A SKILLED group of locals will be on hand this weekend, to mend, fix and extend the life of goods previously headed for the dump.
The group is part of Gawler’s first Repair Café, which aims to help the community fix their items, as well as learn how to do it for themselves next time.
Gawler Environment Centre co-ordinator and Gawler Repair Café host Kathy Whitta said it is hoped the project brings people together in terms of a fun community event, but also sees a passing on of knowledge, and ultimately a reduction in landfill.
“People don’t just bring items here and drop them off to be repaired, they actually sit with the repairer and learn how to do it themselves for next time… they can actually take something away they can use in the future,” she said.
“It’s an attempt to combat that consumer disposal culture where you use something a couple of times, throw it away and buy something new.
“Quite a lot of the time if someone has skills they can pass on, they can kind of break that cycle.
“I think it’s going to be a really valuable community project.”
Repairs available this Saturday will be for sewing/mending, jewellery, bikes, small electrical, general, mechanical and woodwork.
Willaston’s Andrew Yip will be volunteering to help out with any general handyman type work, but also has some computer and camera knowledge and is also well versed in musical instruments.
“I think it’s a great idea – I’m always mending things with lots of kids in the house, so I thought I my night come down and try and help others out,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gawler’s Margaret Crohn is well-skilled on the sewing machine.
“I’ve been sewing for a long time and so just like the idea of reusing things and remaking things,” she said.
“The (Repair Café) has come at quite good timing too because I think people have been sitting at home with time on their hands and also de-stashing – asking do I chuck it or spend some time trying to give it a second life.”
Due to current social distancing guidelines, the repair café has launched with an online booking system, and has rescheduled from a planned launch in May.
However, Ms Whitta said she hopes the project will evolve in the future to welcome drop-ins, have a DIY table, as well as more of a café-style set up.
The Gawler Repair Café will run this Saturday morning, 9.30am to 12.30pm at 43 High Street, Gawler, with bookings essential (gawlerenvironmentcentre.org.au/event-gawler-repair-cafe/).