Every
week, women of all ages and more than seven different nationalities gather at the
North Coastal Women’s Shed to support each other and engage in a range of
shared activities. The Shed was launched in April of this year, and aims to foster
good mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing amongst women in the
community.
Ja-On
Park moved to Perth from her native Korea 14 years ago, and eventually started
a family. She recognised the need for greater community connection and support
for women in her Northern suburb of Clarkson – based on the popular men’s shed
movement. Ja-On started the North Coastal Women’s Shed to bring women together
with a range of activities, including: crafting, providing after school
tutoring to families who may not be able to pay for private help, and overseeing the maintenance and
planting of the Yanchep Community Garden.
When
Ja-On noticed litter around the garden and surrounding public areas, she
decided to take action. The Shed then became involved in Keep Australia
Beautiful WA’s Adopt-a-Spot program to start cleaning up rubbish at sites in
Clarkson – especially at parks so children don’t have to play in unhygienic
environments.
The
Adopt-a-Spot program encourages volunteers – groups, individuals, schools and
businesses – to undertake clean-ups at designated sites, such as parks, bush
trails, roadsides and beaches. By adopting a spot, like the North Coastal
Women’s Shed has done, the environment gets preserved and there is an increased
awareness among participants of the effects of littering.
When
Shed member Madeleine is picking up rubbish at her grandchildren’s playground,
she has people come up and thank her for the work she is doing, and others have
also joined in. By participating in cleaning up litter, Madeline believes she
is being a role-model for good behaviour and inspiring others to help.
Shed
member Moira Young, after living overseas for many years, loves Perth and hopes
others know how lucky they are to live in a beautiful country such as
Australia. She hates seeing litter around her neighbourhood and has a message
for litterers, “If you don’t throw rubbish in your own backyard, then you
shouldn’t litter in public places.”
To
find out more information about how to adopt your favourite spot and get free
resources to help keep it litter-free, visit www.kabc.wa.gov.au or call 6467
5339. To learn more about The North Coastal Women’s Shed, visit
www.ncws.org.au.
