Sunshine Coast couple John and Yvonne Tagg have donated more than $20,000 to Bloomhill Cancer Care through Containers for Change.
John and Yvonne began directing their container refunds to the organisation after experiencing first-hand the support Bloomhill provides following the loss of their son-in-law, Lorenzo, to cancer in 2008.
Since the scheme began in 2018, 84-year-old John has collected bottles and cans from neighbourhood streets and local residential buildings, returning them through Containers for Change.
In total, Bloomhill has received more than $37,000 in container refunds donated by Queenslanders since 2018, with more than half coming from John and Yvonne’s efforts.
Bloomhill Cancer Care provides nurse-led, community-based cancer care for people of all ages across the Sunshine Coast, supporting people and their families impacted by cancer.
Container refund donations help Bloomhill continue providing personalised support through nursing, counselling, psychology, exercise physiology, lymphoedema support and transport services.
Trevor Evans, Chief Executive Officer of Container Exchange, the not-for-profit that runs Containers for Change, said he hopes John and Yvonne’s story inspires more Queenslanders to see a 10-cent container as an opportunity for community giving.
“Every container returned through the scheme creates a positive impact that is both wide-reaching and tangible. John and Yvonne’s contribution is a remarkable example of how container refunds can support important local organisations while also keeping Queensland clean,” Mr Evans said.
“It’s fantastic that all the containers we have collected have added up to this much. I enjoy getting out for a walk each day, cleaning up the local area and supporting a cause that means a lot to our family,” Mr Tagg said.
Jasmine Wheatley, Fundraising & Community Engagement Lead at Bloomhill Cancer Care, said John and Yvonne’s incredible generosity showed just how powerful something as simple as recycling can be.
“Bottle by bottle, John and Yvonne have turned the simple act of collecting and recycling containers into more than $20,000 of support for Bloomhill. It’s an incredible example of how small actions can add up to make a real difference for the more than 1,900 local people and families we support each year.”
Queenslanders can donate their container refunds directly to Bloomhill Cancer Care using their member number C10015434.
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