On 1 March 2026, members of the Sri Sathya Sai International Organisation of Australia & PNG from Victoria and New South Wales participated in Clean Up Australia Day in locations in their respective states. It was for them, a day centred on unity, service, and living spirituality through action.
The event brought together SSSIO members, families, young adults, and children. After the cleanup, children and families enjoyed basketball, cricket, face painting, and a shared morning tea. Participants felt a stronger sense of unity across centres, a deeper connection with nature, and a renewed understanding of spirituality through service. The initiative showed how small acts of service can create meaningful change and with then right intention, support spiritual growth.
The day concluded with the reminder that service to nature is service to the Divine, and that even simple acts of cleanup become sacred when performed with love.
New South Wales
Clean Up Australia Day activities in New South Wales were held at Blaxland Riverside Park, part of the Sydney Olympic Park and North Rocks Park. Around thirty participants from different groups in Sydney joined at Blaxland Riverside Park, while fifteen members from the Carlingford Centre served at North Rocks. The weather was overcast, warm, and pleasant. Participants reflected on service as a practical expression of spirituality, caring for Mother Earth, a divine creation, and purifying the mind through selfless action.
Members from various centres — including Young Adults, and children from the Sai Spiritual Education program (SSE) — participated enthusiastically, demonstrating unity in diversity. The Ladies and SSE wings prepared flyers, encouraged participation, and organised refreshments, helping the event run smoothly.
Blaxland Riverside Park
The morning began with a prayer of gratitude and a brief discussion on the link between external and internal cleanliness. After meeting the park ranger and reviewing safety protocols, volunteers received cleanup materials and worked in groups across the park. They collected plastics, paper, glass bottles, and general debris, filling four bags of general waste and one bag of recyclables.
North Rocks Park
At North Rocks, centre members, young adults, and SSE students served with enthusiasm, creating an atmosphere of joyful teamwork. Participants shared reflections describing the day as rewarding and fun, combining tidying the park, sorting recyclables, sharing snacks, and playing basketball and cricket.
Victoria
SSSIO Victoria Region volunteers gave their time and energy to restore the beauty of the Bellbird Picnic Area in Yarra Bend Park. The team’s 10 participants’’ collective efforts yielded a diverse range of litter, ranging from small items like scattered papers and plastic wrappers to bulkier recyclables such as bottles and cans. Most unexpectedly, the sweep even uncovered abandoned car parts, highlighting the deep necessity of our intervention in protecting the local landscape.
The impact of our local service was part of a massive and inspiring nationwide effort. By concerned members of the Australian public. By the SSSIO joining forces with this broader movement, the members contributed to the vital, ongoing mission of conserving our environment, eliminating litter, and ending waste. As the national organisers aptly noted, together we have made a real difference. For our members, this service is rooted in the profound understanding that Nature is a manifestation of the Divine.
“You have to realise that Nature is a manifestation of God. Hence, Nature should not be ignored. Nature is the effect and God is the cause. You should recognise the immanence of the Divine in the entire cosmos”
– Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 29 Discourse 22, 20 June 1996
So let us all do our part to keep Mother Nature clean, not just on 01 March, but as an ongoing commitment in our daily lives. By turning simple acts into a daily habit of care, we can continue to protect and nurture Mother Earth, transforming our surroundings with love.
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