Dairy grant for litter fighter

Highway litter crusader Michael Filby has been awarded a $2000 grant by Bannister Downs Dairy as part of its Hand in Hand Project.

Bannister Downs Dairy managing director Sue Daubney said the company had heard from multiple sources about Mr Filby’s work in keeping the shire’s roads clean.

“Mr Filby should be praised for the significant hours over many years of volunteer work he has put in to remove litter and maintain the natural beauty of our environment here in the forests of the South West and we are glad to be in a position to have been able to contribute this little bit of support,” she said.

“Of course, we wish every traveller in our shire disposed of their litter appropriately but we are very proud to have people like Mr Filby in our community who care enough to do something about it for the benefit of all who live here.

“When we received his Hand in Hand application earlier this year it was an easy decision for our committee to grant him funds to assist him in his efforts.”

Mr Filby said the grant had restored his faith in humanity.

“I’ve done this run for one year, without response, this has restored my faith,” he said.

“I think it is a tremendous scheme ... it’s a wonderful scheme and I praise Sue Daubney.”

The Hand in Hand Project has run since 2013 and has distributed $40,000 through the program to sports, arts, community groups and festivals within the Shire of Manjimup.