SIX events, 32 volunteers, 214 items and an estimated 523 kilograms of waste saved from landfill \u2013 it was an impressive debut in 2017 from Repair Caf\u00e9 Surf Coast, which will be expanding this year.<\/p>\n
The caf\u00e9 will spread from its regular base at Aireys Inlet Community Hall, and venture to Bellbrae and Anglesea. The community-driven initiative sees volunteers share their skills and fix items. By doing so, they are helping people resist the throwaway culture and diverting waste from landfill.<\/p>\n
Repair Caf\u00e9 Surf Coast co-founder Jo Murray was pleased to announce that the caf\u00e9 would rotate between three venues this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year we had people coming to us from all over the shire and also from towns on the Bellarine Peninsula and inland from Birregurra and Colac,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy moving around this year, we\u2019re hoping to spread the message to a wider audience and broaden the reach of our repair message. Maybe other towns will want to set-up their own Repair Cafes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Repair Cafes are a global movement, with meetings held in locations across the world to help promote a sustainable future with less waste.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, it\u2019s about empowering people by showing and teaching them how to repair,\u201d Ms Murray said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also want to build a resilient community and encourage connections between locals, so when visitors and repairers see each other down the street, they say hello.\u201d<\/p>\n
Surf Coast Shire councillor Martin Duke was happy to see the growth of Repair Caf\u00e9 Surf Coast, which welcomed 152 people last year.<\/p>\n
People presented 214 items \u2013 72 per cent were fixed, 14 per cent were given advice and 14 per cent could not be repaired.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic to see community-led initiatives like this that are setting an example,\u201d Cr Duke said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy choosing to re-use rather than throw away, the Repair Caf\u00e9 attendees and volunteers are playing their part in leading a more sustainable life.\u201d<\/p>\n