Take 3 initiative to clean up Port Stephens waterways Nelson Bay (Tomaree Peninsula areas) by News Of The Area - Modern Media - May 16, 2017 The Take 3 initiative has now targeted more than 170,000 school students.Pictured at a recent event are Port Stephens Council’s Nicholas Jones, Medowie Public School 2017 Captains and Vice Captains, Kamiah Mudge, Roshan Francke, Oliver McLean and Lilly Gorham, Co-founders of Take 3, Roberta Dixon-Valk and Amanda Marechal, Hunter Councils’ Michael Neville pictured with World Champion Skaters Sam Sutton and Poppy Starr Olsen. A recent CSIRO study estimates more than 150 million pieces of rubbish litter Australia’s sand and shores. Modern Media: Advertise with News Of The Area and you get your ad in 1) in Print, 2) on the News Website (like this ad), and 3) on our Social Media news site. A much more efficient way to advertise. Reach a HUGE audience for a LOW price TODAY! Call us on 02 4983 2134. Or media@newsofthearea.com.au Or CLICK FOR ADVERT QUOTE The most common item was plastic following a rapid growth in global plastic production. This has a disastrous effect on some 600 marine species who then consume what researchers term as “plastic food”. Port Stephens residents are very proud of the natural beauty of our beautiful Blue Water Wonderland and naturally residents get upset when they see their waterways polluted. A great initiative for Port Stephens residents to embrace could be the Take 3 program. Whenever you’re at a beach, waterway or anywhere in the great outdoors, simply take three pieces of rubbish away with you and know that you’ve made a huge difference to the environment around you. Join together with friends to “Take 3”, making it a mindful moment of your daily or weekly routine and you’ll create a new habit that’s good for both you, your environment and the planet. “We are proud to have a group of young ambassadors to promote our ‘Pick it up, Snap it and Share it’ campaign,” Amanda Marechal, co- founder of Take 3, told Bay News Of The Area. “We have now targeted more than 170,000 students with our initiative; three pieces of rubbish at a time we are changing the world,” Ms Marechal said. “Take 3 for the Sea”, is a program that encourages people to take a picture of the rubbish they have collected , upload it to Instagram or Facebook using the #Take3fortheSea and logging the location which is then used as data to track the hot spot areas for rubbish. The organisation can then record the number of items that are being removed and measure the tangible difference that is being made as a collective. Take 3 was born in 2009 when surfing enthusiast Amanda Marechal and Marine Ecologist Roberta Dixon-Valk developed a simple idea to tackle the ever growing problem of marine debris. Joining forces with environmentalist Tim Silverwood, the team developed a plan and officially registered Take 3 in mid- 2010. The organisation has programs targeting pre-schoolers through to high school students, as well as working alongside Surf Life Saving Clubs across Australia. By Jewell DRURY
