Repair Cafe offers Christmas alternative

REPAIR Café Surf Coast is encouraging locals to get creative and sustainable this Christmas with two festive workshops this Sunday, November 9.

The Repair Cafe Surf Coast invites people to bring in broken items for repair, aiming to keep waste out of landfill.

Alongside repairs, they accept materials like plastic bottle caps and textiles for recycling and reuse.

 

This year’s workshops take a hands-on approach for eco-friendly gift-making.

Julie Matthews will lead a session on sewing Christmas decorations from upcycled fabric and natural materials, and local artist Bin Dixen-Ward will demonstrate how to melt recycled plastics to create festive decorations and pendants.

“The goal is to turn what would have been landfill into something functional and creative,” Ms Dixen-Ward said.

The workshops, organised by Catherine Long, are now an annual event designed to encourage people to make rather than buy at Christmas time.

 

“People have been very interested, and it’s a great way to reduce Christmas waste,” Ms Dixen-Ward said.

Ms Dixen-Ward, who has been involved with Repair Café since it began more than six years ago, also helps with repairs and administration.

She tracks the impact of their work, noting successes including recently diverting 100 kilograms of textiles from landfill. These textiles are sent to Melbourne for repurposing as home insulation.

Ms Dixen-Ward’s work as an artist includes using recycled milk bottle tops in her work, she has recently been showcasing work at the Hoop Gallery, which included over 5,000 recycled bottle tops.

“It’s rewarding to be part of a group committed to reducing waste,” she said.

 

“Sometimes, all it takes is a dab of glue or a new screw to save something from going to the tip.”

Ms Dixen-Ward fondly remembered repairing a small antique travel clock; a treasured gift from a woman’s mother.

“It was a lovely object that could keep its life going and bring joy again,” she said.

With Christmas shopping often adding to waste, she advised people to embrace the three Rs: Reuse, Regift, and Recycle.

“Think about the long-term life of what you buy or give,” she said.

The Repair Café invites everyone to visit, attend workshops, or simply see how repairing old items can make a sustainable difference.

For more information, head to facebook.com/RepairCafeSurfCoast