Overview
A community in Walpole, Western Australia, is raising funds to support an 80-year-old volunteer who has maintained a 200-kilometer section of highway for two decades.
Volunteer's Efforts
Michael Filby, 80, has volunteered for 20 years to keep a 200-kilometer stretch of South Coast Highway in Walpole clean. Using his 1975 Lada Niva, Mr. Filby has covered distances equivalent to four global circumnavigations. He has self-funded the project, covering fuel and maintenance, with the exception of a $2,000 annual stipend from the Shire of Manjimup.
Community Support
Local community members have organized to assist Mr. Filby with operating costs and to facilitate the training of a successor. Hairdresser Jo Lane initiated a GoFundMe campaign after learning Mr. Filby paid $4,000 for vehicle repairs. The campaign aims to raise $30,000 to cover three years of operating expenses.
Emma McKinlay, a local chemist, provided an initial personal donation after hearing about Mr. Filby's vehicle issues, including brake failure and tire problems.
Funding Challenges
Shire of Manjimup Councillor Jennifer Wilcox, a co-founder of Walpole Tidy Town with Mr. Filby, stated that extensive efforts to secure funding, including a trip to Canberra, have been unsuccessful. She indicated that the current community campaign is a crucial effort to support Mr. Filby in his retirement.
Mr. Filby expressed his desire to continue volunteering as long as his health permits, but emphasized the necessity of external funding. He has personally spent $100,000 on the project over the years. He described the current campaign as a final attempt to secure the necessary financial support, noting that while governments attribute littering to the public, public assistance is now required to sustain his efforts.