Around 25 people registered on Sunday morning to help search the streets, parks, footpaths and riverbanks for rubbish.

The event was organised by the Rotary Club of Gunnedah, in conjunction with Gunnedah Urban Landcare Group.

Fifteen out of the Rotary Club’s 20 members made the effort for Sunday’s clean up, as well as retained firefighters from NSW Fire and Rescue Gunnedah and community members.

These volunteers worked tirelessly for three hours, trawling roadsides and designated areas for litter thrown out carelessly.

They targeted problem areas along Tamworth, Curlewis, Mullaley and Boggabri Roads, as well as South Street and along the river bank.

Organiser Wendy Marsh said the turn out was disappointing considering it is a nationally-recognised event.

“I expected more people, so I was disappointed with the numbers, but the people who did turn up are regulars and did a wonderful job,” she said.

Mrs Marsh said McDonald’s rubbish was widespread.

“It was 2 to 1 with KFC, and especially bad near Frogmore Park, on Tamworth Road and past five mile on the Boggabri Road,” she said.

“That must be where people finish eating and are just chucking their rubbish out the window of their cars.”

After the clean-up, volunteers returned to Wolseley Park to enjoy a sausage sizzle provided by Rotary Club of Gunnedah West and cold drinks sponsored by McDonalds, before special awards were announced.

Shirley and Al George, received the award for the oldest particpants to help on the day, and were given a plant for their efforts. The couple attend Clean Up Australia Day every year.

School students and teachers donned their gloves and armed themselves with garbage bags for the annual “Schools Clean Up” on Friday.

The event, as part of the Clean Up Australia Day campaign, saw Gunnedah High School students from Year 7-9 head to the Mullaley Road, Wandobah Reserve and Gunnedah’s skate park to do their bit.

Gunnedah High School teacher Adam Mooney said it was great to see so many students have an appreciation for the community and environment.

“The students did such an amazing job, and next year we will look to go even bigger and better,” he said.

St Xavier’s pupils cleaned up in and around their school grounds, as well as sending a team over to Kitchener Park, to make sure the popular sporting ground was also squeaky clean.

Meanwhile, Gunnedah South pupils spent the morning picking up rubbish along Stock Road and on their playground.

Students found a variety of items while participating in the nationally-recognised day, including money, plastic bottles, chip packets, clothes and plenty of general rubbish.