If you’re passing by Careel Creek, you’ll likely see a wonderful Avalon Beach local, Lionel Kools, who has made cleaning up Careel Creek his New Year’s resolution, after a cathartic realisation some months ago.
Lionel shared that he used to be ticked off seeing rubbish around Careel Creek each time he walked his dog at lunch. Around November 2021, he spotted a long-necked turtle in the water.
“She was the valid reason to buy a wader and jump into the water,” Lionel wrote.
Since then, Lionel has been voluntarily cleaning-up after gaining a deeper understanding of what Careel Creek represents for him.
“Careel Creek is somehow a mirror of our emotional content; It can be filled with content that we do not necessarily own, want and/or carry against our will. Careel Creek is tidal, and like our emotional content, it goes backwards and forwards without our permission and control.
“I picked the Careel Creek clean-up as a New Year resolution because this yearly goal is perfectly unachievable. Cleaning Careel Creek is a business of layers, not everything can be taken out in one go. The more you clean, the more you see, the more need to be addressed, just like our emotional content that requires attention – ongoing attention!”
“Before starting on this journey, I was getting pretty mad about strangers damaging our beautiful nature. This feeling is over! I can’t control people; I can only change and adjust how I relate to them.”
On 15 Jan 2022, Lionel joined the first Careel Creek Cleaning Session of the year and removed about 600 kilograms of wastes — from old bike parts, to signboards, to heaps of plastic — at the playing fields and the mangroves.
Earlier, he has inspired four people to join him in cleaning as well.
“Lionel ‘Creek Lord’ Cools (sorry mate 🤣) was back at it again this morning, cleaning up and promoting the aesthetics and ecological wellbeing of the valuable, but long term abused and neglected waterway… full of flora and fauna but also much polluting garbage,” shared Tom Borge McGee.
“Was great to join him this morning and together with Vicky and Michael, who literally went home and geared up to join us after stopping to chat on their morning walk (lords). We pulled a lot of ‘creek bounty’ including a large pram, scooters, bikes and an enormous array of mainly plastic garbage that must weigh above 30kg at least.”
But more needs to be done and Lionel will be there to do just that, whilst also encouraging the community to do their part. He has gotten in touch with the Northern Beaches Council to pick-up some of the rubbish that can’t be easily removed. He has also gotten in touch with Tony Hawk, one of the world’s best skateboarders, to “endorse” cleaning up Careel Creek.
Far from being called a hero, Lionel said that he’s doing this New Year’s resolution for his love of nature…and that long-necked turtle.
“I do not have any political, religious or personal motivation behind my love for nature,” Lionel said. “My action does not make a hero, a God, a Lord, the Creek Lord or whatever. I thank you for your praises, but nature is the true hero here, and the turtle has touched the soft spot in my heart just like you do as a loving community.”
