It may only be small now, but there's no reason why the 'Name and acclaim' initiative that's kicked off on Facebook page Tuncurry Forster Community Noticeboard can't get a whole lot bigger if people embrace it.
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At least that's the hope of Diamond Beach resident Kym Kilpatrick, who started the initiative to draw attention to businesses and individuals in the area displaying a strong social conscience.
A retired psychologist, Ms Kilpatrick believes focusing on the positives people are doing is a far more effective way of enacting social change than looking at the negatives.
"It's really easy to get into negativity and it doesn't work," she said.
"You don't influence people by berating them."
With an emphasis on environmental awareness, Ms Kilpatrick has steadily been naming and acclaiming businesses in the Great Lakes that have taken the initiative to limit their waste output and offered consumers an alternative to single-use plastics.
She started with Forster restaurant Spice Monkey, who discontinued using plastic straws after she approached them about the issue, and has continued with the cause since then, encouraging other social media users to do the same.
It's something that could get bigger and get people thinking about waste.
- Kym Kilpatrick
Among those she's praised are Diamond Beach Butchery and DW Quality Meats, who have both encouraged customers to bring along their own plastic containers when buying meat, and Beach Bums Cafe at Forster, who have done away with plastic straws, offer sugar in jars rather than sachets, and serve milkshakes in old-fashioned reusable cups rather than the disposable variety.
And she's not done yet, with plenty of other businesses, organisations and individuals on her list to be celebrated.
"There's lots of positive community action happening around the area," she said.
"I'm not saying we can change the world, buy let's create positive social change via acclaiming people for doing the right thing."
Ms Kilpatrick would like to see others on social media take up the cause, and ideally, if things gain momentum, offer some kind of award for those operating with a strong social conscience.
Spice Monkey supervisor, Shnade Rethus, said it was great to receive positive feedback from the community and admitted their decision to replace plastic straws with paper ones had been a hit with customers.
"A lot of people will say they don't want a straw and then when we offer them a paper one they're really pleased," she said.
"In this day and age, people want to come to a place that does these positive things for the environment. It creates a chain reaction."
Miss Rethus said in addition to discontinuing their use of plastic straws, Spice Monkey was giving their empty bottles to a cause that supported disadvantaged kids and also donating to a number of charity days.
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