Pride of Australia Medal: Pair’s clean image recognised

CONSERVING the environment is a message Greg Bygraves is ensuring his son Jaycobb knows a lot about.

Greg and Jaycobb Bygraves of Bridgewater, have been removing rubbish from the banks of the Jordan River for close to a year and have been nominated together in the Environment Category for the Pride of Australia.

CONSERVING the environment is a message Greg Bygraves is ensuring his son Jaycobb knows a lot about.

Mr Bygraves and his 11-year-old son have helped significantly improve the condition of the banks of the Jordan River at Bridgewater through their landscaping and litter collection scheme.

The pair came up with the idea six years ago and Mr Bygraves said his son was always keen to help out.

“He’s on my case all the time to go down there,” he said. “I think I’ve used five whipper snippers and probably three pairs of long-handled cutters doing all the branches and the big prickles. It’s a beautiful spot.”

The pair have helped preserve the area that is now a frequent hub for recreational activities and fishing.

Mr Bygraves had to overcome personal adversity during the project, with vandals attacking his prized bulbs at his house several times when he was out maintaining the area.

“It just takes it clean out of you,” he said of the vandalism. “They’ve taken probably 8500 bulbs worth about $40,000.”

They also have to make do with limited supplies and no council assistance and have approached local businesses for equipment donations. For their efforts, Mr Bygraves and his son have been nominated for a Pride of Australia Medal in the Environment category.

“I’m absolutely stoked,” he said.

Nominate an unsung hero here.