Reading to reduce, reuse and re:think

REACHING out to a sustainably-minded readership, the creative team behind Ballarat-based re:think magazine aim to inspire the community to reuse and repurpose materials.

Sharing ideas about how residents can make small, or larger changes to their lives to be more environmentally friendly within everyday living, re:think also exists to connect and promote those with established sustainable practices.

Editor, Selena Buckingham has been at the helm of the quarterly publication since its seventh issue, and said it’s a lifestyle magazine with a waste-reduction twist.

“Our articles look at fashion and the arts… issues around waste, what it is, and redefining that as an issue. Waste isn’t waste until it’s wasted,” she said.

“We also explore the definition of something being unwanted or discarded, and champion makers that turn that stuff into something amazing that is wanted and needed.

“Looking at these forward thinkers, practical people with old skills, and keepers of wisdom, maybe we can look at what they’re doing, and do something similar; make the old into new.”

Recently receiving an ACMA regional grant for publishing, Ms Buckingham said the re:think team has been given a positive boost.

“It was fantastic because print, and newsworthy print, is becoming a dying art. This grant has helped us develop a new website launching in November,” she said.

“We will have a shop, a bit like Etsy, to champion smaller makers who need some promotion. We’ll have classifieds where people can sell their products, driven by postcode, and information about events and what local councils are doing regarding recycling.”

“Print is still our major way of championing all this, but we can be more involved with a digital platform, while remaining sustainable.”

Ms Buckingham said the magazine has regular trusted contributors, but encourages more Ballarat residents to submit story ideas, putting sustainably focused people or projects in the spotlight.

“We rely on a couple of people each edition, and often have contributions from Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group,” she said.

“People can fill out the submission form at our website, and often that brings our attention to things we didn’t know were happening.”

Leading magazine production from the goldfields, Ms Buckingham said it’s a “progressive, engaging” place to be when it comes to sharing green ideas.

“Having an association with Grampians Central West Waste, we know they’re really quite ahead of themselves, thinking of new ways to engage people.

“There’s also BREAZE, running lots of great projects, and tight-knit community groups passionate about what they do,” she said.

“People do tend to band together…and we certainly draw on those people when we can.”

The next edition is set to hit shelves in November. Visit re-think.com.au.