Key PointsAustin Kim and his mates began to gather trash in 2003. The Korean volunteers, many aged of their 60s, 70s and 80s, collect for cleanups each month.The Metropolis of Ryde in Sydney put in a plaque in Kissing Level Park, recognising their efforts.
After retiring, Austin Kim started assembly together with his Korean mates to go on hikes collectively.
One explicit journey had an enduring affect.
“Whereas strolling within the Blue Mountains, we noticed discarded noodle packets. I felt ashamed after I noticed a packet with writing in Korean, so I picked it up instantly and put it in my pocket,” the 84-year-old instructed SBS Korean.
As he and his 10 mates walked additional, he mentioned they encountered increasingly more trash, which they started choosing up.
This cleanup mission has now been ongoing for 22 years.
Cleansing up their ‘yard’
Kim and his mates are behind FITA (Fraternity in Reality Affiliation), a non-profit organisation whose members collect to choose up trash from parks, waterfronts and downtown areas on the third weekend of each month.
They’ve taken half in UNEP’s since 2006 and likewise take part in Clear Up Australia actions.
In response to the , Australians generate greater than 70 million tonnes of waste per yr.
Kim, who immigrated to Australia in 1977, mentioned, “Australia is my house, and the parks and riverside are just like the yard of my home. I have been doing this exercise steadily with the concept of beginning with small issues to guard the environment.”
Choon-Kil So, 84, one of many organisation’s early members, mentioned, “At first, there have been quite a lot of monetary difficulties. We needed to pay the insurance coverage and put together meals for volunteers ourselves. So, volunteers pooled cash collectively for our actions. However fortunately the federal government helped us later, and we’ve been in a position to proceed this motion for greater than 20 years.”
On Saturday, 20 April, round 40 volunteers gathered to gather trash at Kokoda Memorial Park in Harmony West, Sydney.
FITA volunteers gather trash round Kokoda Memorial Park. Credit score: SBS Korean
In response to Kim, round 50 volunteers largely of their 60s, 70s and 80s collect each month, however this quantity swells to greater than 100 folks, together with schoolchildren, for occasions like Clear Up Australia Day in March and UN Clear Up Day in September.
Hyun Ho Park, 76, a coordinator of FITA, mentioned, “A few of the early members who began this motion have handed away. And we’re outdated. We should let the youthful era know the significance of the setting and go on the earth cleanly to them. So, we try to encourage and domesticate younger environmental leaders within the Korean group in Australia.”
From left to proper: Ho Jun Jang, 32, a postdoctoral analysis fellow on the College of Sydney, and Esther Oh, the president of the Australian Korean Affiliation of Sydney & NSW. Credit score: SBS Korean
Ho Jun Jang, 32, a postdoctoral analysis fellow on the College of Sydney, is a daily participant within the cleanups.
Jang got here to Australia as a global pupil in 2010 and is enterprise a PhD in soil science.
“I assumed learning and dealing might resolve all environmental issues, however the actuality was not. I heard about FITA whereas taking a look at what I might contribute, even on a small scale, and I’ve been attending cleanup occasions for the previous few years to follow environmental safety.
“Lately, younger folks have additionally change into extra excited by and actively take part in FITA’s cleanups. I believe it’s a significant motion in our group,” Jang mentioned.
Recognition from the Metropolis of Ryde
In 2021, the Metropolis of Ryde at Kissing Level Park in Putney in honour of their volunteering efforts over the previous twenty years.
The Metropolis of Ryde put in a plaque at Kissing Level Park in honour of the group’s volunteering efforts. Credit score: SBS Korean
Trenton Brown, the present Mayor of the Metropolis of Ryde, collectively introduced the movement to put in the plaque in 2020.
“We recognise it is a very vital contribution they’ve made to our group over greater than 20 years. They’ve introduced this very sustained long-term dedication to the Metropolis of Ryde,” Brown mentioned.
“We need to recognise good residents and glorious behaviour as a result of they supply a management position necessary to our group.”
From left to proper: Trenton Brown, the Mayor and Daniel Han, the deputy Mayor of the Metropolis of Ryde. Credit score: SBS Korean
Esther Oh, the president of the Australian Korean Affiliation of Sydney & NSW, who takes half in FITA cleanups, mentioned, “I am so proud that the Korean group have been serving Australian society for therefore lengthy. I hope extra Korean communities will be a part of forces.”
Daniel Han, the deputy mayor of the Metropolis of Ryde, was stuffed with reward for the volunteers.
“The elders of FITA are uplifting the standing of Koreans in Australian. Similar to Son Heung-min and BTS, they’re doing the Korean group proud,” Han mentioned.
