Bag body looks to bounce back

BUNINYONG Boomerang Bags is seeking new recruits following its return after a two-year hiatus.

The community group will reconvene at an upcoming planning meeting early in early April, and are in need of new volunteers to help rebuild the project.

Roles are available from manufacturing to administration, and the group’s manager and co-founder Sam Blanchard said they are ready to start back up now that restrictions have eased.

“Since COVID, a lot of people have come and gone, so we’re looking to get some fresh faces who want to drive it forward again,” she said.

“The people who started this with us have either lost interest or their lives have gone in a different direction, so we’re looking to fill those gaps and keep growing however we can.

“We’re looking for people with skills that can bring us into the now, understanding the differences the pandemic has brought to the way people shop these days.”

The group first formed five years ago with the aim to offset the use of plastic bags by providing reusable ones made from upcycled materials.

Over 3000 bags have since been distributed across the community, and with less than five active sewing members, it is hoped the group will reach a consistent level of output once reformed.

As part of the effort to reinvigorate the group, Buninyong Boomerang Bags held a stall at the recent Smart Building and Living Expo, but Ms Blanchard said any further plans are “up in the air” until they can get their team together.

One of the goals of the upcoming meeting will be to form a management committee, which she said she hopes will help steer the group through whatever plans the team sets for itself.

“The hope is we come out with some people that will stand up and become management and take on certain aspects like social media or organising workshops,” she said.

“I would love to see everybody’s energy for the project. It all depends on who arrives and what skills they’ve got to help us out, so we’ll see what we get when we get there.”

The planning meeting will take place at 2pm on Saturday, 2 April at the Buninyong Community House.