When Sarah Auffret tragically lost her life in the Ethiopian Airlines disaster on March 10 this year, she may not have realised the lasting impact she would leave on the world.
The former Thornlie High School student became famous across the globe as an advocate for cleaning up our environment, particularly ridding our marine environment of rubbish.
To honour her, Sarah’s grandmother and Southern River resident Brenda Loxley and her granddaughter Charlotte Briggs have organised an international clean up day on June 16, which would have marked Sarah’s 35th birthday.
“Sarah was on her way to the United Nations because she was involved in the Clean Seas project in Norway and she was going to give a speech to the UN when disaster struck,” Brenda Loxley said.
“Her plane went down and there were 157 on board but there were no survivors.”
Sarah’s inspirational work has taken her a long way from her days at a local high school, impacting thousands of people who have been in contact with her relatives to raise money and pay tribute to the humble achiever.
“She meant the world, she was the most wonderful person ever and it shows on the sites how many have paid tribute to her,” Brenda Loxley said.
“We were just blown away.
“My other granddaughter Charlotte organised the clean up day in Rockingham on June 16, which would have been Sarah’s 35th birthday.
“The way it has brought people together around the world is just incredible and everyone has sworn to carry it on in her name.
“Everyone wanted to do something but didn’t know what to do and they also started a go fund me page to create a stewardship in Sarah’s name.
“David, her brother, set a target of 5000 Euros, which at the moment is over 16,000 Euros – she was very well thought of,” she said.
The clean up for Sarah has now gone worldwide and at last count there are 32 clean-ups taking place, all in her honour, according to Brenda Loxley.
“Sarah didn’t want fanfare, she just lead by example,” she said.
“One guy said Sarah could get anyone to do anything for her just with a flash of her smile and she still does.
“I thought that was a lovely tribute.”
Clean up for Sarah day will take place at the Rockingham foreshore on Sunday, June 16. All welcome.
