Cairns Airport and Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation co-host Clean Up Redden Island event
Far North families, Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation, and Cairns Airport collected nearly 100kg of rubbish from Redden Island, reinforcing their commitment to a cleaner, healthier region.
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Far North families and friends came together to volunteer their time and efforts, successfully collecting 96 kg of rubbish with the help of over 40 dedicated volunteers, all in the spirit of keeping the region clean and healthy.
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation and the Cairns Airport co-hosted a major clean-up of Redden Island, at Machans Beach on Saturday morning, March 1.
Cairns Airport Environment Manager Lucy Friend and Dawul Wuru ranger Jayvan Singleton helped coordinate the waste collection as part of their ongoing commitment to protecting and caring for the local environment and culture.
Mr Singleton said these clean-ups go beyond waste collection, they are about nurturing and safeguarding the land.
“We’re committed to looking after our country,” he said.
“The significance of that holds cultural importance for the community.”
As a passionate environmental advocate, Mr Singleton said the partnership with Cairns Airport plays an important role in facilities this.
“Our ancestors are from these areas and it’s about maintaining the connection to our land, our environment, and the wildlife which thrives here,” he said.
The intention of these clean-up events are to remove waste, but are also about helping to preserve the region’s natural beauty.
“We frequently collect items like plastic, styrofoam, bottles, and syringes – a stark reminder of the pollution that affects the environment,” Mr Singleton said.
Organisers said the clean-ups provide a unique opportunity for the local community to get involved and make a difference, with volunteer support amplifying the impact as the group works together to clear large areas.
“We love seeing volunteers join us,” Mr Singleton said.
He said there is a sense of pride and camaraderie with those who turned up to help.
“It’s great to meet new people and share this experience, plus, it’s special to have others help us protect the land our ancestors lived on,” Mr Singleton said.
For the Dawul Wuru Aboriginal team, these clean-ups are about more than just the environment – they are a way of showing respect for the land and its cultural significance.
Their corporation name meaning “three rivers,” was established to help protect these vital resources.
“Being able to keep our country healthy and clean is part of the respect we show for our ancestors and our future generations. It’s a cycle of care,” Mr Singleton said.
The 32 year old said he has a growing connection to the area through his responsibility as a ranger.
“We’re a good team, working hard, but we can always do more,” he said.
“We do a lot of diving on the reef but seeing the damage caused by waste is hard.”
Saturday’s clean-up initiative is just one of the four events the corporation plans to organise this year as part of their partnership with the airport.
As part of their ongoing commitment, Mr Singleton said the team will continue these clean-up efforts for years to come with the next event tentatively planned to align with World Ocean Day in June.
As part of the partnership both Cairns Airport and the Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation help maintain the grounds, ensuring the area remains clean for both locals and visitors.
“We take pride in the work we do, and it feels good to know what we’re doing is making a difference. We also feel very supported by Cairns Airport, and we appreciate the respect they show us and our land,” Mr Singleton said.
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Originally published as Cairns Airport and Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation co-host Clean Up Redden Island event
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