 10.00am to 12 noon followed by BBQ
Brighton Beach - Matthew Jones - Kiteboard Academy - Site the Beach at Beach & Park St Brighton - 11.30am to 1.00pm mob: 0431 074 522
email: mattkiteboarding@hotmail.com
Inverloch Beach - Jim Berry - Local Kiter 0421 024 217 9.00am to 10.30am at the Esplanade near the Angling Club. jimberry@jimberry.org
StKilda West Beach - Chris Sal - Kite Republic - http://events.cleanup.org.au/?St+Kilda+West+BeachChris Sal - 9.00am to 10.30am followed by BBQ.
Any other kiters who want to add a beach please let me know and I will add an urgent advice to our KBV Contacts.
