Ryman resident George ‘Shorty’ Madeley is a man of routine.
Every day he gets up early and makes his way through the seven bin rooms at Ryman’s Miriam Corban Village – tidying and sorting, and checking everything is in the right place, clocking up to 3km in steps along the way.
As well as getting his daily exercise, Shorty’s purpose is to check the right things are going into the right bins and collect any paper, newspapers and paper shopping bags.
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Instead of letting them go to landfill, he neatly bags them up and distributes them to animal rescue centres such as the SPCA where they’re put to good use.
“I’m doing this because someone else is going to benefit. And because I want to,” he says simply.
“Every morning I get up at 4.45am - I’m ex-military so my body’s got used to it. I fold newspapers for 30 minutes to an hour per day and I shred A4 paper.”
Then, armed with his specially modified trolley, complete with grabber, Shorty sets off to the first bin room, sorting misplaced items and keeping the bin rooms in order.
“On Tuesdays, I go to Bird Barn in Henderson and drop off the shredded paper for their bird cages. They were buying it in previously, but now I supply about two full 12-litre rubbish bags a week. I’m already onto my second shredder!
“Then on Thursdays I head to the SPCA with the newspapers and paper bags.”
Shorty uses his trusty grabber to sort out the bins in the rubbish rooms, where he collects paper bags, newspapers and A4 paper. Top pic: In the rubbish room with the helpful signage.
Shorty has also helped improve recycling practices around the village by suggesting clearer signage.
“I asked Michelle to organise signage in Mandarin and English after noticing bottles ending up in the general waste.”
While things have improved, he says there’s always more that can be done.
“I don’t say anything about the lack of rinsing… but I could,” he laughs.
Shorty and his wife Christine have long been committed recyclers, and while he hasn’t had a pet since childhood, Shorty says it was an easy choice to support animal organisations.
“It’s exercise with a purpose, plus it’s my home so I want it to be clean and tidy. I’m doing it for the people who live in this house.”
Shorty at his sorting station, where he neatly folds and bundles up newspapers ready for delivery to Bird Barn and the SPCA.
Miriam Corban Village Manager Michelle Barnard says Shorty is a real sustainability superstar.
“Shorty does a wonderful job collecting the newspapers and then taking them to the SPCA.
“He does this in his spare time, and is one of many fantastic volunteers at Miriam Corban.
“He’s always smiling and willing to help others – we are very fortunate to have him help us keep our village looking pristine.”
*Do you know a Sustainability Superstar in your village? Why not talk to your Village Manager about ways to show you appreciate their efforts.