What started as an initiative to help clean up K’gari (Fraser Island), soon turned into a campaign to help LifeFlight continue saving lives in the Fraser Coast region, thanks an almost $20,000 dollar donation from a local tourism operator.
“There’s a group that clean up the beach and surrounds on Fraser Island, and they have a thank-you barbeque event every year, that we host at the campgrounds, and it all started then actually,” said Manager of Cathedrals on Fraser, Michelle Worcester.
“They were saying, we’re having this event but we don’t want to be generating more rubbish and there’s nowhere on the island you can recycle.”
In 2019, the idea was born to create recycling collection points around the campgrounds for guests and the community to use.
Campground managers Jack and Michelle Worcester also decided that any recyclable cans and bottles eligible for a 10-cent refund, under the Queensland Government’s Containers for Change scheme would be converted to cash, then donated to LifeFlight Australia.
“LifeFlight was the obvious choice for the funds to go to,” she said.
“That’s our lifeline on the island, if it’s high-tide, often it’s only the helicopter that can get to us when there’s an emergency.”
Fast forward three years and approximately 180,000 cans and bottles later, Cathedrals on Fraser, along with the help of the community, has raised a total of $18,000 for LifeFlight.
The most recent donation was a $13,000 cheque made out to LifeFlight, just a few months ago, to help maintain the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter service provided across Queensland.
The Worcester family have seen first-hand the amazing work the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crews do and say it’s why they chose to give back to the vital service.
“We have a helipad at the campgrounds, which is used about once or twice a year,” Michelle said.
“We’re very isolated here, so knowing that if there is an emergency, we know we can call triple zero and the helicopter will be here, and that gives us a lot of peace of mind and for our guests as well.”
“So, we’re just saving the environment and helping saving lives as well.”
“There’s a lot of money in those cans that otherwise would’ve just gone to land fill,” she said.
“We are really grateful to have received such a generous donation from Cathedrals on Fraser and the community on K’gari, through the Containers for Change initiative,” said LifeFlight Community Engagement and Activities Coordinator Aleisha Woolacott.
“Our RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crews often respond to emergencies on K’gari each year, from snake bites to heart attacks and even boaties in distress.”
“So, to have their support to help the service to continue to save lives is really vital and I want to thank all of them for their generosity,” she said.
Fraser Island Logistics, who transport fuel, gas & general supplies to Fraser Island, also jumped on board with the community initiative.
Completely free of charge, the Hervey Bay-based business transported bags full of 10-cent refundable bottles and cans from the campgrounds to a container refund collection point in Hervey Bay, several hours away.
The managers of Cathedrals on Fraser are already collecting more bottles and cans and are committed to continuing to fundraise for LifeFlight.
“I hope it inspires other people to do the same thing, because otherwise, that rubbish will just go into landfill.”
