Terry Ryan is an icon around the streets of Lakes Entrance.
Locals have noticed and commented on his dedication to keeping rubbish off the streets.
It all began when Terry started doing a program, 10,000 steps a day.
He noticed how much rubbish was in the gutters, grassed areas, paths and jetties.
This rubbish not only gets into local waterways, but is an eyesore and not a good image for the tourist town.
“I love walking for exercise and decided I could do something about the rubbish problem as I walked,” Terry said.
That was three years ago and he has been busy ever since.
“I had a hip replacement some years ago and a ‘picker upperer’ made it easier for picking things up. When someone offered me one for my rubbish retrieval 18 months ago I gladly took it,” Terry said.
Now you will see him nearly every day around town with his ‘picker upperer’.
Asked if he thinks the amount of litter is decreasing he thought over winter it is, but summer is still as bad.
“I generally get two bags full of rubbish every day at the moment,” Terry said.
“A lot of cellophane wrappers off cigarette packets and that sort of thing.
“It’s not just the young people. I saw a woman get her mail out of a box at the post office the other day and then drop the junk mail on the ground.
“There just doesn’t seem to be any education or campaigns about littering these days.”
Everyone appreciate Terry’s efforts and hopes one day he can go for a leisurely walk without encountering people’s rubbish.
PICTURED: Walking the streets of Lakes Entrance nearly everyday for three years, Terry Ryan has helped keep the town looking clean.
