They're proud to call the river their home, so it has become a tradition over the past years for the club to partake in the annual Clean-Up Australia Day.

But the tradition goes back even further for club member and organiser Elizabeth Crane who used to help her father in the 70s. Elizabeth's father, John Russell, then owner of the Repton caravan park, used to organise his own regular clean ups of the river enlisting fishermen, campers, locals and visitors to help.

Last year the Coffs Coast Dragon Boat Club had two dragon boats on the water with some 14 paddlers armed with gloves, buckets and bags cleaning up along the shore line, in the mangroves and along the river bank. This year the club expects to have even more paddlers leaping into action.

"We are so fortunate to paddle in this beautiful environment on such a pristine river. Our club wants to help the community by keeping it clean," Elizabeth Crane said.

Local members of the community will continue the clean-up on Sunday March 1, focusing on other areas of Mylestom.

You will see the Coffs Coast Dragon Boat Club paddling every Saturday morning on the Bellinger River at Mylestom and on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at Bonville Waters. The club welcomes new members. For more information- www.coffscoastdbc.com.au or 0418 953 882.