Carry out your own rubbish

Mick Lawrence
Surfpolitik

A public service announcement from our man in the south:

Down here, on the rock we call Tasmania, we're a pretty friendly mob. We're old school and welcome anyone who has respect for both people and place. Until recent times we were the butt of jokes and considered a place to avoid, but times have changed and we are now flavour of the whatever. Not just for our food and lifestyle, but since the discovery of Shipstern Bluff, our morphing slabs as well.

But that doesn't mean that our core values need to change to accommodate our guests, be they Sydney citizens tucking into a fillet of Blue Eye or a young crew trying to navigate a Shipstern step. 

Last weekend, with the aid of US Coast Guard forecasts, a crew of frothing grommets from the East Coast rocked up on the Tasman Peninsula to take on the forecast six-metre swell. And, if they have the gonads to take it on, good luck to them! 

Apparently luck didn't join them for the ride and snapped boards were the result. On the way out they noticed some broken boards on the side of the track and must of thought it some sort of memorial. So they made a contribution, word got out and Marti Paradisis, one of the local custodians, heard about it and posted a serve on Instagram asking what they were thinking.

Who did they expect to carry their crap out?

Now Marti, apart from being a Shipstern legend, is the sort of guy who hands out blankets to the homeless and comes to the rescue if your house is on fire. Not only is he quick to give you a hand, he's lightning fast in giving you a serve. And, that's what he did on Instagram. A Federer ace right down the centre line. To their credit, the crew were prompt in owning up and admitting wrong, a point not lost on Marti or the hordes of locals he represents. The guy is from all accounts a beautiful human being. He most likely had a big city brain fade.

In 1970, Alvin Toffler wrote a book called 'Future Shock' in which he talked about the increasing speed of change and how it could break down society; destroy accepted core values. The frantic pace and self-gratification that comes from living in densely populated cities is not the way of life here on our rock. Through either good management or good luck, up until now Tasmania has maintained its old world values. All we ask is that, even though you may come from a different time and place, you show us respect. If you do, you are most welcome, even the crew who left the boards.

Knowing Marti he will even call you onto a wave.

That's the sort of crew we are.

Mick Lawrence
President
Surfing Tasmania

In 1994, Mick organised the first reconaissance mission into Shipstern Bluff. Click to read about that trip, and the fallout that followed.

Comments

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 11:02am

I like your attitude Mick. All the best for you guys.

Vic Local's picture
Vic Local's picture
Vic Local Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 11:03am

Any logos on those broken boards. I'm sure their sponsors wouldn't be overly happy with the litter?

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 11:10am

Kudos for the Future Shock reference.
it's a great book.

mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207 Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 11:13am

Good on him. Constantly hassling clueless euros and south americans that live in the carparpaks and beach areas around Margs that leaving beer bottles,cigarette butts , tuna cans and the like isnt the way to go, fighting a losing battle untill the once a year big clean up the Shire does at our beaches so it all looks great for the annual surf contest (the one and only upside the event brings with it IMO). Maybe time to ramp up a new series of "clean your shit up cunts" advertising like in the 80,s and 90,s

uncle_leroy's picture
uncle_leroy's picture
uncle_leroy Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 12:17pm

Agree Mike, the vanlife is getting out of control, weekend just gone even 10man dome tents and camper trailers setup in carparks, getting beyond a joke, euro and metro stinkfest, Shire rangers doing sweet F all. Photos sent to Shire

garyg1412's picture
garyg1412's picture
garyg1412 Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 11:29am

Yip and if you don't listen to Mick we'll do a Donnie Trump on you!!

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 11:30am

Hear Hear Mick. Australian tourist board could use you I reckon.

From broken boards, to smoking down at the beach - it all needs come out to where its came from.

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 11:50am

Great piece. Perhaps we could all just adopt that ethos every time we go for a surf.

Mindora's picture
Mindora's picture
Mindora Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 12:20pm

Excellent approach Mick and Marti.

chook's picture
chook's picture
chook Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 12:28pm

oh no...that bot that posts on swellnet is going to be all over this one.
it'll be blaming the failures of globalisation, liberalism, greenies and probably even the unions for forcing these littering foreigners and their alien culture on the honest, hard working, humble tasmanians.

Pops's picture
Pops's picture
Pops Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 1:09pm

Blowin as a bot? Interesting thought... if so I'd have had him pass a turing test!

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 6:42am

The irony being that Chook’s post is so stereotypically geriatric that it sounds like it’s written whilst holding a mug of ovaltine , wearing fingerless gloves and sitting on a hot water bottle . Probably still felt like writing after filling out all the competition entries in his “ Thats life “ magazine.

And Chook would be shaking this bloke’s hand after he’s taken a steaming dump on his lawn .... https://apple.news/AaAHsLdJyT1uOMMSkLEFE8w

“Bot “ ......go check the calendar. 2016 is over.

PS Just watched the imitation game the other day. Great movie.

Pops's picture
Pops's picture
Pops Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 9:22am

Pulling ya leg blowin.
Great film too. Pretty accurate by all accounts.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 9:24am

I’m just joking too. Much easier now I’ve had Humour 12.6 installed.

adambol1's picture
adambol1's picture
adambol1 Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 12:38pm

It's not hard, carry out what you bring in

Ray Shirlaw's picture
Ray Shirlaw's picture
Ray Shirlaw Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 12:43pm

How about cleaning up after your dog and don't let it rip the shit out of carpark vegetation and barking for hours without once saying " Oy,stop that &shut the fuck up"

Elliedog's picture
Elliedog's picture
Elliedog Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 6:52pm

Not a visit to the beach goes by where I don’t pick up at least as much litter as I can handle with what room I have left to use. Incredible the lack of respect and pure laziness.

Robwilliams's picture
Robwilliams's picture
Robwilliams Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 7:14pm

Keep the scene clean. Not hard. Why is this an issue which keeps appearing in the surfing world?

Why immerse your self in an outdoor pursuit if your out of touch with the environment you engage with. Fucking lazy, fucking pathetic or what? Your actions are your foot print.

Snoz's picture
Snoz's picture
Snoz Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 9:05pm

Imagine how the Palawa or pakana people felt when White man first came to Tasmania!
Sort of history repeating..

69longboarder's picture
69longboarder's picture
69longboarder Wednesday, 4 Mar 2020 at 9:43pm

I've never understood of when I am constantly spending my time outdoors, in the many beautiful spots this big brown land dishes up for us.
Why so many people still leave their 1st world shit and garbage behind when they visit.
I think to myself. Do these morons turn up at these spots and think. Wow what a special place this is. Lets now fuck it up with litter, because that's what this place needs. Litter!

DO THE RIGHT THING. Pick your SHIT UP!

We need to bring back the life be in it campaign and the do the right thing campaign too.
There are too many people forgetting these values.

Vanhoc's picture
Vanhoc's picture
Vanhoc Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 1:16pm

My old man is in the latter stages of his 70's, good fella that he is, picks up a shit load of rubbish from our local, every fucking day! Dick wads think it's "A Ok" to chuck durry butts on the ground and leave crushed Mother cans laying around, just like drop in's, these wankers need evicting! Good onya Mick for a great post, i've slowly watched the little island getting dirtier....

gopatter's picture
gopatter's picture
gopatter Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 3:57pm

Its slightly off subject but same same: I was on Yorke Peninsular South Oz on the weekend at a well know camping area and on a post in big bold letters was written:

"To those piggies who left shit on the ground, BUY A SHOVEL! If not stay at home and shit on your own floor".

Truer words have never been spoken.

luke37's picture
luke37's picture
luke37 Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 4:35pm

The sad thing is that so many free and fun things like camping get expensive and regulated because of the same old story - a few dickheads spoiling it for the rest.
Thanks for helping keep up the awareness and need for personal responsibility Mick and others!

Cabo's picture
Cabo's picture
Cabo Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 7:09pm

Here's a tip for all and sundry. If you are fortunate enough to be visiting a surf break that isn't your local and you see some crap on the ground, dont just step over it expecting a local to collect it, pick it up, take it away or bin it. It wont go unnoticed, even if it does go unnoticed you have still done the right thing by yourself and the locals. Blaming the dumbass that left it there does nothing but get your blood boiling. Pick it up then its gone. I am sure many on this forum do this anyway but it is a good habit to form.

ringmaster's picture
ringmaster's picture
ringmaster Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 8:19pm

Dog shit.......all the time.

But I aint picking up any human shit!

Sorry.

Cabo's picture
Cabo's picture
Cabo Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 8:27pm

*Crap on the ground=Rubbish on the ground

69longboarder's picture
69longboarder's picture
69longboarder Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 10:59pm

Go patter. its not off subject. The subject is rubbish. No matter what form.

I cannot believe people still do it. How lazy have you become? (if its you)
You cant fix stupid it seems. No matter what year 2020...............

69longboarder's picture
69longboarder's picture
69longboarder Thursday, 5 Mar 2020 at 11:02pm

Sorry. Not you gopatter.
The knuckle heads we are talking about.

Timcollet's picture
Timcollet's picture
Timcollet Friday, 6 Mar 2020 at 11:28am

Someone might have mentioned it but anyone been down the west coast of Victoria recently? It’s a pigsty. Human faeces on all of the paths. I was blown away by the condition of these places and the lack of control. For having a reputation as the nanny state we aren’t policing the most important things very well. I saw 8 different human faeces at castle cove and not in the bushes, on the track! Gross behaviour. The tour groups need to be policed by the councils.

Clam's picture
Clam's picture
Clam Monday, 9 Mar 2020 at 10:48am

Blame Instagram....again.
Coronavirus doesn't compare to instagram when it comes to damage to the earth from crowds and fukwitts

SGAG's picture
SGAG's picture
SGAG Monday, 9 Mar 2020 at 10:57pm

So disrespectful.
Good on ya Mick and well done Parra for giving them a serving.
There are a few other local custodians down here who'll make sure tbese words are adhered to, they carve as hard as anyone out there with responsibilities handed down to them from those that showed them the ropes from a time when a smack in the mouth fixed most things. Friendly as fuck too but ready to match attitude and back it up.
Who ever thought we'd be over run by blow ins!?
So many of us wondering who the 50+ guys were out at a recent solid peaky beach break solid swell hassling out seasoned all year round committed to any condition local surfers??!
You're all welcome as here but we've always loved it her you havnt so fuck up and you'll be told to fuck off!

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Monday, 13 Apr 2020 at 8:48pm

Aussie Bin Night...Oi Oi Ewww!

Intro: Oz Dreary Dodgy Bin Night (Pre Covid -19)

Downunder infectious Bin Night Humour starts to catch on...

UK Breaky TV intro into Oz Bin Night


Bin Block Party Flick ...[3:50] + [6:45] Surfies take out the Trash.

Montage

Mystery

Heavy Duty

Other Worldly

Bonus:
Brits go Bush with their Garbage Bags...(Aussie Salute!)