By JACK KELLY

As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another’s treasure, but sometimes it takes just the right person to cherish something’s value – and that’s exactly what the ‘Balmoral Clean Up Gang’ has been doing for almost two decades.

Since 2008, Mosman residents Leigh Fincke, Diana Eastway, Claire Hunt, Meri Lane, Robin Hussey and Jenny Hazleton – along with a few other casual assistants – have been collecting abandoned beach toys, ensuring they find new homes through the Salvation Army in the northern beaches’ suburbs of Brookvale and Mona Vale.

“Well, it began when a friend and I would find these toys, and we initially put them into a kindergarten and a Salvation Army in Neutral Bay,” Ms Fincke told Mosman Collective.

“After a while, the shop had too many spades and things they didn’t want anymore because who walks in and buys a single spade or a single bucket – they were all loose!”

That’s when inspiration struck, and the idea of assembling curated bags of beach essentials was conceived.

Ms Fincke and her friends collect the discarded toys around Balmoral Beach, clean, colour code, and store them in a netted slip knot bag.

Once donated, they are ready for a new chapter of play and discovery.

The team assembles items in an annual production line before donating them to the Salvation Army at the end of the year.

“In 2023, we reached a new milestone, with 33 bags brimming with beach play toys promising countless hours of joy and imagination for young ones,” Ms Fincke said.

“In each bag, there was a big bucket, a small bucket, a surprise toy in the bottom, a sieve, a big spade, a little spade, a big fork, a little fork, and maybe a Frisbee.”

The toys are met with anticipation and excitement at the Salvation Army, where they sell out quickly. Karen, the Manager at Mona Vale, confirms their enduring popularity, where “Leigh’s donations are always warmly welcomed and gratefully received.”

“I always put them in a good central spotlight near the doorway,” she told Mosman Collective.

“It all started with these incredible packaged beach toys when I was managing Brookvale, and everything in the basket sold so well.

“The next year, Leigh came with a bumper collection of individually bagged toys, and they sold within a week for $10 each; it’s a great donation, and she’s a lovely woman,” Karen said.

Yet, as time marches on, Leigh Fincke faces the reality of stepping down, prompting a search for successors to inherit and carry on the vital volunteer work. Despite endorsing the initiative, Mosman Council has clarified that the project’s continuity will require fresh leadership from within the community.

If you are passionate about environmental conservation, community service, and the joy of giving, why not consider being part of the ‘Balmoral Clean Up Gang’?

For those moved by this cause, stepping forward could mean continuing a legacy that has become a treasured part of Mosman’s identity.

Email [email protected] if you would like to get involved. We love local!