Key Points
- Austin Kim and his friends started to collect trash in 2003.
- The Korean volunteers, many aged in their 60s, 70s and 80s, gather for cleanups every month.
- The City of Ryde in Sydney installed a plaque in Kissing Point Park, recognising their efforts.
This cleanup mission has now been ongoing for 22 years.
Cleaning up their ‘backyard’
On Saturday, 20 April, around 40 volunteers gathered to collect trash at Kokoda Memorial Park in Concord West, Sydney.
FITA volunteers collect trash around Kokoda Memorial Park. Credit: SBS Korean
According to Kim, around 50 volunteers mostly in their 60s, 70s and 80s gather every month, but this number swells to more than 100 people, including schoolchildren, for events like Clean Up Australia Day in March and UN Clean Up Day in September.
Hyun Ho Park, 76, a coordinator of FITA, said, “Some of the early members who started this movement have passed away. And we are old. We must let the younger generation know the importance of the environment and pass on the earth cleanly to them. So, we are trying to encourage and cultivate young environmental leaders in the Korean community in Australia.”
From left to right: Ho Jun Jang, 32, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Sydney, and Esther Oh, the president of the Australian Korean Association of Sydney & NSW. Credit: SBS Korean
Ho Jun Jang, 32, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Sydney, is a regular participant in the cleanups.
“Recently, young people have also become more interested in and actively participate in FITA’s cleanups. I think it is a meaningful action in our community,” Jang said.
Recognition from the City of Ryde
The City of Ryde installed a plaque at Kissing Point Park in honour of the group’s volunteering efforts. Credit: SBS Korean
Trenton Brown, the current Mayor of the City of Ryde, jointly presented the motion to install the plaque in 2020.
“We want to recognise good citizens and excellent behaviour because they provide a leadership role important to our community.”
From left to right: Trenton Brown, the Mayor and Daniel Han, the deputy Mayor of the City of Ryde. Credit: SBS Korean
Esther Oh, the president of the Australian Korean Association of Sydney & NSW, who takes part in FITA cleanups, said, “I’m so proud that the Korean community have been serving Australian society for so long. I hope more Korean communities will join forces.”
“The elders of FITA are uplifting the status of Koreans in Australian. Just like Son Heung-min and BTS, they are doing the Korean community proud,” Han said.