Eco Barge Cleans Up With New Computers: Grant Helps Tech-Tide Their Marine Debris Efforts

Two weeks ago, Andrew Willcox dropped in to congratulate Libby Edge and her team at Eco Barge CleanSeas on receiving a much-needed $4000 volunteer grant to upgrade their outdated computer equipment.
Libby requested the grant back in November last year after seeing the volunteer grant opportunity on Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox’s newsletter, and received it in May this year which Libby described as a “great turn around!”
Before receiving the grant Libby and her team were using really old computers, which are vital to the running of their organisation:
“We do a lot of reporting and send out a lot of emails to our volunteers, everyone knows we need a computer to run, we were running off computers that were so old and weren't keeping up with the speed that we needed at all,” Libby explained.
The grant, which has gone to two new computers, has really streamlined the admin side of Eco Barge:
“This grant was perfect, it is so helpful, it's all about the nuts and bolts in running the organisation and you can't do it with a slow computer, but now we have brand new computers!” Libby enthused.
Libby herself uses the computers for grant writing and policy procedures, and without the admin side of Eco Barge they “can't run.”
“We reply to hundreds of emails a week and the new computers just make it that bit faster!”
Upon visiting Eco Barge, Andrew Willcox MP, stated, “It’s important we keep continuing to support organisations such as Eco Barge in the Whitsundays and I know they have big plans in the making and I look forward to continuing to work with them.”
The Eco Barge team really appreciated, Andrew Willcox’s attendance and for helping get the team the grant:
“I really want to thank Andrew and his team; it really is a daily thank you when we come into the office and it is so streamlined,” Libby emphasised.
She continued that visit to the centre, like the one Andrew Willcox MP did are important:
“It's very important for people to come into the centre and see what we do, once you come and see the marine debris, and the sheer volume that we have, it's an eye-opener, this is direct action and you can see it in action and see the plastic.”
Organisations like Eco Barge, rely on the generosity from the public and volunteers:
“If anyone donates to eco barge anything small or large is greatly appreciated, it all helps us go out there and do what we do best which is remove marine debris and protect our beautiful sea turtles.”
Libby and her team are always looking for more people to join Eco Barge: “if there are volunteers that are specialists in admin or data collection, I'm all ears and you can volunteer via our website.”
Eco Barge, now have the equipment to continue keeping their ocean clean and “raising awareness on how each individual can play their part on how to protect our ocean.”

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Founder of Eco Barge Libby Edge and Federal Member for Andrew Willcox MP

Founder of Eco Barge Libby Edge and Andrew Willcox MP, with collected marine debris

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