Seven-year-old Sarah cleans up

Earlier this month, as part of Clean Up Australia day, young Sarah Hargrave took to the street to help make a difference.

The determined seven-year-old decided to clean up Millennium Way in Cowes, near where her grandparents live.

Alongside her grandmother Michele, armed with gloves and a collection bag, Sarah headed out for the clean-up.

“Sarah collected one large bag full of rubbish, it was easily five kilos, and a box of paper,” said Michele.

“She told me she would like people to stop rubbishing Australia and hurting our wildlife.”

Sarah’s haul from Millennium Way included plastic water bottles, glass beer bottles, paper, cardboard, food containers, builders’ foam, sheet plastic, flavoured milk containers and cigarette packets.

Michele said she was very proud of her granddaughter’s effort and thought her dedication to cleaning up the local area deserved recognition.

The clean-up was not a one-off, with Sarah now regularly out collecting rubbish.

“Sadly the rubbish is all back,” said Michele.

“Sarah said to me, it’s such a beautiful place and lazy people drop their rubbish.”

Michele is hoping people will be inspired by her granddaughter’s efforts and do more to keep the local area clean.

“We used to have signs that said, “Don’t rubbish Australia” and “Keep Australia beautiful”, but I haven’t seen them around for a long time.”