Rob Bradley is living a life in retirement far removed from his career as a radiation therapist.
Nowadays he spends most of his time scouring Werribee South beach or Werribee Creek for litter.
“I retired last year, so now I can do the things I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.
Picking up other people’s discarded rubbish isn’t on many retirees’ bucket lists, but it’s this environmental awareness that sets Mr Bradley apart.
“I’m passionate about these things,” he said.
On August 19 Wyndham council will name Mr Bradley the recipient of its Environment and Sustainability Award.
The award follows the formation of Litter Watch, a group Mr Bradley helped established four years ago, and Beach Patrol 3030, which he launched last year.
Beach Patrol now has 70 volunteers on its mailing list who regularly pick up litter along Werribee South beach.
“I don’t see this as an award for me, I see it as an award for Beach Patrol and all our volunteers,” said Mr Bradley, who has lived in Werribee for 26 years.
Next on his to-do list is to push for the creation of a container deposit scheme and a ban on plastic bags.
The other community volunteer awards went to Terri Spearing (culture, arts and tourism), Julie Toner (community health and wellbeing), Zoe Bryant (young volunteer of the year), Gagan Sethi (sports and recreation), Catherine O’Connor (community engagement award) and Shoestring Gardening (community group award).
