By Rafiqa Fattah

AT 12, Patrick Walker knows exactly what he wants to do with his life and is determined to take his new job as a litter boss very seriously.

After being named the ACT representative for the Keep Australia Beautiful’s Little Committee, Patrick and his fellow anti-litter experts have started their 12-month term by shooting two TV commercials as a part of their national advertising campaign.

When “CityNews” called Patrick, a Year 7 student at Lyneham High, he had taken the day off from school after three busy days for the Little Committee.

“I’m feeling a bit tired today, I didn’t go to school because I needed to rest,” he said.
Being a part of the Little Committee requires Patrick’s effort and time, but the aspiring politician says he’s okay with juggling school and the committee.

“Usually, school isn’t so hard but the last few days means I have to catch up,” he said.

Patrick revealed that he and the his fellow nine members of the Little Committee were taking a subtle approach in the Little Committee’s new commercials.

Membership of the committee is limited to children 15 years and younger.

“We’re trying to be subtle with our message. Only 1.5 per cent of litterers are under 15 so we think its our job to educate adults about what happens when they litter,” he said.

Patrick said he had always felt strongly about the environment and would like to become involved with politics so he could help make Australia a better place. For Patrick, everyone should work to protect the environment simply because “we live in it!”

But becoming a member of the Little Committee isn’t the only change impacting Patrick’s lifestyle. When he was six, he had made the decision to become a vegetarian.

“When I told my parents I wanted to be a vegetarian, my mum was very, very happy,” he said.

“Me and my dad were fighting over some pork that morning, so when I told him, my dad said he was happy there would be more meat for himself.”