Australia – INC Giving Project

Yellow and white rectangles were laid neatly on the ground, one row above the other. As odd as it seemed, this clearly wasn’t random rubbish strewn across the ground. Something was happening here. There was a plan. A closer look revealed that these were actually rubbish bags that had been carefully laid out. Considering this all happened on Clean Up Australia Day, it made perfect sense.

Every year on the first Sunday of March, Clean Up Australia Day is held throughout the entire country. It’s an effort that was started in 1989 after Ian Kiernan noticed heavy pollution and trash in the various waterways that he passed through during a yacht race. He was moved to action and as soon as he returned, aimed to clean up the waterways, starting at Sydney Harbor in his home country. Fast-forward almost 30 years later, with over 7,253 sites and over 587,000 volunteers nation-wide, the Clean Up Australia Day effort continues to inspire others to take action.

One such group are the volunteers of the INC Giving Project from the various Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) local congregations across Australia. They were the ones responsible for the yellow and white rubbish bags on the ground, which they later filled to capacity with as much rubbish they could find. The broad reach of the Church Of Christ, along with the versatility of the INC Giving Project, made these volunteers well suited for an effort like Clean Up Australia Day. This was in full display as men and women, young and old, came together to clean up Australia’s parks, waterways and public spaces.

“…gain a deeper understanding of what volunteering is truly rooted in.”

These sorts of efforts benefit communities in so many ways. The obvious benefit of course is the environmental impact. Beyond this though is the improvement of societal health, which we see any time multiple communities are united by one common goal. It gives many the opportunities to meet and interact with people from outside of their own neighborhoods and social circles, and ideally, gain a deeper understanding of what volunteering is truly rooted in.

This is the ultimate goal of the INC Giving Volunteers; to pass along the message of kindness for the community and care for the environment, and above all the message of God’s teachings- not only through words but through the actual work and labor that is put in to volunteering.

“…feel free to grab a bag and jump right in…”

So the next time you see yellow and white rubbish bags that are laid out neatly on the ground, don’t worry. No need to call a clean up crew, because chances are the crew is already there; and since you are already there staring at a neat row of bags, feel free to grab a bag and jump right in and join the INC Giving Volunteers on their latest effort to do good.

“…join the INC Giving Volunteers on their latest effort to do good.”

July 31st, 2016 was Australia’s National Tree Day and members of the Church Of Christ from the Local Congregation of Brimbank gathered in Public Parkland in Sydenham Park, Victoria to help the Brimbank Council plant 1500 seedlings.

The initiative, which started in 1996, is the country’s largest community tree-planting and nature care event. Its aim is to encourage all Australians to do something positive for their local environment by planting and caring for native trees and shrubs. Simon Heyes, a land management officer with the Brimbank Council, talked about the need to revegetate and increase tree cover across Australia.

“A lot of the landscape, particularly around this part of Melbourne, has been heavily cleared so we use this as an opportunity to try and reverse some of that land clearing that happened in the 19th century.” Simon Heyes, Land Management Officer.

Concern for the local environment is something that the members of the Church Of Christ of the Brimbank congregation have long shared with the local council.

“I think it started way before the INCGiving initiative. We’ve been having tree planting days before I even started with the Brimbank congregation. We have an obligation to God to share our faith, but we also have an obligation to protect what gifts God has given us, and one of that is the environment,” said Michael Velasquez.

July 31st 2016 also marked the start of a countdown to a historic milestone for the Church of Christ in Australia. In seven days the Church would be celebrating 40 years in the land down under. For the many of the members of the Church Of Christ, it was a time to think back to how the Church arrived in the country and to be thankful for how far it’s come. And for a large crowd standing on a sunny hillside in Sydenham Park, it was also a time to look ahead and plant for the future.

The symbolism in caring for seedlings (young plants) is a theme that was clear for many INCGiving Volunteers. Parents, especially, took this day as a chance to teach their children about the importance of growing more than just trees.

“Apart from planting trees and trying to help them understand the importance of helping out with community activities, it’s also a way of showing them that we’re always attending church activities. It’s very important that in their young age they start to understand that we hold these church activities and that we always try to attend.” explained by Ron Talicuran, who had brought along his 4-year-old son, Ryder and 2-year-old daughter, Mya.

“I am actually quite proud that they chose to be involved in something like this…because it shows that we care.” – Ella San Jose

As one of the many youth in attendance with their parents, it’s evident that this important lesson is clearly one that has been, and will continue to be, passed on to the next generation. Ensuring that for many years to come, there will always be trees in the Parklands around the Brimbank Congregation, and many young hands to help care for them.

Contributed by: Anna Katrina Aragon, Brimbank, Australia

Tag: Australia

Planting For Our Future