In the scenic coastal town of Mount Martha, tucked away on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, a grassroots movement quietly took off in late 2023 - one that would transform bottles and cans into lifelines for those in need.
Spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Mount Martha, the initiative tapped into the scheme. The idea was simple: collect recyclable drink containers, return them for a 10c refund, and donate the proceeds to vital community programs. But the results were anything but small.
By September 2024, in just ten months, the club had raised over $25,000.
At the heart of the effort was Rotary’s Over-The-Counter refund point, where locals could drop off their containers and choose to donate their refunds. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Local businesses, sports clubs, and families joined in, donating bottles by the boxload.
What started as a modest plan quickly snowballed into a full-blown community movement. “It’s amazing how quickly those 10-cent returns add up when everyone pitches in,” said one volunteer. “We saw the power of collective action in real time.”
One of the main recipients of the funds was the Ranch Motel Project, run by the Mornington Community Support Centre. The program provides short-term crisis accommodation for people experiencing homelessness—a critical need on the Peninsula, where support services are often stretched thin.
Thanks to the funds raised through CDS Vic, the Rotary Club was able to help expand and enhance the Ranch’s services, providing comfort and safety for individuals and families during their hardest times.
“Without community support, the Ranch wouldn’t be what it is today,” said a representative from the Centre. “Rotary’s contribution has made a real difference.”
Meet the ‘Bin Chickens’
Adding character, and a bit of elbow grease, to the project was a crew of dedicated volunteers affectionately nicknamed the “bin chickens.” These tireless helpers sorted through recycling from businesses, community events, and even kerbside collections, salvaging containers that might otherwise end up in landfill.
“It’s not glamorous,” one 'bin chicken' joked, “but it’s honest work, and it’s for a good cause.”
What started as a fundraising idea quickly became something bigger: a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together. Rotary Mount Martha’s approach seamlessly blended environmental awareness with social impact, proving that small actions really can lead to big change.
Now, their story is inspiring other Rotary clubs and community groups across Victoria—and beyond—to launch similar initiatives.
Stay tuned to stay up to date with Mt Martha Rotary's fundraising journey.
