Enviro tips for towns
Martin Chandler handing out a showbag to Paraburdoo T-Ball members
The Tom Price Rio Tinto Environment team recently volunteered their time to raise both community awareness of the local environment, and some much needed dollars to stop the cane toad march into Western Australia with activities in Tom Price and Paraburdoo.
A stall was held in the atrium outside the Tom Price supermarket for National Tree Day in July.
The volunteers handed out brochures on environmental issues, and gave away free environmental showbags including a native plant, Sturt desert pea seeds and books on Australian flora and mammals.
A similar day was also held in Paraburdoo, with a stall outside the local shopping centre one Saturday morning.
Greater Paraburdoo Mine Operations manager Ben Van Roon helped run the stall and cook the sausage sizzle.
"There was a great vibe around the stall on the day. Most members of our community care about the environment, want to know more about it and want to help conserve it," Ben said.
"We lured people in with sausages and free plants, and reminded them about all the ways they can help the environment around the home – by having a waterwise garden, saving energy, keeping pets away from native animals – the multitude of small things which collectively make a big difference."
The sausage sizzles in both towns raised $380 for the Stop the Toad Foundation and its campaign to stem the spread of cane toads from the Northern Territory to the Kimberley.
Over 200 showbags were handed out in total, including 250 books and native plants.
