Tourism Bodies Hand Trailer to Volunteer Anti-Graffiti Group

The idyllic seaside destination of Port Stephens is now more likely than ever to stay that way following the donation of a trailer to a local volunteer anti-graffiti group who ensure the area’s beachside towns are as pretty as the region’s postcards.

Port Stephens Tourism, together with local tourism operators, Winning Holidays and Port Stephens Accommodation, have donated the enclosed aluminium trailer to the Port Stephens Graffiti Action Team (PSGAT) to thank and help the hard-working volunteer group, which has been removing any graffiti from local buildings and structures for many years.

“So many Australians love Port Stephens for its relaxed and pristine seaside location and when unsightly graffiti does appear, the fantastic PSGAT volunteers quickly jump in and remove it, using their own equipment so we thought this brand new, purpose-built trailer, emblazoned with our colourful new ‘P.S. I Love You’ branding, would bolster their wonderful work and ensure Port Stephens remains as beautiful as it appears in our marketing campaign,” said Port Stephens Tourism Marketing Manager, Tars Bylhouwer.

“The volunteers can use the trailer to store their equipment so they can more easily get to graffiti as soon as it appears,” Mr Bylhouwer said. “PSGAT are unsung heroes who do much to keep Port Stephens looking great and they deserve the community’s support.”

Local tourism operators, Winning Holidays and Port Stephens Accommodation have helped to underwrite the cost of the donation, with their branding also appearing on the eye-catching trailer which Mr Bylhouwer said was a much prettier sight than the graffiti it would help to eradicate.

The owner of Port Stephens Accommodation, Michael Aylmer, said: “Port Stephens Accommodation is proud to be supporting the graffiti trailer and what it stands for – making Port Stephens clean and welcoming for both residents and visitors. We are confident the trailer will be used to eradicate existing graffiti and discourage new graffiti and our sponsorship of the trailer is our means of assisting with this.”

The Marketing Manager of Winning Holidays, Samantha Peters said: “Winning Holidays is extremely pleased to be able to donate to PSGAT. We see this as a great opportunity to help maintain the beauty of the area and contribute to the local community. It is great to see a dedicated team of volunteers combating graffiti in the region."

John Bell from PSGAT said the volunteer group was very grateful for the new trailer. “We are dedicated to keeping our beautiful area looking its very best so this generous gift of the trailer by Port Stephens Tourism, Winning Holidays and Port Stephens Accommodation will be used to great advantage in our clean-up activities.” Mr Bell said. “Support such as this makes our job so much easier and so worthwhile.”

PSGAT’s hotline number to report graffiti is 0412 578 570.