They say volunteers make the world a better place.
And there’s no doubt that a dedicated group of men giving their time every week in Acton are making the community a little brighter - and cleaner.
The four Acton residents who call themselves the 'Beachcombers' - Clark Somerville, Craig Hough, Peter Duncanson and Eric Boles - head over to Fairy Lake once to twice a week to shovel goose poop and rake the sand at the beach, making it a usable space for park visitors.
“Last year, we kept noticing people complaining about goose poop on the beach,” recalled Somerville, a councillor who’s also part of the volunteer group. “So we thought, why don’t we just meet tomorrow morning, go over with rakes and shovels and clean it up?”
The crew has been at it ever since, meeting up in the early morning hours from May until September to enjoy some old-fashioned camaraderie while they do good.
“We call each other names and generally have fun,” said Peter Duncanson, a Beachcomber who’s also known in the community for his work protecting local turtles.
“We truly believe we have made a difference and will continue cleaning the beach and having sport with each other.”
He noted that the Beachcombers have worked with the Town of Halton Hills to change the buoy line and add fence board in an attempt to keep the geese away from the beach area.
“It has really made a difference,” he noted.
The early risers shovel the bird waste into heavy duty garbage bags, which are later picked up by Town staff for disposal.
And their hard work doesn't go unnoticed.
Local resident William Wood recently visited Fairy Lake and took to social media to express his gratitude for the Beachcombers.
“I applaud and appreciate the efforts they put in cleaning the beach,” he told HaltonHillsToday. “It’s a great little swimming spot for the kids. It was the place to be during the summer when I was a kid. I would love to see it back to its former glory.”
Somerville said the gratitude expressed by people in the community is “such a great reward.”
“Seeing the beach being used on the weekends and during the week - that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
The Beachcombers welcome guest volunteers and ask anyone interested to contact one of them directly.
